Gatekeepers

Levite temple servants, responsible for protecting the palace and the temple from those who would desecrate it or steal its treasures. City gatekeepers also existed.

The ancestry of gatekeepers

1 Chronicles 9:17–22 See also 1 Chronicles 26:1–13; Ezra 2:42; Nehemiah 7:45

These were the gatekeepers: Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their relatives. Shallum was their chief; he was previously stationed at the King’s Gate on the east side. These were the gatekeepers from the camp of the Levites. Shallum son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his relatives from the Korahites were assigned to guard the thresholds of the Tent, just as their fathers had been assigned to guard the entrance to the dwelling of the LORD. In earlier times Phinehas son of Eleazar had been in charge of the gatekeepers, and the LORD was with him. Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was the gatekeeper at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. The number of those chosen to be gatekeepers at the thresholds was 212. They were registered by genealogy in their villages. David and Samuel the seer had appointed them to their positions of trust.

The special status of gatekeepers

Ezra 7:24 See also Ezra 2:70; Nehemiah 7:73, Nehemiah 12:47, Nehemiah 13:5

And be advised that you have no authority to impose tribute, duty, or toll on any of the priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, temple servants, or other servants of this house of God.

The functions of gatekeepers

1 Chronicles 9:23–27 See also 2 Chronicles 8:14; Nehemiah 11:19

So they and their descendants were assigned to guard the gates of the house of the LORD — the house called the Tent. The gatekeepers were stationed on the four sides: east, west, north, and south. Their relatives came from their villages at fixed times to serve with them for seven-day periods. But the four chief gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted with the rooms and the treasuries of the house of God. They would spend the night stationed around the house of God, because they were responsible for guarding it and opening it every morning.

Examples of gatekeepers

2 Chronicles 35:15 See also 1 Chronicles 15:16–18, 1 Chronicles 16:37–38, 1 Chronicles 23:3–5, 1 Chronicles 26:14–19; Nehemiah 10:28–29, Nehemiah 10:39, Nehemiah 12:25, Nehemiah 12:45

The singers, the descendants of Asaph, were at their stations according to the command of David, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun the king’s seer. And the gatekeepers at each gate did not need to leave their posts, because their fellow Levites made preparations for them.

City gatekeepers

2 Kings 7:10–11 See also Nehemiah 7:1–3

So they went and called out to the gatekeepers of the city, saying, “We went to the Aramean camp and no one was there— not a trace — only tethered horses and donkeys, and the tents were intact.” The gatekeepers shouted the news, and it was reported to the king’s household.