Hosah חֹסָה
A Levite gatekeeper during David's reign.
Who is Hosah in the Bible?
Hosah was a Levite gatekeeper who served during King David's reign, fulfilling important responsibilities at the tabernacle in Jerusalem. According to 1 Chronicles 16:38, David appointed Hosah among the Levites to minister before the Ark of the Covenant, serving alongside Obed-Edom and his associates. The book of 1 Chronicles 26 reveals further details about his role, noting that Hosah came from the Merarite clan and had sons who also became gatekeepers, with his firstborn son Shimri appointed as chief despite not being the eldest (1 Chronicles 26:10-11). In 1 Chronicles 26:16, Hosah and his sons were assigned to guard the West Gate and the Shalleketh Gate on the ascending highway. His service exemplifies the organized structure David established for the Levitical priesthood and the careful stewardship required for maintaining the sacred spaces of Israel's worship.
Biography
Hosah was a Levite who served as a gatekeeper during the reign of King David. He is mentioned in the book of 1 Chronicles.
In 1Ch.16.38, Hosah is listed among the Levites appointed by David to minister before the Ark of the Covenant at the tabernacle in Jerusalem. He served alongside Obed-Edom and his sixty-eight associates.
Hosah is also mentioned in 1 Chronicles 26, which provides more details about the organization of the gatekeepers. In verse 10, it is stated that Hosah, from the Merarite clan, had sons who were also gatekeepers. His firstborn son was Shimri, who was made the chief by his father, even though he was not the firstborn (1Ch.26.11).
According to 1Ch.26.16, Hosah and his sons were assigned to guard the West Gate and the Shalleketh Gate on the ascending highway. This suggests that they had specific responsibilities in maintaining the security and order of the tabernacle complex.
The role of the gatekeepers was crucial in ensuring the sanctity and proper functioning of the tabernacle. They were responsible for guarding the entrances, regulating access, and maintaining order. Hosah's inclusion in the list of gatekeepers highlights the importance of this role and the dedication of the Levites in serving God and His people.
Family
Offspring
- Shimri MaleSon of HosahLevite gatekeeper during David's reign, son of Hosah.View full profile →
- Hilkiah MaleSon of HosahA Levite gatekeeper during David's reign.View full profile →
- Tebaliah MaleSon of HosahLevite gatekeeper, son of HosahView full profile →
- Zechariah Tribe of LeviSon of IsshiahSon of Isshiah, a LeviteView full profile →
In Scripture
1 biblical book1 Chronicles 4 verses
- 1 Chronicles 16:38
"along with Obed-edom and his sixty-eight relatives. Obed-edom son of Jeduthun, and also Hosah, were to be gatekeepers."
- 1 Chronicles 26:10
"Hosah the Merarite also had sons: Shimri the first (although he was not the firstborn, his father had appointed him as the first),"
- 1 Chronicles 26:11
"Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, and Zechariah the fourth. The sons and brothers of Hosah numbered 13 in all."
- 1 Chronicles 26:16
"The lots for the West Gate and the Shallecheth Gate on the ascending highway fell to Shuppim and Hosah. There were guards stationed at every watch."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | חֹסָה |
Hosah
st of Acre. Possibly, however, as Sayce (HCM, 429) and Moore (Judges, 51) suggest, Hosah may represent the Assyrian Usu. Some scholars think that Usu was the Assyrian name for Palaetyrus. If "the fenced city of Tyre" were that on the island, while the city on the mainland lay at Ras el-`Ain, 30 stadia to the South (Strabo xvi.758), this identification is not improbable.
ho-zan'-a (hosanna): This Greek transliteration of a Hebrew word occurs 6 times in the Gospels as the cry of the people when our Lord entered Jerusalem as the Messiah represented by Zec (9:9), and of "the children" wh