Obed-edom עֹבֵד אֱדוֹם
Gittite who housed the Ark
Biography
Obed-edom was a Gittite in whose house the Ark of the Covenant stayed for three months after the death of Uzzah (2Sa.6.10-12; 1Ch.13.13-14). When David attempted to bring the Ark to Jerusalem, Uzzah was struck down by God for touching the Ark. Fearful of further divine judgment, David left the Ark in the house of Obed-edom. During its stay, Obed-edom's household was blessed by God (1Ch.13.14). Later, when David brought the Ark to Jerusalem, Obed-edom and his family were appointed as gatekeepers and musicians in the tabernacle (1Ch.15.18, 21, 24; 16.5, 38). Obed-edom had eight sons, all of whom served in the tabernacle (1Ch.26.4-8). He is also mentioned as a Levite in the context of the temple treasuries (2Ch.25.24). Obed-edom's faithfulness and the blessings he received highlight the importance of reverence for the Ark and the presence of God.
Family
Siblings
- Mattithiah Tribe of LeviA SingerLevite musician during the time of David.View full profile →
- Gedaliah Tribe of LeviSon of JeduthunSon of Jeduthun; a temple musician during David's reign.View full profile →
- Zeri Tribe of LeviSon of JeduthunSon of Jeduthun, a temple musicianView full profile →
- Jeshaiah Tribe of LeviSon of JeduthunA Levite, son of Jeduthun the musician.View full profile →
- Hashabiah Tribe of LeviSon of JeduthunA musician in the temple, son of Jeduthun.View full profile →
Offspring
- Shemaiah MaleLevite during David's reignView full profile →
- Jehozabad Tribe of LeviSon of Obed-edomSon of Obed-edom, a gatekeeper for the ark.View full profile →
- Joah Tribe of LeviSon of Obed-edomA son of Obed-edom, a gatekeeper of the templeView full profile →
- Sachar Tribe of LeviSon of Obed-edomSon of Obed-edom, a Levitical gatekeeperView full profile →
- Nethanel MalePriest who blew trumpetsView full profile →
- Ammiel Tribe of LeviSon of Obed-edomLevite gatekeeper during David's reignView full profile →
- Issachar Tribe of LeviSon of Obed-edomSon of Obed-Edom, a gatekeeper in David's time.View full profile →
- Peullethai Tribe of LeviSon of Obed-edomSon of Obed-Edom, a temple gatekeeperView full profile →
In Scripture
3 biblical books2 Samuel 3 verses
- 2 Samuel 6:10
"So David would not move Yahweh’s ark to be with him in David’s city; but David carried it aside into Obed-Edom the Gittite’s house."
- 2 Samuel 6:11
"Yahweh’s ark remained in Obed-Edom the Gittite’s house three months; and Yahweh blessed Obed-Edom and all his house."
- 2 Samuel 6:12
"King David was told, “Yahweh has blessed the house of Obed-Edom, and all that belongs to him, because of God’s ark.” So David went and brought up God’s ark from the house of Obed-Edom into David’s city with joy."
1 Chronicles 5 verses
- 1 Chronicles 13:13
"So David didn’t move the ark with him into David’s city, but carried it aside into Obed-Edom the Gittite’s house."
- 1 Chronicles 13:14
"God’s ark remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house three months; and Yahweh blessed Obed-Edom’s house and all that he had."
- 1 Chronicles 15:18
"and with them their brothers of the second rank, Zechariah, Ben, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, the doorkeepers."
- 1 Chronicles 15:21
"and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps tuned to the eight-stringed lyre, to lead."
- 1 Chronicles 15:24
"Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, blew the trumpets before God’s ark; and Obed-Edom and Jehiah were doorkeepers for the ark."
2 Chronicles 1 verse
- 2 Chronicles 25:24
"He took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in God’s house with Obed-Edom, and the treasures of the king’s house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | עֹבֵד אֱדוֹם | H5654 |
| Named | Hebrew | שִׁמְעִי | H8096X |
Obed-edom
hr.13.14">14; 15:25), but elsewhere without hyphen, "servant of (god) Edom"; so W. R. Smith, Religion of Semites (2), 42, and H. P. Smith, Samuel, 294 f, though others explain it as = "servant of man"): In 2Sa 6:10,11,12; 1Ch 13:13,14 a Philistine of Gath and servant of David, who received the Ark of Yahweh into his house when David brought it into Jerusalem from Kiriath-jearim. Because of the sudden death of Uzzah, David was unwilling to proceed with the Ark to his citadel, and it remained three months in the house of Obed-edom, "and Yahweh blessed Obed-edom, and all his house" (2Sa 6:11). According to 1Ch 13:14 the Ark had a special "house" of its own while there. He is probably the same as the Levite of 1Ch 15:25. In 1Ch 15:16-21 Obed-edom is a "singer," and in 1Ch 15:24 a "doorkeeper," while according to 1Ch 26:4-8,15 he is a Korahite doorkeeper, to whose house fell the overseership of the storehouse (26:15), while 1Ch 16:5,38 names him as a "minister before the ark," a member of the house or perhaps guild of Jeduthun (see 2Ch 25:24).
Obed-edom is an illustration of the service rendered to Hebrew religion by foreigners, reminding one of the Simon of Cyrene who bore the cross of Jesus (Mt 27:32, etc.). The Chronicler naturally desired to think that only Levites could discharge such duties as Obed-edom performed, and hence, the references to him as a Levite.
David Francis Roberts.
The "obedience" (hupakoe) of Christ is directly mentioned but 3 times in the New Testament, although many other passages describe or allude to it: "Through the obedience of the one shall the many be made r