2. He had seven sons, who were born in the following order: Zechariah, Jediael, Zebadiah, Jathniel,
3. Elam, Jehohanan, and Eliehoenai.
4-5. Obed-Edom had been blessed with eight sons: Shemaiah, Jehozabad, Joah, Sachar, Nethanel, Ammiel, Issachar, and Peullethai.
6-7. Shemaiah was the father of Othni, Rephael, Obed, Elzabad, Elihu, and Semachiah. They were all respected leaders in their clan.
8. There were sixty-two descendants of Obed-Edom who were strong enough to be guards at the temple.
9. Eighteen descendants of Meshelemiah were chosen for this work.
10-11. Hosah, from the Merari clan, was the father of Shimri, Hilkiah, Tebaliah, and Zechariah. Hosah had made Shimri the family leader, even though he was not the eldest son. Thirteen men from Hosah's family were chosen to be temple guards.
12. The guards were divided into groups, according to their family leaders, and they were assigned duties at the temple, just like the other Levites.
13. Each group, no matter how large or small, was assigned a gate to guard, and they let the Lord show them what he wanted done.
14. Shelemiah was chosen to guard the East Gate. Zechariah his son was a wise man and was chosen to guard the North Gate.
15. Obed-Edom was then chosen to guard the South Gate, and his sons were chosen to guard the storerooms.
16. Shuppim and Hosah were chosen to guard the West Gate and the Shallecheth Gate on the upper road.The guards were assigned the following work schedule:
17. each day six guards were on duty on the east side of the temple, four were on duty on the north side, and four were on duty on the south side. Two guards were stationed at each of the two storerooms,