17. These are the gatekeepers who lived in Jerusalem: Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their relatives. Shallum was their leader.
18. Now these men stand next to the King’s Gate on the east side. They were the gatekeepers from the tribe of Levi.
19. Shallum was Kore’s son. Kore was Ebiasaph’s son. Ebiasaph was Korah’s son. Shallum and his brothers were gatekeepers. They were from the family of Korah. They had the job of guarding the entrance to the Holy Tent. They did this just as their ancestors had done before them. Their ancestors had the job of guarding the entrance to the area where the Lord lived among the people.
20. In the past, Phinehas was in charge of the gatekeepers. Phinehas was Eleazar’s son. The Lord was with Phinehas.
21. Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was the gatekeeper at the entrance to the Holy Tent.
22. In all there were 212 men who were chosen to guard the gates of the Holy Tent. Their names were written in their family histories in their small towns. David and Samuel the seer chose these men because they could be trusted.
23. The gatekeepers and their descendants had the responsibility of guarding the gates of the Lord’S house, the Holy Tent.
24. There were gates on the four sides: east, west, north, and south.
25. The gatekeepers’ relatives who lived in the small towns had to come and help them at certain times. They came and helped the gatekeepers for seven days each time.
26. There were four gatekeepers who were the leaders of all the gatekeepers. They were Levites. They had the job of caring for the rooms and treasures in God’s Temple.