A Gittite in whose house the ark of the covenat was stored during King David's reign.
About Obed-edom
A man who took care of the ark of the covenant when David was moving it from Gibeah to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:10–12; 1 Chronicles 13:5–14). The Bible calls him a Gittite, which indicates that his birthplace was Gath. This was probably not the Philistine city of Gath, but a Levitical town called Gath-rimmon in the land of Dan. It is the same place as “Gath-rimmon” (Joshua 19:45). Obed-edom was likely a Levite, which made him able to care for the ark.
Earlier, a man named Uzzah had touched the ark to keep it from falling. Because this broke the law, he died right away. David became afraid and decided not to move the ark to Jerusalem yet. Obed-edom lived nearby, so David left the ark in his house.
After three months, David heard that God had blessed Obed-edom’s family. David realized that Uzzah had died because the ark was not being carried in the right way according to the law of Moses (Numbers 4:15; 7:9). IIt was not because God was angry with Uzzah as a person. David then had the ark moved the right way to Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 15:25–28). Later, Obed-edom may have become a gatekeeper for the ark in Jerusalem (15:24; 26:4, 8, 15). Some scholars think this may have been a different man with the same name.
Family Relationships
- Parents
- Jeduthun
- Half-siblings 5
- Mattithiah, Gedaliah (1 Chronicles 25:3), Zeri, Jeshaiah (1 Chronicles 25:3), Hashabiah (1 Chronicles 25:3)
- Children 8
- Shemaiah (1 Chronicles 26:4), Jehozabad (1 Chronicles 26:4), Joah (1 Chronicles 26:4), Sachar, Nethanel (1 Chronicles 26:4), Ammiel (1 Chronicles 26:5), Issachar (1 Chronicles 26:5), Peullethai
Key References
Thus the ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite for three months, and the LORD blessed him and all his household.
Thus the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house for three months, and the LORD blessed his household and everything he owned.
All Scripture References (16)
2 Samuel (3)
So he was unwilling to move the ark of the LORD to the City of David; instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.
Thus the ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite for three months, and the LORD blessed him and all his household.
Now it was reported to King David, “The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and had the ark of God brought up from the house of Obed-edom into the City of David with rejoicing.
1 Chronicles (12)
So he did not move the ark with him to the City of David; instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.
Thus the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house for three months, and the LORD blessed his household and everything he owned.
and with them their brothers next in rank: Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, and the gatekeepers Obed-edom and Jeiel.
And Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to lead the music with lyres according to Sheminith.
Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer—the priests—were to blow the trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah were also to be guardians of the ark.
So David, the elders of Israel, and the commanders of thousands went with rejoicing to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-edom.
Asaph was the chief, Zechariah was second, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel. They were to play the harps and lyres, while Asaph sounded the cymbals
along with Obed-edom and his sixty-eight relatives. Obed-edom son of Jeduthun, and also Hosah, were to be gatekeepers.
the tenth to Shimei, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;
And Obed-edom also had sons: Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sachar the fourth, Nethanel the fifth,
All these were descendants of Obed-edom; they and their sons and brothers were capable men with strength to do the work—62 in all from Obed-edom.
The lot for the South Gate fell to Obed-edom, and the lot for the storehouses to his sons.
2 Chronicles (1)
He took all the gold and silver and all the articles found in the house of God with Obed-edom and in the treasuries of the royal palace, as well as some hostages. Then he returned to Samaria.