What the Bible Says About Porters

And the porters were, Shallum, and Akkub, and Talmon, and Ahiman, and their brethren: Shallum was the chief;

Who hitherto waited in the king's gate eastward: they were porters in the companies of the children of Levi.

And Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brethren, of the house of his father, the Korahites, were over the work of the service, keepers of the gates of the tabernacle: and their fathers, being over the host of the LORD, were keepers of the entry. gates: Heb. thresholds

And Phinehas the son of Eleazar was the ruler over them in time past, and the LORD was with him.

And Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was porter of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

All these which were chosen to be porters in the gates were two hundred and twelve. These were reckoned by their genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the seer did ordain in their set office. did: Heb. founded set: or, trust

So they and their children had the oversight of the gates of the house of the LORD, namely, the house of the tabernacle, by wards.

In four quarters were the porters, toward the east, west, north, and south.

And their brethren, which were in their villages, were to come after seven days from time to time with them.

For these Levites, the four chief porters, were in their set office, and were over the chambers and treasuries of the house of God. set: or, trust chambers: or, storehouses

And they lodged round about the house of God, because the charge was upon them, and the opening thereof every morning pertained to them.

And certain of them had the charge of the ministering vessels, that they should bring them in and out by tale. bring: Heb. bring them in by tale, and carry them out by tale

Some of them also were appointed to oversee the vessels, and all the instruments of the sanctuary, and the fine flour, and the wine, and the oil, and the frankincense, and the spices. instruments: or, vessels

And some of the sons of the priests made the ointment of the spices.

And Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the set office over the things that were made in the pans. set: or, trust in: or, on flat plates, or, slices

And other of their brethren, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the shewbread, to prepare it every sabbath. shewbread: Heb. bread of ordering

These likewise cast lots over against their brethren the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, and Zadok, and Ahimelech, and the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites, even the principal fathers over against their younger brethren.

And they cast lots, as well the small as the great, according to the house of their fathers, for every gate. as well: or, as well for the small as for the great

And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah his son, a wise counsellor, they cast lots; and his lot came out northward. Shelemiah: also called Meshelemiah, ver.I.

To Obededom southward; and to his sons the house of Asuppim. Asuppim: Heb. gatherings

To Shuppim and Hosah the lot came forth westward, with the gate Shallecheth, by the causeway of the going up, ward against ward.

Eastward were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and toward Asuppim two and two.

At Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar.

These are the divisions of the porters among the sons of Kore, and among the sons of Merari.

This is the thing that ye shall do; A third part of you entering on the sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites, shall be porters of the doors; doors: Heb. thresholds

And a third part shall be at the king's house; and a third part at the gate of the foundation: and all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the LORD.

Also they were over the bearers of burdens, and were overseers of all that wrought the work in any manner of service: and of the Levites there were scribes, and officers, and porters.

And the singers the sons of Asaph were in their place, according to the commandment of David, and Asaph, and Heman, and Jeduthun the king's seer; and the porters waited at every gate; they might not depart from their service; for their brethren the Levites prepared for them. place: Heb. station

Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, were porters keeping the ward at the thresholds of the gates. thresholds: or, treasuries, or, assemblies