Read 1 Chronicles 15 here (text coming …) or at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraphs:
14:13-15:2 {p} David built houses for himself and a place for the ark
15:3-4 {s} David gathered Israel to Jerusalem to bring up the ark of God and assembled the sons of Aaron and Levi
15:5 {s} Of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief, and one hundred and twenty of his brethren
15:6 {s} Of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief, and two hundred and twenty of his brethren
15:7 {s} Of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief, and one hundred and thirty of his brethren
15:8 {s} Of the sons of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the chief, and two hundred of his brethren
15:9 {s} Of the sons of Hebron, Eliel the chief, and eighty of his brethren
15:10 {p} Of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab the chief, and one hundred and twelve of his brethren
15:11 {s} David called for the priests and heads of the Levites, the six just named
15:12-15 {p} David commanded them to sanctify themselves to bring up the ark of God
15:16 {p} David commanded the Levites to appoint singers and musicians with joy
15:17a {s} The Levites appointed Heman son of Joel and Asaph son of Berechiah
15:17b-25 {p} They appointed gatekeepers, singers, musicians, music master, and gatekeep-ers for the ark
15:26-29 {p} David, Levites, and Israel brought up the ark with joy but Michal despised Da-vid in her heart
The Strong themes:
15:3-10 {sx6+p} David gathered Israel, and the priests and Levites to Jerusalem to bring up the ark of God
15:11-15 {s+p} David called the priests and Levites to sanctify themselves to bring up the ark of God
15:17-25 {s+p} The Levites appointed gatekeepers, singers, musicians, a music master, gate-keepers for the ark
The Chiastic structure:
Why does the ark need gatekeepers?
Gatekeepers is in Hebrew, Strong’s H7778, sho’arim; from Strong’s H8179, sha’ar “gate, entrance;” from Strong’s H8176, שער sha’ar, “to cleave, to divide,” as a gate is located at the point where the wall is divided to make an entrance.
A gatekeeper, then, is someone who guards entrances.
The Levites who are gatekeepers guard the entrances to sacred spaces, such as the tabernacle or temple entrances, (1 Chr 19:9) or guard the entrances to sacred objects such as the ark.
The ark represents YHVH’s covenant presence. It is holy, and dangerous if mishandled as Uzza’s death showed (1 Chr 13:9-10). Gatekeepers ensure that no one who is unauthorized approaches, protecting not only the sanctity of the ark, but the lives of YHVH’s worshippers. However, in the New Covenant:
And He came and preached peace to you who were far off and to those who were near, for through Him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. Eph 2:17-18
Now in Messiah Yeshua, and by His priesthood of offering the sacrifice of His own blood, we have access to the Father without gatekeepers. And not only access, but,
Let us therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace for help in time of need. Heb 4:16
If there are questions, this is a good resource:
Exodus 25, The mercy seat of the ark – Christine Miller
Exodus 26, The separation rent asunder – Christine Miller
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