Lexical Summary Obed Edom: Obed Edom Original Word: עֹבֵד אֱדוֹם Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Obed-Edom, the name of five Israelites From the active participle of abad and 'Edom; worker of Edom; Obed-Edom, the name of five Israelites: see HEBREW abad see HEBREW 'Edom NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom abad and Edom Definition "servant of Edom," an Isr. name NASB Translation Obed-edom (20). Brown-Driver-Briggs עֹבֵדאֱדֹם, and (2 Chronicles 25:24) אֱדוֺם׳ע proper name, masculine (servant of (god) Edom, compare עבד אדם CISNo. 295; DrSm 206, 298 and references, RSSem i. 43; 2nd ed. 42 and references, HPS2Samuel 6:10; but BaeRel 10 servant of man, אֱדֹם = אָדָם, which is thought possible by NöZMG xlii (1888), 470 BuhlEdomiter 49); — 1 the Gittite who harboured the ark 2 Samuel 6:10,11 (twice in verse); 2 Samuel 6:12 (twice in verse) = 1 Chronicles 13:13,14 (twice in verse), 1 Chronicles 15:25; ᵐ5 Αβεδδαρα, ᵐ5L Αβεδδαδαν. 2 (= 1 ?) one of the chief Levitical singers and doorkeepers 1 Chronicles 15:18,21,24; 1 Chronicles 16:5,38 (twice in verse); 1 Chronicles 26:4,8 (twice in verse); 1 Chronicles 26:15; ᵐ5 Αβαεδωμ, Αβδεδωμ, etc., ᵐ5L Αβεδδομ. 3 the family of the same2Chronicles 25:24 (not in "" 2 Kings 14:14). Topical Lexicon Historical Overview Obed-Edom appears twenty times in the Old Testament narrative and worship records. Scripture presents (1) the Gittite whose house sheltered the ark, (2) a Levitical gatekeeper and musician during David’s reign, and (3) a later temple treasurer in the days of Amaziah. Whether the first two references concern the same man or two men of the same name is debated, but the Bible unites them in a single theme: wholehearted hospitality to the presence of God and faithful stewardship of holy things. Custodian of the Ark (2 Samuel 6; 1 Chronicles 13) After Uzzah’s death, “David 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” (2 Samuel 6:10). For three months the sacred chest rested there: “The ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months, and the LORD blessed Obed-Edom and all his household” (2 Samuel 6:11). News of this blessing reached the king (6:12), prompting David to retrieve the ark with proper reverence. The episode illustrates how God’s presence brings overflowing favor to those who receive Him in obedience. Levitical Musician and Gatekeeper (1 Chronicles 15–16) As David organized worship around the ark, Obed-Edom’s name resurfaces among the Levites: His dual role—standing guard over the entrance and leading praise—reflects two complementary ministries: protecting the sanctity of worship and actively exalting God. By giving a former ark-host the privilege of guarding and celebrating it publicly, the Lord turns private faithfulness into public service. Household Legacy and Gate Allotment (1 Chronicles 26) Obed-Edom’s sons and grandsons were appointed gatekeepers: “All these were descendants of Obed-Edom…capable men with the strength to do the work—sixty-two from Obed-Edom” (1 Chronicles 26:8). Lots assigned him the South Gate and the storehouse (26:15), placing the family in daily contact with temple treasures. Generational blessing, first hinted at in 2 Samuel 6, becomes measurable in manpower and responsibility. Temple Treasurer under Amaziah (2 Chronicles 25:24) A man bearing the same name is later entrusted with safeguarding the valuables of the temple. When King Jehoash of Israel plundered Jerusalem he “took all the gold and silver and all the articles found in the house of God with Obed-Edom” (2 Chronicles 25:24). This notice confirms that the title remained synonymous with trustworthy stewardship long after David’s time, whether through the same bloodline or simply the enduring reputation attached to the name. Possible Harmonization of the Gittite and the Levite The term “Gittite” need not imply Philistine origin; Levitical towns in Benjamin (such as Gath-rimmon) bore the same root. The Chronicler explicitly calls him a Korahite Levite (1 Chronicles 26:1, 4), solving the apparent tension: Obed-Edom could be a Levite who had lived in a Gittite-named town before hosting the ark. Scripture therefore presents no contradiction but rather a fuller portrait of a Levite unexpectedly honored in his rural home and then drafted into full-time service in Jerusalem. Theological Themes 1. God’s presence blesses receptive households. Practical Lessons • Welcome God’s presence even when others shrink back. Forms and Transliterations אֱד֖וֹם אֱד֗וֹם אֱדֹ֔ם אֱדֹ֖ם אֱדֹ֗ם אֱדֹ֛ם אֱדֹ֜ם אֱדֹ֧ם אֱדֹֽם׃ אֱדֹם֙ אדום אדם אדם׃ ’ĕ·ḏō·wm ’ĕ·ḏōm ’ĕḏōm ’ĕḏōwm eDomLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Samuel 6:10 HEB: בֵּ֥ית עֹבֵֽד־ אֱד֖וֹם הַגִּתִּֽי׃ NAS: to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. KJV: into the house of Obededom the Gittite. INT: David to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite 2 Samuel 6:11 2 Samuel 6:11 2 Samuel 6:12 2 Samuel 6:12 1 Chronicles 13:13 1 Chronicles 13:14 1 Chronicles 13:14 1 Chronicles 15:18 1 Chronicles 15:21 1 Chronicles 15:24 1 Chronicles 15:25 1 Chronicles 16:5 1 Chronicles 16:38 1 Chronicles 16:38 1 Chronicles 26:4 1 Chronicles 26:8 1 Chronicles 26:8 1 Chronicles 26:15 2 Chronicles 25:24 20 Occurrences |