What responsibilities did the Korahites have, according to 1 Chronicles 9:19? Scripture focus 1 Chronicles 9:19: “Shallum son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his fellow gatekeepers from his family (the Korahites) were responsible for guarding the thresholds of the tent, just as their fathers had guarded the entrance to the camp of the LORD.” Core responsibilities given in the verse • Served as gatekeepers for the house of God • Guarded “the thresholds of the tent,” the entry points to the tabernacle • Continued the ancestral charge of protecting the entrance to the LORD’s camp Further duties confirmed elsewhere • Controlled access to ensure only those authorized could approach holy spaces (Numbers 18:3–4) • Kept watch day and night, rotating stations around the sanctuary (1 Chronicles 9:24, 27) • Oversaw opening and closing of the gates at appointed times (1 Chronicles 9:26) • Protected and cared for sacred vessels and offerings brought to the temple (2 Chronicles 31:14) • Modeled reverence in worship, a theme echoed by their descendants in psalms of the “sons of Korah” (Psalm 84:10) Significance of their service • Safeguarded the purity of worship by guarding holy boundaries • Demonstrated God’s mercy in restoring Korah’s line after earlier rebellion (Numbers 16; 26:11) • Illustrated how diligent, often unseen ministry at the threshold sustains the life and holiness of God’s people |
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