What is the meaning of 1 Chronicles 26:5? Ammiel the sixth – The verse continues the orderly listing of Obed-edom’s sons who served as gatekeepers (1 Chron 26:1). – Six sons already named show God’s fruitfulness in Obed-edom’s household, echoing Psalm 127:3 – “Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward.” – Every child is counted because every child is significant in the service of the sanctuary (Numbers 3:32). – Ammiel’s position as “the sixth” reinforces the Spirit-directed structure and accountability required for temple ministry (1 Corinthians 14:40). Issachar the seventh – The list moves on without editorial pause, underscoring that each son, whatever his birth order, has a divinely appointed place. – Seven in Scripture often signals completeness (Genesis 2:2-3; Revelation 1:4). Placing Issachar seventh quietly points to the sufficiency of God’s provision for the gatekeeping task. – The tribe of Issachar would later be praised for understanding the times (1 Chron 12:32). The name here reminds us that discernment belongs even to doorkeepers (Psalm 84:10). Peullethai the eighth – Eight marks a new beginning—circumcision on the eighth day (Leviticus 12:3), resurrection on the first day of a new week (Luke 24:1). – By recording an eighth son, Scripture hints that Obed-edom’s legacy would extend beyond mere maintenance of the status quo into fresh seasons of blessing and worship renewal (2 Chron 29:12-17). – The multiplication of sons mirrors the multiplication of praise that would rise in the temple courts (Psalm 145:4). For God had blessed Obed-edom – The statement explains the abundance just cataloged. It reaches back to the moment when the ark rested in Obed-edom’s house for three months and “the LORD blessed him and all his household” (1 Chron 13:14; 2 Samuel 6:11). – The blessing was tangible—children, position, and influence—illustrating James 1:17: “Every good and perfect gift is from above.” – God’s favor on Obed-edom shows that reverent proximity to His presence brings overflow, not scarcity (Malachi 3:10; John 10:10). summary 1 Chronicles 26:5 is more than a roll call; it is a snapshot of divine generosity. Ammiel, Issachar, and Peullethai are individually named to testify that God’s blessing on Obed-edom produced ordered service and multi-generational fruitfulness. The verse encourages us to trust that those who welcome God’s presence will see His abundant, well-structured blessing spill over into every part of life. |