Lexical Definition

‎עֹבֵד אֱדוֹם‎ ʻÔbêd ʼĔdôwm (o-bade' ed-ome') Obed-edom ^N:N-M-P
from the active participle of ‎עָבַד‎ and ‎אֱדֹם‎; worker of Edom

Obed-edom.

• § Obed-edom = "servant of Edom"
• Obed-Edom, the name of five Israelites

1) a Levite and a Gittite who kept the ark after Uzzah was slain by God for touching the ark while it was being taken to Jerusalem
2) a Merarite Levite and a singer and gatekeeper
2a) the family descended from him

Extended Information

• A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.6.10
• son of: Jeduthun (יְדוּתוּן)
• brother of: Mattithiah (מַתִּתְיָה), Gedaliah (גְּדַּלְיָה), Zeri (צְרִי), Jeshaiah (יְשַׁעְיָה) and Hashabiah (חֲשַׁבְיָה)
• father of: Shemaiah (שְׁמַעְיָה), Jehozabad (יְהוֹזָבָד), Joah (יוֹאָח), Sachar (שָׂכָר), Nethanel (נְתַנְאֵל), Ammiel (עַמִּיאֵל), Issachar (יִשָּׂשכָר) and Peullethai (פְּעֻלְּתַי)
• Also named: shim.i (‎ש‎ִׁ‎מ‎ְ‎ע‎ִ‎י‎ "Shimei" שִׁמְעִי)

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎עֹבֵדאֱדֹם‎, and (2Chr 25:24) ‎אֱדוֺם‎‎׳‎‎ע‎ proper name, masculine (servant of (god) Edom, compare ‎עבד אדם‎ CIS^{No. 295}; Dr^{Sm 206, 298 and references}, RS^{Sem i. 43; 2nd ed. 42 and references}, HPS^{2Sam 6:10}; but Bae^{Rel 10} servant of man, ‎אֱדֹם‎ = ‎אָדָם‎, which is thought possible by Nö^{ZMG xlii (1888), 470} Buhl^{Edomiter 49}); —

1. the Gittite who harboured the ark 2Sam 6:10; 2Sam 6:11 (twice in verse); 2Sam 6:12 (twice in verse) = 1Chr 13:13; 1Chr 13:14 (twice in verse), 1Chr 15:25 ᵐ5 Αβεδδαρα, ᵐ5^L Αβεδδαδαν.

2. (= 1 ?) one of the chief Levitical singers and doorkeepers 1Chr 15:18; 1Chr 15:21; 1Chr 15:24; 1Chr 16:5; 1Chr 16:38 (twice in verse); 1Chr 26:4; 1Chr 26:8 (twice in verse); 1Chr 26:15 ᵐ5 Αβαεδωμ, Αβδεδωμ, etc., ᵐ5^L Αβεδδομ.

3. the family of the same 2Chr 25:24 (not in || 2Kgs 14:14).

Brown-Driver-Briggs References

Profile

Male • A Singer • Gittite who housed the Ark

Singer living at the time of United Monarchy

Obed-edom was a Gittite in whose house the Ark of the Covenant stayed for three months, bringing blessings to his household.

• A Singer from the tribe of Levi living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.6.10;
• referred to as Obed-edom עֹבֵד אֱדוֹם, or Shimei שִׁמְעִי;
• son of Jeduthun יְדוּתוּן;
• a brother of Mattithiah מַתִּתְיָה, Gedaliah גְּדַּלְיָה, Zeri צְרִי, Jeshaiah יְשַׁעְיָה and Hashabiah חֲשַׁבְיָה;
• father of Shemaiah שְׁמַעְיָה, Jehozabad יְהוֹזָבָד, Joah יוֹאָח, Sachar שָׂכָר, Nethanel נְתַנְאֵל, Ammiel עַמִּיאֵל, Issachar יִשָּׂשכָר and Peullethai פְּעֻלְּתַי.

Obed-edom was a Gittite in whose house the Ark of the Covenant stayed for three months after the death of Uzzah (2 Samuel 6:10-12; 1 Chronicles 13:13-14). When David attempted to bring the Ark to Jerusalem, Uzzah was struck down by God for touching the Ark. Fearful of further divine judgment, David left the Ark in the house of Obed-edom. During its stay, Obed-edom's household was blessed by God (1 Chronicles 13:14). Later, when David brought the Ark to Jerusalem, Obed-edom and his family were appointed as gatekeepers and musicians in the tabernacle (1 Chronicles 15:18, 21, 24; 16:5, 38). Obed-edom had eight sons, all of whom served in the tabernacle (1 Chronicles 26:4-8). He is also mentioned as a Levite in the context of the temple treasuries (2 Chronicles 25:24). Obed-edom's faithfulness and the blessings he received highlight the importance of reverence for the Ark and the presence of God.

All entries for Obed-edom or Shimei: עֹבֵד אֱדוֹם ☩ שִׁמְעִי

Related Profiles:

• Jeduthun (father)
• Mattithiah (sibling)
• Gedaliah (sibling)
• Zeri (sibling)
• Jeshaiah (sibling)
• Hashabiah (sibling)
• Shemaiah (child)
• Jehozabad (child)
• Joah (child)
• Sachar (child)
• Nethanel (child)
• Ammiel (child)
• Issachar (child)
• Peullethai (child)