OBED-EDOM
“servant of Edom.”
(a) Person of disputed origin. If he came from the Philistine city of Gath, it is likely that he belonged to David’s personal guard; but if he was originally from Gath-rimmon, a Levitical city of the tribe of Dan, then Obed-edom was a Levite.
He lived between Kiriath-jearim and Jerusalem, near the place where Uzzah died for touching the ark. David ordered that the ark be deposited in the house of Obed-edom, where he stayed for three months.
Jehovah blessed Obed-edom and his family (2 Sam. 6:10-12; 1 Chron. 13:13, 14; 15:25). If Obed-edom was a Levite, he must be assimilated with Obed-edom a Korahite (section c, below). The Korahites belonged to the family of the Kohathites, to which the city of Gath-rimmon had been assigned. The mention of God’s blessing (1 Chron. 26:5) seems to relate to 1 Chron. 13:14 and 2 Sam. 6:11.
(b) Levite of secondary rank; He was one of the keepers of the ark, and played the harp during its transportation to Jerusalem. He was thereupon appointed, along with others, to the musical service of the Tabernacle prepared for the ark (1 Chron. 15:18, 21; 16:5).
(c) Levite; as porter of the Tabernacle, he went before the ark when it was brought to Jerusalem (1 Chron. 15:24). He is probably the same person as Obed-edom son of Jeduthun and porter of the Jerusalem Tabernacle (1 Chron. 16:38).
Although it cannot be rigorously demonstrated, this Obed-edom at the end of verse 38 is generally identified with the Obed-edom at the beginning of the same verse. It also seems that this is the same person as Obed-edom the descendant of Korah (1 Chr. 26:1-4) (see section (a) of this same article and cf. 1 Chr. 26:10; 16:38 ).
Korah’s son Obed-edom had sixty-two sons and grandsons. They were part of those in charge of guarding the doors of the Tabernacle, and were distributed in different orders under the reign of David (1 Chr. 26:8-12).
They cast lots for each door; the family of Obed-edom received the southern side (1 Chron. 26:13, 15), and continued to occupy this position under the reign of Amaziah (2 Chron. 25:24).