1 Chronicles 15:24

Authorized King James Version

And Shebaniah, and Jehoshaphat, and Nethaneel, and Amasai, and Zechariah, and Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, did blow with the trumpets before the ark of God: and Obed-edom and Jehiah were doorkeepers for the ark.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וּשְׁבַנְיָ֡הוּ
And Shebaniah
shebanjah, the name of three or four israelites
#2
וְיֽוֹשָׁפָ֡ט
and Jehoshaphat
joshaphat, an israelite
#3
וּנְתַנְאֵ֡ל
and Nethaneel
nethanel, the name of ten israelites
#4
וַֽעֲמָשַׂ֡י
and Amasai
amasai, the name of three israelites
#5
וּ֠זְכַרְיָהוּ
and Zechariah
zecarjah, the name of twenty-nine israelites
#6
וּבְנָיָ֤הוּ
and Benaiah
benajah, the name of twelve israelites
#7
וֶֽאֱלִיעֶ֙זֶר֙
and Eliezer
eliezer, the name of a damascene and of ten israelites
#8
הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים
the priests
literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)
#9
מַחְצְצרִים֙
did blow
to trumpet, i.e., blow on that instrument
#10
בַּחֲצֹ֣צְר֔וֹת
with the trumpets
a trumpet (from its sundered or quavering note)
#11
לִפְנֵ֖י
before
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
#12
לָֽאָרֽוֹן׃
for the ark
a box
#13
הָֽאֱלֹהִ֑ים
of God
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
#14
וְעֹבֵ֤ד
H0
#15
אֱדֹם֙
and Obededom
obed-edom, the name of five israelites
#16
וִֽיחִיָּ֔ה
and Jehiah
jechijah, an israelite
#17
שֹֽׁעֲרִ֖ים
were doorkeepers
a janitor
#18
לָֽאָרֽוֹן׃
for the ark
a box

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine sovereignty contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection