We have the honourable testimony which God the Holy Ghost gave of this man, 2 Sam. vi. 9 - 12; and again recorded, 1 Chron. 13, 13, 14. And his numerous family, 1 Chron. 26. 4, 5. His name is compounded of Obed, slave - - and Edom, or the Idumean. But as Obed - jah, the prophet, was called the slave or labourer of the Lord, so Obed - edom, the slave of the Adam or Edom, the earth or earthy, was eminently the Lord’s chosen for that peculiar service of receiving the ark, when David himself trembled on the occasion.
But I hope the reader, in beholding the blessing of the Lord upon Obed - edom and his house, for the ark of God’s sake, will not overlook the cause. That ark was a type of the ever - blessed Jesus. In receiving the ark into his house, into his family, and among his people, he did, to all intents and purposes, receive Christ into his heart, and like the faithful descendant of the faithful Abraham, "saw the day of Christ afar off, rejoiced, and was glad."
Obed - edom was no stranger to the dreadful conse - quences which had fallen on the Philistines for their daring impiety, in taking the ark of God, and detaining it. He could be no stranger to the awful death of Uzzah, for touching it presumptuously; for, no doubt, it was in every one’s mouth. Nay, he could not but know that the reason wherefore David wished Obed - edom to take the ark into his house was, because he was afraid to take it into his own. What was it then, that prompted the mind of this pious faithful Gittite to receive the ark of God under such alarming circumstances? What was it, but thy grace almighty Lord, that taught him to rejoice in thee and thy favour, while others were trembling under thy judgments? Oh! the blessedness of’ distinguishing grace, which makes that to thy people "a savour of life unto life, " whilst to others it becomes" a savour of death unto death." Three whole months was Obed - edom favoured with the abode of the ark. No doubt, the tokens of the divine presence were so visibly bestowed upon this man and his household, that the whole neighborhood, yea, the whole kingdom, could not but take notice of it; for it is said, "that it was told king David, saying, the Lord hath blessed the house of Obed - edom, and all that pertained to him, because of the ark of God, " ver. 12.
Hear this ye parents, masters of families, and guardians of houses, interested in your own present and everlasting welfare, and that of your young ones of the rising generation. Behold the blessedness in Obed - edom, and all that pertained to him, for receiving the ark of God into his house. And observe the special time when this was done. It was when others trembled, he was made hold with an holy boldness. When none ventured to serve the interest of God, and to receive his ark, he was faithful. And what is it now? If that ark was a type of Christ, who are they that may be said to be faithful in the midst of the present perverse and crooked generation, but they who receive Christ Jesus the Lord into their hearts, and houses, and families, whilst others despise him! Who are the Obed - edoms of the present day, but such as receive Christ Jesus the Lord, and walk in him, and live to him, and rejoice in him, as the Lord our Righteousness! And if there ever was a day of peculiar blessedness, for the manifesting this distinguishing love to Jesus and his cause, surely the present is the one. Oh! for grace, therefore, that while the ark of God, the Christ of God, is shut out of such numberless houses in this adulterous and sinful generation, many an Obed - edom may yet be found in our British Israel to welcome the Lord Jesus to their hearts, and he, and he alone, be formed there the hope of glory. Hail Obed - edom, thou faithful servant of thy Lord! Ever will thy memory be blessed in the church; and when the temple of God is opened again in heaven, as it was to the beloved apostle(Rev. xi. 19.) and the ark of the Testament is beheld by the whole church, still will it be held in everlasting remembrance how the Lord blessed the house of Obed - edom upon earth, for the ark of God’s sake.
son of Jeduthun, a Levite, 1Ch 16:38, and the father of Shemaiah and others, 1Ch 16:5. We learn that the Lord blessed this man exceedingly, on account of the ark resting under his roof, 2Sa 6:10-11. David having removed the ark to the place he had previously prepared for its reception, Obed-Edom and his sons were appointed to be keepers of the doors of the temple, 1Ch 15:18; 1Ch 15:21. Obed-Edom is called the Gittite, probably because he was of Gathrimmon, a city of the Levites beyond Jordan, Jos 21:24-25.
O´bed-E´dom (serving Edom), a Levite in whose premises, and under whose care, the ark was deposited, when the death of Uzzah caused David to apprehend danger in taking it farther. It remained here three months, during which the family of Obed-edom so signally prospered, that the king was encouraged to resume his first intention, which he then happily carried into effect (2Sa 6:10-12). We learn from 1Ch 16:38, that Obed-Edom’s connection with the ark did not then terminate, he and his brethren having charge of the doors of the sanctuary (1Ch 15:18; 1Ch 15:24).
A Levite, whose special prosperity while keeper of the ark after the dreadful death of Uzziah encouraged David to carry it up to Jerusalem. Obed-edom and his sons were made doorkeepers of the tabernacle at Jerusalem, 2Sa 6:10-12 ; 1Ch 15:18-24 ; 16:38; 26:4- 8,15.\par
1. 2Sa 6:11. (On his title "the Gittite".) Gath-rimmon was a city of the Levite Kohathites in Dan (Jos 21:24). He was a Kohathite and distinguished by his title "Gittite" from Obed Edom, son of Jeduthun, a Merarite (1Ch 16:38).
Accordingly, in 1 Chronicles 15 we find the ark was no longer taken in a cart, but borne on the Levites’ shoulders, with Obed Edom "a doorkeeper for the ark," and it is emphatically said it was "as Moses commanded, according to the word of Jehovah" (1Ch 15:15; 1Ch 15:18; 1Ch 15:24). The minute propriety of these details establishes the truthfulness of the narrative of the divine visitation on Uzzah. The Lord blessed Obed Edom and all his household in consequence during its three months’ stay with him; so David brought it up front Obed Edom’s house with joy. While the ark brought a plague every one was glad to be rid of it; but when it brought a blessing to Obed Edom, they wished for it. Many will own a blessing ark; he is an Obed Edom indeed that will own a persecuted, tossed, banished ark (Trapp). "God blessed him" with eight sons who were temple porters (1Ch 26:1-5; 1Ch 26:8).
Obed Edom and his sons guarded the S. temple gate and the house
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3. A Levite in Amaziah’s time, having charge of the vessels of God’s house, taken captive with the king by Joash king of Israel at Bethshemesh battle (2Ch 25:23-24). Probably sprung from "Obed Edom the Gittite." The blessed of the Lord shall dwell in the Lord’s house forever.
Obed-edom (ô’bed-ç’dom) servant of Edom. 1. A Gittite who lived in David’s time, 1Ch 13:13, and at whose house the ark was left, after the dreadful death of Uzzah. 2Sa 6:6-10. The blessing which came on the house of Obed-edom for the ark’s sake encouraged David to remove it to Jerusalem. 2Sa 6:10 to 2Sa 12:2. The temple-treasurer in the reign of Amaziah. 2Ch 25:24.
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By: Jacob Zallel Lauterbach, Executive Committee of the Editorial Board., Schulim Ochser
—1. Biblical Data:
A Gittite to whose house the Ark was taken when removed from that of Abinadab in Gibeah. It remained with Obed-edom three months before it was carried to the City of David; and God "blessed Obededom and all his household" (II Sam. vi. 10-11).
—In Rabbinical Literature:
From I Chron. xxvi. 4-8, where Obed-edom is mentioned together with the Levites, it is concluded that he was himself a Levite. His name is interpreted thus: "Obed" = "the servant who honors God in the right way"; "Edom" (lit. "red")= "one who causes to blush." He made David blush for shame because the latter was at first afraid to receive the Ark, whereas Obededom took it into his house without hesitation (Num. R. iv. 21). During the time that the Ark was with him Obed-edom used to light a candle beforeit twice daily, early in the morning and again at evening (ib.).
The blessing with which God blessed Obed-edom consisted in children. His wife and eight daughters-in-law bore children twice every month during the three months that the Ark remained with him (ib.). According to another version, each of them bore six children at once (Ber. 63b).
J. Z. L.
2. Korahite; one of the guards appointed to march before the Ark of the Covenant when it was taken from the house of Obed-edom the Gittite to Jerusalem. He was commissioned also, with five of his companions, to play on the harp of eight strings (I Chron. xv. 18, 21, 24). During the regency of Solomon, in David's old age, Obed-edom belonged to the second division of the guard in the provisional Temple; and the sixty-two male members of his family, including his eight sons, were all detailed for duty at the Temple and kept guard on its southern side (I Chron. xxvi. 4, 8, 15).
3. Son of Jeduthun, and, like Hosah, a porter at the Temple in the reign of David (I Chron. xvi. 38).
4. Temple guard; flourished during the reign of Amaziah, King of Judah; under his care were all the gold, silver, and vessels which were carried off by Jehoash to Samaria.
OBED-EDOM.—1. A Philistine, a native of Gath, who lived in or near Jerusalem. In his house David deposited the ark after the death of Uzzah, and here it remained three months, bringing a blessing by its presence (2Sa 6:10 f., 1Ch 13:14). It is in all probability the same O. that appears as—2. The eponym of a family of door-keepers in the Temple (1Ch 15:18; 1Ch 15:24; 1Ch 16:38; 1Ch 26:4; 1Ch 26:8; 1Ch 26:15, 2Ch 25:24). 3. The eponym of a post-exilic family of singers (1Ch 15:21; 1Ch 16:5).
Obed-edom is an illustration of the service rendered to Hebrew religion by foreigners, reminding one of the Simon of Cyrene who bore the cross of Jesus (Mat 27:32, etc.). The Chronicler naturally desired to think that only Levites could discharge such duties as Obed-edom performed, and hence, the references to him as a Levite.
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