Shebuel

December 5, 2014

The lineage of Moses is in charge of the gifts given to the temple (1 Chr 26:25-26:28)

“Shebuel’s brother from Eliezer, were his son Rehabiah, and then his son Jeshaiah, and then his son Joram, and then his son Zichri, and finally his son Shelomoth. This Shelomoth and his brothers were in charge of all the treasuries of the dedicated gifts which King David, and the heads of the heads of families, and the officers of the thousands and the hundreds, and the commanders of the army, had dedicated. From booty won in battles they dedicated gifts for the maintenance of the house of Yahweh. Also all that Samuel the seer, and Saul son of Kish, and Abner son of Ner, and Joab son of Zeruiah had dedicated, all dedicated gifts were in the care of Shelomoth and his brothers.”

This biblical author seems to give deference to the sons of Moses who were in charge of all the collected booty or spoils that were captured. Shebuel the grandson of Moses was the chief officer. However, it is through Eliezer, the brother of Gershom, that the chief officer of the spoils from the various battles is brought to the temple, as in Numbers, chapter 31. His lineage went through the grandson of Moses, Rehabiah. There were 3 other people with the name of Jeshaiah. This Joram was neither the king of Judah (848-841 BCE) or Israel (852-841 BCE). There were 11 different people with the name of Zichri. There were 2 other people with the name of Shelomoth. This Shelomoth and his brother were in charge of the booty from the various battles of Samuel, Saul, Abner, Joab, and David had brought to the temple. After each battle, Israelite officers would dedicate gifts to the Temple.

December 5, 2014

The Levites in charge of the treasury of the temple (1 Chr 26:20-26:24)

“Of the Levites, Ahijah had charge of the treasuries of the house of God and the treasuries of the dedicated gifts. The sons of Ladan, the sons of the Gershonites who belonged to Ladan, the heads of the families belonging to Ladan the Gershonite were in charge. The sons of Jehieli, Zetham and his brother Joel were in charge of the treasuries of the house of Yahweh. Among the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites, Shebuel the son of Gershom, son of Moses, was chief officer in charge of the treasuries.”

There seems to be a lot of Levites in charge of the treasuries of the house of Yahweh, the Temple. In fact, some commentators think that the Hebrew text is confusing. First, this biblical writer said that Ahijah was in charge of the treasury and the gifts. Ahijah was a common name that appeared with 6 different people. Perhaps this is a mistake for something like the brethren of Levites. Then the biblical author said that the sons of Ladan and the sons of Gershom were in charge of the treasury, in particular the sons of Jehieli, Zetham and his brother Joel. This is the only time that the names of Jehieli and Zetham ever appear in the biblical literature. Joel is, of course, a more common name, since 14 people have that name with the most famous being the prophet Joel. The Gershonites seem to be in charge. However, then there is a mention of the Kohathites and their 4 branches, the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites, with Shebuel, the grandson of Moses, in charge

 

December 4, 2014

The sons of Heman (1 Chr 25:4-25:6)

“The sons of Heman were Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. All these were the sons of Heman the king’s seer, according to the promise of God to exalt him. God had given Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. They were all under the direction of their father for the music in the house of Yahweh. They played cymbals, harps, and lyres for the service of the house of God.”

Heman had 14 sons and 3 daughters. Apparently, they all performed music in the house of Yahweh, the Temple, with cymbals, harps, and lyres. Heman was also called a seer or prophet to the king. Of Heman’s 14 listed sons, 8 of them are names that only are mentioned here and in the giving of the lots, but nowhere else in the biblical literature, (1) Bukkiah, (8) Eliathah, (9) Giddalti, (10) Romamti-ezer, (11) Joshbekashah, (12) Mallothi, (13) Hothir, and (14) Mahazioth. There were 9 different people with the name of (2) Mattaniah, but this Mattaniah will be in charge of the 9th group of singers. There were 8 different people with this name of (3) Uzziel. There was only 1 other (4) Shebuel. There were 7 different people with the name of (5) Jerimoth. There were 13 different people with the name of (6) Hananiah. There were 5 different people with the name of (7) Hanani.