Obed-Edom was a Gittite (from Gath) in whose house the Ark of the Covenant was kept for three months after Uzzah died by touching it. The Lord blessed Obed-Edom and all his household while the ark was with him. Later, he and his descendants were appointed as gatekeepers and musicians in temple service under David.
The Death of Uzzah and the Placement of the Ark with Obed-Edom
After Uzzah died because he touched the ark, David was afraid and did not want to bring the ark to the City of David. Instead, the ark was placed in the house of Obed-Edom.
10So David was unwilling to bring the ark of the LORD up to himself in the City of David; instead he turned it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.
14The ark of God remained with the household of Obed-Edom in his house for three months, and the LORD blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that he had.
During the three months that the Ark of the Covenant was in the house of Obed-Edom, the Lord blessed him and all he owned. This blessing became so evident that it was reported to King David.
12King David was told, "The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him because of the ark of God." So David went and brought the ark of God up from the house of Obed-edom to the City of David with rejoicing.
14The ark of God remained with the household of Obed-Edom in his house for three months, and the LORD blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that he had.
The Ark Moved from the House of Obed-Edom to Jerusalem
When David heard about the blessing on Obed-Edom's household, he brought the ark and led it with joy up to the City of David with sacrifices and dancing.
12King David was told, "The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him because of the ark of God." So David went and brought the ark of God up from the house of Obed-edom to the City of David with rejoicing.
25So David, the elders of Israel, and the commanders of thousands went with rejoicing to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-Edom.
After the ark was placed in the tent in Jerusalem, Obed-Edom and his relatives were appointed by David to serve as gatekeepers at the ark of the covenant.
18and with them their relatives of the second rank: Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, and Obed-Edom and Jeiel, the gatekeepers.
24Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, blew the trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-Edom and Jehiah were also gatekeepers for the ark.
Obed-Edom's descendants were blessed with many sons who served as skilled gatekeepers at God's house, which was seen as a continuation of God's blessing over the family.
8All these were descendants of Obed-edom—they, their sons, and their relatives—men of ability with strength for the work: sixty-two in all belonging to Obed-edom.
24He took all the gold and silver and all the articles found in the house of God, which had been in the care of Obed-Edom, together with the treasures of the royal palace and the hostages, and returned to Samaria.