Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons; Simri the chief,(for though he was not the firstborn, yet his father made him the chief;)

1 CHRONICLES 26:10KJV
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1 Chronicles 26:10 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 26:10 mean?

1 Chronicles 26:10 describes a family appointment among the temple gatekeepers. Hosah chose his son Simri to lead his family’s group, even though Simri was not the oldest son. The verse distinguishes Simri’s place in the family from the position his father gave him.

The writer introduces Hosah as a descendant of Merari, one of the family lines among the Levites. The Levites had duties connected with worship, and the gatekeepers named in this passage were responsible for guarding entrances to the house of God.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 26:10

  • “chief” — רֹאשׁ (rosh): The word can mean “head” and can also refer to someone with a leading position. Here it describes the place Hosah gave Simri, not his order of birth.
  • “made” — שׂוּם (sum): The word carries the sense of putting or setting someone in a position. It draws attention to Hosah’s decision to place Simri at the head.

Why 1 Chronicles 26:10 matters

  • A family’s place in the gatekeeping list could involve an appointed leader. Verse 11 continues with Hosah’s other sons and gives the total number of his sons and relatives.
  • Simri’s appointment matters to the list of assignments. In verse 19, the writer identifies the gatekeepers as belonging to the families of Korah and Merari.

Where else these words appear

“Simri” Hebrew H8113 · used in 4 verses

  • 1 Chronicles 4:37 And Ziza the son of Shiphi, the son of Allon, the son of Jedaiah, the son of Shimri, the son of Shemaiah;
  • 1 Chronicles 11:45 Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite,
  • 2 Chronicles 29:13 And of the sons of Elizaphan; Shimri, and Jeiel: and of the sons of Asaph; Zechariah, and Mattaniah:

“Hosah” Hebrew H2621 · used in 5 verses

  • Joshua 19:29 And then the coast turneth to Ramah, and to the strong city Tyre; and the coast turneth to Hosah; and the outgoings thereof are at the sea from the coast to Achzib:
  • 1 Chronicles 16:38 And Obededom with their brethren, threescore and eight; Obededom also the son of Jeduthun and Hosah to be porters:
  • 1 Chronicles 26:11 Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth: all the sons and brethren of Hosah were thirteen.

“Merari” Hebrew H4847 · used in 38 verses

  • Genesis 46:11 And the sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
  • Numbers 7:8 And four wagons and eight oxen he gave unto the sons of Merari, according unto their service, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.
  • 1 Chronicles 6:63 Unto the sons of Merari were given by lot, throughout their families, out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.

“firstborn” Hebrew H1060 · used in 96 verses

  • Genesis 10:15 And Canaan begat Sidon his firstborn, and Heth,
  • Numbers 3:40 And the LORD said unto Moses, Number all the firstborn of the males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.
  • 1 Chronicles 2:25 And the sons of Jerahmeel the firstborn of Hezron were, Ram the firstborn, and Bunah, and Oren, and Ozem, and Ahijah.