The meaning of Obed-edom in the Bible
(From International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)
o'-bed-e'-dom ('obhedh 'edhowm (II Chronicles 25:24), 'obhedd 'edhom (II Samuel 6:10; I Chronicles 13:13-14; I Chronicles 15:25), but elsewhere without hyphen, "servant of (god) Edom"; so W. R. Smith, Religion of Semites (2), 42, and H. P. Smith, Samuel, 294 f., though others explain it as = "servant of man"): In II Samuel 6:10-12; I Chronicles 13:13-14 a Philistine of Gath and servant of David, who received the Ark of Yahweh into his house when David brought it into Jerusalem from Kiriath-jearim. Because of the sudden death of Uzzah, David was unwilling to proceed with the Ark to his citadel, and it remained three months in the house of Obed-edom, "and Yahweh blessed Obed-edom, and all his house" (II Samuel 6:11). According to I Chronicles 13:14 the Ark had a special "house" of its own while there. He is probably the same as the Levite of I Chronicles 15:25. In I Chronicles 15:16-21 Obed-edom is a "singer," and in I Chronicles 15:24 a "doorkeeper," while according to I Chronicles 26:4-8, I Chronicles 26:15 he is a Korahite doorkeeper, to whose house fell the overseership of the storehouse (I Chronicles 26:15), while I Chronicles 16:5, I Chronicles 16:38 names him as a "minister before the ark," a member of the house or perhaps guild of Jeduthun (see II Chronicles 25:24).
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 (Matthew 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.
David Francis Roberts.
See more on the meaning of Obed-edom in the Bible:
Obed-edom {Easton's Bible Dictionary}
Obed-edom {Hitchcock's Bible Name}
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