And they cast lots for each gate, the small as well as the great, according to their father’s house.
Parallel translations
- WEB They cast lots, the small as well as the great, according to their fathers’ houses, for every gate.
- KJV And they cast lots, as well the small as the great, according to the house of their fathers, for every gate.
- BSB They cast lots for each gate, according to their families, young and old alike.
- NASB They cast lots, the small and the great alike, according to their fathers’ households, for every gate.
- NLT They were assigned by families for guard duty at the various gates, without regard to age or training, for it was all decided by means of sacred lots.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
They cast lots, small and great alike, by their families, for every gate. The gatekeeping posts were assigned fairly and impartially by lot.
Overview
As with the priests and musicians, the gatekeepers' assignments were determined by lot, ensuring that no family could claim the more prestigious posts by status. The equal treatment of small and great reflects God's impartiality and removes occasion for pride. This fairness in distributing duty models the humility and trust in God's ordering that should mark all who serve Him.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- 1 Chr 24:31These likewise cast lots even as their brothers the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the fathers’ households of the priests and of the Levites; the fathers’ households of the chief even as those of his younger brother.
- 1 Chr 25:8They cast lots for their offices, all alike, the small as well as the great, the teacher as well as the student.
- 1 Chr 24:5Thus were they divided impartially by drawing lots; for there were princes of the sanctuary, and princes of God, both of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar.
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Original language
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