9 Eighteen descendants of Meshelemiah were chosen for this work.
10-11 Hosah, from the Merari clan, was the father of Shimri, Hilkiah, Tebaliah, and Zechariah. Hosah had made Shimri the family leader, even though he was not the eldest son. Thirteen men from Hosah's family were chosen to be temple guards.
12 The guards were divided into groups, according to their family leaders, and they were assigned duties at the temple, just like the other Levites.
13 Each group, no matter how large or small, was assigned a gate to guard, and they let the Lord show them what he wanted done.
14 Shelemiah was chosen to guard the East Gate. Zechariah his son was a wise man and was chosen to guard the North Gate.
15 Obed-Edom was then chosen to guard the South Gate, and his sons were chosen to guard the storerooms.
16 Shuppim and Hosah were chosen to guard the West Gate and the Shallecheth Gate on the upper road.The guards were assigned the following work schedule: