²⁷ They would spend the night stationed around the house of God,^(A) because they had to guard it; and they had charge of the key^(B) for opening it each morning.

¹² These divisions of the gatekeepers, through their leaders, had duties for ministering^(A) in the temple of the Lord, just as their relatives had. ¹³ Lots^(B) were cast for each gate, according to their families, young and old alike.

¹⁴ The lot for the East Gate^(C) fell to Shelemiah.^[a] Then lots were cast for his son Zechariah,^(D) a wise counselor, and the lot for the North Gate fell to him. ¹⁵ The lot for the South Gate fell to Obed-Edom,^(E) and the lot for the storehouse fell to his sons. ¹⁶ The lots for the West Gate and the Shalleketh Gate on the upper road fell to Shuppim and Hosah.

Guard was alongside of guard: ¹⁷ There were six Levites a day on the east, four a day on the north, four a day on the south and two at a time at the storehouse. ¹⁸ As for the court^[b] to the west, there were four at the road and two at the court^[c] itself.

¹⁹ These were the divisions of the gatekeepers who were descendants of Korah and Merari.^(F)