Bookstore Glossary Library Links News Publications Timeline Virtual Israel Experience
Anti-Semitism Biography History Holocaust Israel Israel Education Myths & Facts Politics Religion Travel US & Israel Vital Stats Women
donate subscribe Contact About Home

Obed-Edom

OBED-EDOM (Heb. עֹבֵד אֱדוֹם; "the servant of *Adam [the deity?]"), the name of two biblical figures.

(1) The Gittite to whose house the *Ark of the Lord was transferred after the death of Uzzah (II Sam. 6:10ff.; I Chron. 13:13–14). Uzzah had died after touching the Ark while it was being brought by David to Jerusalem. In order to prevent further calamities, the Ark was brought to the house of Obed-Edom, which was apparently situated between Kiriath-Jearim and Jerusalem. When it was reported to David three months later that the Lord had blessed Obed-Edom and his house, David brought the Ark up to Jerusalem with rejoicing. As a temple gatekeeper for the Ark, Obed-Edom is mentioned several times among the Levites (I Chron. 15:18, 21, 24; 16:5, 38), as are his descendants (I Chron. 26:8, 15).

(2) A descendant of Obed-Edom the Gittite, who was in charge of the gold, the silver, and all the vessels in the Temple in Jerusalem in the days of Amaziah king of Judah (798–769 B.C.E.; II Chron. 25:24).

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

M. Dahood, in: CBQ, 35 (1963), 123–4; W.F. Albright, in: Biblica, 44 (1963), 292; idem, Yahweh and the Gods of Canaan (1968), 122.


Sources: Encyclopaedia Judaica. © 2007 The Gale Group. All Rights Reserved.