Bible Word of the Day
Doorkeeper (Levite Who Watched the Gate)
Meaning
While the Priests of the Temple were the ones who had authority to carry out the sacrifices and pray for the people. It was the Levites who had the task of the everyday maintenance and functioning of the Tabernacle and later the Temple. The function of the doorkeeper was to collect the offerings and Temple tax as people entered the Temple. In addition, they would screen the people entering to prevent anyone who is unclean from entering the Temple grounds and cause the area to become unclean. The Levites were also responsible for all aspects of Temple maintenance, including moving the Ark of the Covenant, maintaining the instruments for sacrifices and worship as well as maintaining the Temple grounds.
“And he set the gatekeepers at the gates of the house of the Lord, so that no one who was in any way unclean should enter.” (Book of Second Chronicles 23:19)
“When they came to Hilkiah the high priest, they delivered the money that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites who kept the doors had gathered from the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, from all the remnant of Israel, from all Judah and Benjamin, and which they had brought back to Jerusalem.” (Book of Second Chronicles 34:9)
“For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.” (Book of Psalms 84:10)