²² The total number of those chosen to be gatekeepers at the thresholds was 212. They were registered by genealogy in their villages. David and Samuel the seer had appointed them^(F) to their trusted positions. ²³ So they and their sons were assigned to the gates of the Lord’s temple, which had been the tent-temple. ²⁴ The gatekeepers were on the four sides: east, west, north, and south. ²⁵ Their relatives came from their villages^(G) at fixed times to be with them seven days,^{(H) 26} but the four chief gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted with the rooms and the treasuries of God’s temple.^{(I) 27} They spent the night in the vicinity of God’s temple, because they had guard duty and were in charge of opening it every morning.^(J)

²⁸ Some of them were in charge of the utensils used in worship. They would count them when they brought them in and when they took them out. ²⁹ Others were put in charge of the furnishings and all the utensils of the sanctuary,^(K) as well as the fine flour,^(L) wine, oil, incense, and spices. ³⁰ Some of the priests’ sons mixed the spices.^{(M) 31} A Levite called Mattithiah, the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, was entrusted with baking the bread.^{[b] 32} Some of the Kohathites’ relatives were responsible for preparing the rows of the bread of the Presence^(N) every Sabbath.

²⁵ This included Mattaniah,^(A) Bakbukiah, and Obadiah. Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers who guarded the storerooms at the gates.^{(B) 26} These served in the days of Joiakim son of Jeshua, son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor^(C) and Ezra the priest and scribe.^(D)