Singer living at the time of Divided Monarchy
Benaiah, a Levite, played the lyre and served as a gatekeeper during the transfer of the ark to Jerusalem.
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Benaiah is mentioned in 1Chronicles 15-16 as one of the Levites who participated in the transfer of the ark of the covenant from the house of Obed-edom to Jerusalem during the reign of King David. In 1Ch.15.18 and 20, Benaiah is listed among the Levites who were appointed to play the lyre, along with other musicians. This suggests that he was skilled in music and had a designated role in the worship and celebration surrounding the ark. In 1Ch.15.24, Benaiah is also mentioned as one of the gatekeepers for the ark, responsible for its security and proper handling. During the celebration after the ark's successful transfer, Benaiah is once again mentioned as a musician, playing the lyre before the ark (1Ch.16.5-6). These passages highlight Benaiah's multifaceted role as a Levite, serving as both a musician and a gatekeeper in the context of the ark's transfer and the accompanying worship.
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5 verses in 1 book · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H1141
and with them their brothers next in rank: Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, and the gatekeepers Obed-edom and Jeiel.
Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were to play the harps according to Alamoth.
Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer—the priests—were to blow the trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah were also to be guardians of the ark.
Asaph was the chief, Zechariah was second, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel. They were to play the harps and lyres, while Asaph sounded the cymbals
and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel blew the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God.
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.