OBEDEDOM (“servant of [the god] Edom”). – GATH (v.), living in the vicinity of Jerusalem and perhaps a “bodyguard” of David (II Sam. 15:18). He must have been a righteous and pious man, since David thought of placing the ark of the covenant in his house OZIA (v.) while it was being transported from Cariathiarim to Jerusalem. In fact, only three months were needed to realize that God was blessing that house. Then David, having recovered his courage, brought the ark into his own palace (ibid. 6:6-15; I Par. 13:12-14).
He should not be confused with a contemporary Levite, likewise called O., of the family of Core, a lyre-player and keeper in the tabernacle erected by David (I Par. 15:18, 21; 16:5): his descendants continued in the office even at the time of Amasia (II Par. 25:24).
A third O. (whom some identify with the preceding one), a Levite of the family of Merari and likewise a keeper in David’s time, is mentioned in I Par. 16:38.