3. The third named of the sons of Shemaiah who were gate-keepers of the Temple (1 Chron. xxvi, 7). B.C. cir. 1017.
4. Son of Ephlal and father of Jehu, descendant of Jartia, the Egyptian slave of Sheshan in the family of Jerahmeel (1 Chron. ii, 37, 38, from which it appears that he was grandson of Zabad [q. v.], one of David's war- riors). B.C. considerably post 1014.
5. Father of Azariah, which latter was one of the captains of hundreds who joined with Jehoiada in the revolution by which Athaliah fell (2 Chron. xxiii, 1). B.C. ante 87(;.
O'bed-e'dom (Heb. Obed'-edom', Oi'llS; 12r, ser- vant of Edom; Sept. in 2 Sam. '0/?r/5 'Ecio^i, in Chron- icles 'AiieScapd, 'A/3ca"io/<, 'AfiSoSoft, with many other v. rr.), the name apparently of three Levites.
1. A person in whose premises, and under whose care, the ark was deposited when the death of Uzzah caused David to apprehend danger in taking it farther. B.C. 1043. It remained there three mouths, during which the family of Obed-edom so signallj' prosjiered that the king was encouraged to resume his first intention, which
OBEDIENCE
271
OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST
he then happily carried into effect (2 Sam. vi, 10-12 ; 1 Chron. xiii, 13, 14; xv, 25). We learn from 1 Chron. xvi, 38, where the name is used generically, that Ohed- edom's connection with the ark did not then terminate, he and his family having charge of the doors of the sanctuary (1 Chron. xv, 18, 24). This individual is distinguished from the following, whose time, functions, and circumstances closely resemble his, by the clear in- dications in the text: (a.) He is described as a Gittite (2 Sam. vi, 10, 11), that is, probably, a native of the Le- vitical city of Gath-Rimmon in Dan, which was as- signed to the Kohathites (Josh, xxi, 25), and is thus distinguished from " Obed-cdom the son of Jeduthun," who was a Merarite. See Jeduthun. That the for- mer was a Kohathite or Korhite is plain from 1 Chron. xxvi, 1, 8. (h.) In one passage (1 Chron. xvi, 38) they are both named separately. It is Obed-edom the Git- tite who was appointed to sound " with harps on the Sheminith to excel" (1 Cliron. xv, 21 ; xvi, 5). That it was also he, with his family of eight sons and their children, " mighty men of valor" (1 Chron. xxvi, 4-8), who kept the south gate (ver. 15) and the house of Asuppim, is evident from the expression of the chroni- cler (ver. 5), adding, "for God blessed him," referring apparently to 2 Sam. vi, 11, " the Lord blessed Obed- edom and all his household." J. Kowland, in Fair- bairn's Dictionary, remarks, " The site of Obed-edom's house is still a remarkable spot. About two miles from the site of Kirjath-jearim, near Chesla, or ancient Ches- alon, on the way thence to Jerusalem, a little beyond Khirbet el-Uz, or the ruins of Uzzah, Perez-uzzah, on the right-hand side of the road, is a little ravine; and on the other side of that ravine — i. e. on the south side of it — is a high and prominent ridge, in the western extremity of which is a little depression, a flat space or plateau, about three or four acres of land, intensely green, surrounded by a belt of trees, and called Kuryet es Saideh, the Blessed City, or abode of the Blessed One." See KrK.jATH-jEAiiiM.
2. A son of Jeduthun, and one of the Temple war- dens (1 Chron. xvi, 38, second clause; and apparently mentioned there only). B.C. 1043.
3. A person who had charge of the sacred vessels in the time of Amaziah, king of Judah (2 Chron. xxv, 34). B.C. cir. 835. But the name is possibly generic here also (see 1), and may merely denote the descendants of the Obed-edom in whose house the ark had rested.
Obedience is, in a general or abstract sense, a readiness to carry out or perform the ordinances of an- other, i. e. to put the design of another into execution, and thereby satisfy the will of another person or per- sons. The word, then, signifies the capacity to hearken to any one's advice, directions, or orders. In religion obedience must be animated by love (q. v.). Obedience may be paid («) on the part of man (1) to tiod and Christ; (2) to one's parents; (3) to superiors gener- ally, especially one's government. There is also (b) the obedience which Christ paid to God the Father. See below.
1. Obedience to God may be considered (H as virtual, which consists in a belief of the Gospel, of the holiness and eipiity of its precepts, of the truth of its promises, and a true repentance of all our sins; (2) actual obe- dience, which is the practice and exercise of the several graces and dutips of Christianity ; (3) perfect obe- dience, which is the exact conformity of our hearts and lives to the law of God, without the least imperfection. This last is jieculiar to a glorified state, though it should be our aim in this. Sec, however, Perfection.
The obligation we are under to obedience arises — (1) from the relation we stand in to God as creatures (Psa. xcv, (J) ; (2) from the law which he has revealed to us in his Word (Psa. cxix, 3; 2 Pet. i, 5, 7) ; (3) from the blessings of his providence which we are constantly re- ceiving (Acts xiv, 17 : Psa. cxlv) ; (4) from the love and goodness of God in the grand work of redemption (1 Cor. vi, 20).