1 Chronicles 26:10

10 Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons: Shimri the chief, (for though he was not the firstborn, yet his father made him chief),

1 Chronicles 26:10 Meaning and Commentary

1 Chronicles 26:10

Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons
Who was a fellow porter of Obededom's at the ark, ( 1 Chronicles 16:38 ) .

Simri the chief (for though he was not the firstborn, yet his father
made him the chief);
the firstborn being unfit for service, either through want of an intellectual capacity, or of strength of body, or through some defect or another; according to the Syriac version, he was dead; so some understand the words, he, the father, had no firstborn remaining or living.

1 Chronicles 26:10 In-Context

8 All these were of the sons of `Oved-'Edom: they and their sons and their brothers, able men in strength for the service; sixty-two of `Oved-'Edom.

9 Meshelemyah had sons and brothers, valiant men, eighteen.

10 Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons: Shimri the chief, (for though he was not the firstborn, yet his father made him chief),

11 Hilkiyah the second, Tevalyahu the third, Zekharyah the fourth: all the sons and brothers of Hosah were thirteen.

12 Of these were the courses of the doorkeepers, even of the chief men, having offices like their brothers, to minister in the house of the LORD.