דברי הימים א, פרק כ״ו, פסוק י׳

The organization of Temple gatekeepers occasionally reveals unusual shifts within the traditional family structure. Hosah, a gatekeeper from the family of Merari, prepared his sons to take on this sacred role [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. When it came time to appoint a leader among them, his son Shimri was chosen as the head.

Unlike others in similar positions who are explicitly called the firstborn, Shimri does not receive this title. The distinction is deliberate, reflecting the reality that he was not the chronological firstborn of the family [מצודת דוד]. His father elevated him to lead despite this fact. This unexpected promotion likely occurred because an older firstborn brother had passed away. Left as the oldest surviving son, Shimri was selected by his father to step into the leadership role and guide the family [ביאור שטיינזלץ].