דברי הימים א, פרק כ״ו, פסוק ט׳

The biblical record carefully tallies the families assigned to their specific duties, noting not just their names but the ultimate size and strength of their households. In completing the count of Meshelemiah's family, who were introduced earlier in the account, it is noted that he had highly capable sons and brothers. Together, his household totaled eighteen men [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Logically, this final tally should have appeared immediately following the initial list of Meshelemiah's seven sons. However, the information is intentionally delayed to highlight the unique blessing God bestowed upon another individual, Obed-edom. By positioning these numbers later, a striking contrast emerges. Obed-edom started with eight sons, and God blessed his household so abundantly that it rapidly expanded to sixty-two men. In comparison, Meshelemiah began with seven sons, yet his family reached a total of only eighteen men. This more typical scale of growth is also reflected in other families, such as the household of Hosah, which totaled thirteen men [מלבי"ם].