Reference: Nethinim
American
Given, or consecrated, a term first applied to the Levites, Nu 8:19; but after the settlement in Canaan, to servants dedicated to the service of the tabernacle and temple, to perform the most laborious offices, as carrying of wood and water. At first the Gibeonites were destined to this station, Jg 9:27; afterwards, other Canaanites who surrendered themselves, and whose lives were spared. Many of them appear to have been first assigned to David, Solomon, and other princes, and by them transferred to the temple service, 1Ki 9:20-21; Ezr 2:58,70; 8:20; Ne 11:3. It is probable that they became proselytes, Ne 10:28, and that many of them could cordially unite with David in saying, "I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness," Ps 84:10. The Nethinim were carried into captivity with the tribe of Judah, and great numbers were placed not far from the Caspian sea, whence Ezra brought two hundred and twenty of them into Judea, Ezr 8:17.
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therefore have I given the Levites as a gift unto Aaron and unto his sons, out of the midst of the sons of Israel, to do the laborious work of the sons of Israel in the tent of meeting, and to put a propitiatory-covering over the sons of Israel, - so shall there be among the sons of Israel, no plague, by the coming nigh of the sons of Israel unto the sanctuary.
Then went they out into the fields, and gathered the fruit of their vineyards and trode the grapes , and held a vintage festival, - and entered the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and poured contempt on Abimelech.
All the people that were left, of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, who were, not of the sons of Israel; their sons, who were left after them in the land, whom the sons of Israel were not able to devote to destruction, Solomon levied them for a toiling labour-band which remaineth unto this day.
All the Nethinim, and the Sons of the Servants of Solomon, were three hundred and ninety-two.
So the priests and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers and the doorkeepers and the Nethinim, took up their abode, in their cities, - and, all Israel, in their cities.
And I sent them forth unto Iddo the chief, at the place Casiphia, - and I put into their mouth words, to speak unto Iddo and his brethren the Nethinim, at the place Casiphia, to bring unto us attendants for the house of our God.
and, of the Nethinim whom David and the rulers had given for the service of the Levites, Nethinim, two hundred and twenty, - all of them, expressed by name.
And, the rest of the people - the priests, the Levites, the doorkeepers, the singers, the Nethinim, and all who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons and their daughters, - every one having knowledge and understanding,
Now, these, are the chiefs of the province, who dwelt in Jerusalem, but, in the cities of Judah, dwelt every man in his possession throughout their cities, Israel, the priests, and the Levites and the Nethinim, and the Sons of the Servants of Solomon.
For better is a day in thy courts, than a thousand, I choose rather to stand at the threshold in the house of my God, Than to dwell in the tents of lawlessness.
Easton
the name given to the hereditary temple servants in all the post-Exilian books of Scripture. The word means given, i.e., "those set apart", viz., to the menial work of the sanctuary for the Levites. The name occurs seventeen times, and in each case in the Authorized Version incorrectly terminates in "s", "Nethinims;" in the Revised Version, correctly without the "s" (Ezr 2:70; 7:7,24; 8:20, etc.). The tradition is that the Gibeonites (Jos 9:27) were the original caste, afterwards called Nethinim. Their numbers were added to afterwards from captives taken in battle; and they were formally given by David to the Levites (Ezr 8:20), and so were called Nethinim, i.e., the given ones, given to the Levites to be their servants. Only 612 Nethinim returned from Babylon (Ezr 2:58; 8:20). They were under the control of a chief from among themselves (Ezr 2:43; Ne 7:46). No reference to them appears in the New Testament, because it is probable that they became merged in the general body of the Jewish people.
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And Joshua appointed them that day to be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto the assembly, - and unto the altar of Yahweh, as they are until this day, in the place which he should choose.
All the Nethinim, and the Sons of the Servants of Solomon, were three hundred and ninety-two.
So the priests and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers and the doorkeepers and the Nethinim, took up their abode, in their cities, - and, all Israel, in their cities.
So then there came up some of the sons of Israel, and some of the priests and the Levites and the singers and the doorkeepers and the Nethinim, unto Jerusalem, - in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.
And, you, we do certify, that, as touching any of the priests or the Levites, the singers, the doorkeepers, the Nethinim, or the servitors of this house of God, tribute, excise or toll, shall it not be competent to impose upon them.
and, of the Nethinim whom David and the rulers had given for the service of the Levites, Nethinim, two hundred and twenty, - all of them, expressed by name.
and, of the Nethinim whom David and the rulers had given for the service of the Levites, Nethinim, two hundred and twenty, - all of them, expressed by name.
and, of the Nethinim whom David and the rulers had given for the service of the Levites, Nethinim, two hundred and twenty, - all of them, expressed by name.
Fausets
("given".) Ne 11:21; Ezr 2:43; 7:24; 8:17,20; 1Ch 9:2. Servants of the temple (Josephus uses of them the name given to the slaves attached to the Greek temples, hiero douloi, Ant. 11:5, section 1). So the Levites were "given" (nethunim) unto Jehovah instead of the firstborn, and by Jehovah "given" to Aaron (see Nu 3:9; 8:16-19). (See LEVITES.) Nethinim occurs only in the later books: Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah. To the Levites 320 of the Midianite captives were given, and 32 to the priests ( Nu 31:40,42,47). To these slaves doubtless the Levites and priests assigned the more laborious work of the tabernacle service. The Gibeonites similarly, having obtained by craft a covenant from Joshua (Jos 9:9,27), "because of the name" and "fame of Jehovah, Israel's God," were made "hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation and altar."
The Nethinim were their successors; a larger number of servants of the sanctuary being needed when David was reorganizing the worship, he and the princes "appointed" (Hebrew, "gave") Nethinim for the service of the Levites (Ezr 8:20), probably from the prisoners taken in war, upon their embracing the worship of Jehovah. The foreign or Canaanite names confirm this view: "Mehunim, Nephusim, and the children of Sisera" (Ezr 2:43-54). So "Solomon's servants" (Ezr 2:55; Ne 7:60), those "left of the Amorites, Hittites ... upon whom he levied a tribute of bond service" (1Ki 9:20). The rabbis represent them as having no right of intermarriage with Israelites (Gemara Babyl., Jebam. ii. 4, Kiddusch. iv. 1, Carpsov. App. Crit. de Neth.); below the children of "mixed marriages" (mamzerim), but above proselytes fresh from paganism and emancipated slaves.
But when the Levites were slow in coming forward at the return from Babylon, 341 only under Zerubbabel as contrasted with 4,289 priests (Ezr 2:36-58) and none under Ezra until especially called (Ezr 8:15,17,20), the Nethinim became more conspicuous, 392 under Zerubbabel, 220 under Ezra, "all expressed by name," registered after the Levites (1Ch 9:2) and admitted to join the covenant (Ne 10:28, compare De 29:11). (See LEVITES.) Exempted from taxation by Artaxerxes (Ezr 7:24). Ophel and the Levite cities were their dwelling place, and they had their own rulers (Ezr 2:70; Ne 11:21). Josephus (B.J. ii. 17, section 6) mentions "a feast of carrying wood", xylophoria, in which all the people brought wood for the sacrifices of the year, probably relieving the Nethinim; its beginning may be traced in Ne 10:34.
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Thus shalt thou give the Levites unto Aaron and unto his sons, - given, given, they are unto him, from among the sons of Israel;
For, given, given, they are unto me, out of the midst of the sons of Israel, - instead of every firstborn that a mother beareth from among the sons of Israel, have I taken them unto me. For mine, is every firstborn among the sons of Israel, among men and among beasts, - on the day when I smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt, did I hallow them unto me. read more. Therefore have I taken the Levites, - instead of every firstborn among the sons of Israel; therefore have I given the Levites as a gift unto Aaron and unto his sons, out of the midst of the sons of Israel, to do the laborious work of the sons of Israel in the tent of meeting, and to put a propitiatory-covering over the sons of Israel, - so shall there be among the sons of Israel, no plague, by the coming nigh of the sons of Israel unto the sanctuary.
and the human persons, sixteen thousand, - and the tribute of them unto Yahweh, thirty-two persons.
And, of the half, allotted unto the sons of Israel, - which Moses halved away from the men who had gone out in the host,
So then Moses took - out of the half belonging to the sons of Israel the allotted portion one out of fifty, of the human beings and of the beasts, - and gave them unto the Levites, the keepers of the charge of the habitation of Yahweh, As Yahweh commanded Moses.
your little ones your wives, and thy sojourner that is in the midst of thy camps, - from him that heweth thy wood unto him that draweth thy water:
And they said unto him - From a very far country, have thy servants come, because of the name of Yahweh thy God, - because we had heard his fame, and all that he had done in Egypt;
And Joshua appointed them that day to be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto the assembly, - and unto the altar of Yahweh, as they are until this day, in the place which he should choose.
All the people that were left, of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, who were, not of the sons of Israel;
Now, the first inhabitants, who were in their possessions, in their cities, were Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the Nethinim.
The priests, The sons of Jedaiah of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred and seventy-three; The sons of Immer, a thousand and fifty-two; read more. The sons of Pashhur, a thousand two hundred and forty-seven; The sons of Harim, a thousand and seventeen, The Levites, The sons of Jeshua, and Kadmiel of the sons of Hodaviah, seventy-four. The singers, The sons of Asaph, a hundred and twenty-eight. The sons of the door-keepers, The sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, the sons of Shobai, - in all, a hundred and thirty-nine. The Nethinim, The sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth;
The Nethinim, The sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth; the sons of Keros, the sons of Siaha, the sons of Padon;
the sons of Keros, the sons of Siaha, the sons of Padon; the sons of Lebanah, the sons of Hagabah, the sons of Akkub;
the sons of Lebanah, the sons of Hagabah, the sons of Akkub; the sons of Hagab, the sons of Shamlai, the sons of Hanan;
the sons of Hagab, the sons of Shamlai, the sons of Hanan; the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar, the sons of Reaiah;
the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar, the sons of Reaiah; the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, the sons of Gazzam;
the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, the sons of Gazzam; the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah, the sons of Besai;
the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah, the sons of Besai; the sons of Asnah, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephisim;
the sons of Asnah, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephisim; the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur;
the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur; the sons of Bazluth, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha;
the sons of Bazluth, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha; the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Temah;
the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Temah; the sons of Neziah, the sons of Hatipha.
the sons of Neziah, the sons of Hatipha. The Sons of the Servants of Solomon. The sons of Sotai, the sons of Hasso-phereth, the sons of Peruda;
The Sons of the Servants of Solomon. The sons of Sotai, the sons of Hasso-phereth, the sons of Peruda; the sons of Jaalah, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel; read more. the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth-hazzebaim, the sons of Ami. All the Nethinim, and the Sons of the Servants of Solomon, were three hundred and ninety-two.
So the priests and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers and the doorkeepers and the Nethinim, took up their abode, in their cities, - and, all Israel, in their cities.
And, you, we do certify, that, as touching any of the priests or the Levites, the singers, the doorkeepers, the Nethinim, or the servitors of this house of God, tribute, excise or toll, shall it not be competent to impose upon them.
And, you, we do certify, that, as touching any of the priests or the Levites, the singers, the doorkeepers, the Nethinim, or the servitors of this house of God, tribute, excise or toll, shall it not be competent to impose upon them.
And I gathered them together, unto the river that cometh into Ahava, and we encamped there three days, - and I informed myself among the people and the priests, and, of the sons of Levi, found I none there.
And I sent them forth unto Iddo the chief, at the place Casiphia, - and I put into their mouth words, to speak unto Iddo and his brethren the Nethinim, at the place Casiphia, to bring unto us attendants for the house of our God.
And I sent them forth unto Iddo the chief, at the place Casiphia, - and I put into their mouth words, to speak unto Iddo and his brethren the Nethinim, at the place Casiphia, to bring unto us attendants for the house of our God.
and, of the Nethinim whom David and the rulers had given for the service of the Levites, Nethinim, two hundred and twenty, - all of them, expressed by name.
and, of the Nethinim whom David and the rulers had given for the service of the Levites, Nethinim, two hundred and twenty, - all of them, expressed by name.
and, of the Nethinim whom David and the rulers had given for the service of the Levites, Nethinim, two hundred and twenty, - all of them, expressed by name.
All the Nethinim, and the Sons of the Servants of Solomon, were three hundred, and ninety-two.
And, the rest of the people - the priests, the Levites, the doorkeepers, the singers, the Nethinim, and all who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons and their daughters, - every one having knowledge and understanding,
Also, lots, did we cast, concerning the offering of wood among the priests, the Levites, and the people, to bring it unto the house of our God, by our ancestral houses, at times arranged, year by year, - to burn upon the altar of Yahweh our God, as it is written in the law.
Howbeit, the Nethinim, were dwelling in Ophel, - and, Ziha and Gishpa, were over the Nethinim.
Hastings
The word is a late form of a passive participle n?th
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also all the store cities, which Solomon had, and the cities for chariots, and the cities for horsemen, - and the desire of Solomon that he was pleased to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land that he ruled over. All the people that were left, of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, who were, not of the sons of Israel; read more. their sons, who were left after them in the land, whom the sons of Israel were not able to devote to destruction, Solomon levied them for a toiling labour-band which remaineth unto this day.
and, with them, their brethren of the second degree, - Zechariah, Ben, and Jaaziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel and Unni, Eliab, and Benaiah, and Maaseiah, and Mattithiah, and Eliphelehu, and Mickneiah, and Obed-edom and Jeiel, the door-keepers.
For, their duty, was - to be in attendance upon the sons of Aaron, in the laborious work of the house of Yahweh, over the courts, and over the chambers, and over the purifying of everything holy, - and doing the laborious work, of the house of God;
To the courses of the door-keepers, pertained, - of the Korahites, Meshelemiah son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph; and, Meshelemiah, had sons, - Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth; read more. Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Eliehoenai the seventh. And, Obed-edom, had sons, - Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Josh the third, and Sacar the fourth, and Nethanel the fifth; Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peullethai, the eighth, - for God had blessed him. And, to Shemaiah his son, were born sons, who bare rule to their ancestral house, - for, heroes of valour, were they. the sons of Shemaiah, were Othni and Rephael, and Obed, Elzabad, whose brethren were sons of valour, - Elihu, and Semachiah. All these, were of the sons of Obed-edom, they and their sons and their brethren, able men in strength for the service, - sixty-two, pertaining to Obed-edom. And, Meshelemiah, had sons, and brethren, sons of valour, eighteen. And, Hosah of the sons of Merari, had sons, - Shimri the chief, for though he was not the firstborn, yet his father, made him, chief. Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth, - all the sons and brethren of Hosah, were thirteen. To these, belonged the courses of door-keepers, to the chiefs of the strong men, belonged charges, equally with their brethren, - to be in attendance in the house of Yahweh. Yea they east lots, as the small so the great, by their ancestral house, for every several gate. And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. And, for Zechariah his son, a discreet counselor, they cast lots, and his lot came out, northward. To Obed-edom, southward, - and, to his sons, the storehouse. To Shuppim and to Hosah, westward, near the refuse-gate, in the causeway that goeth up, - one ward as well as another. Eastward - daily, were six, - northward - daily, four, southward - daily, four, and, for the stores, two and two. For the precinct - westward, four, at the causeway, two - by the precinct. These, were the courses of the door-keepers, of the sons of the Korahites, and of the sons of Merari.
the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, the sons of Gazzam; the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah, the sons of Besai; read more. the sons of Asnah, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephisim; the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur; the sons of Bazluth, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha; the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Temah; the sons of Neziah, the sons of Hatipha. The Sons of the Servants of Solomon. The sons of Sotai, the sons of Hasso-phereth, the sons of Peruda;
The Sons of the Servants of Solomon. The sons of Sotai, the sons of Hasso-phereth, the sons of Peruda; the sons of Jaalah, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel; read more. the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth-hazzebaim, the sons of Ami. All the Nethinim, and the Sons of the Servants of Solomon, were three hundred and ninety-two.
All the Nethinim, and the Sons of the Servants of Solomon, were three hundred and ninety-two.
So the priests and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers and the doorkeepers and the Nethinim, took up their abode, in their cities, - and, all Israel, in their cities.
So the priests and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers and the doorkeepers and the Nethinim, took up their abode, in their cities, - and, all Israel, in their cities.
And, you, we do certify, that, as touching any of the priests or the Levites, the singers, the doorkeepers, the Nethinim, or the servitors of this house of God, tribute, excise or toll, shall it not be competent to impose upon them.
and, of the Nethinim whom David and the rulers had given for the service of the Levites, Nethinim, two hundred and twenty, - all of them, expressed by name.
and, of the Nethinim whom David and the rulers had given for the service of the Levites, Nethinim, two hundred and twenty, - all of them, expressed by name.
from beside the horse-gate, repaired the priests, every one over against his own house;
after him, repaired, Malchijah son of Zorphi, as far as the house of the Nethinim, and the traders, - over against the muster-gate, even unto the ascent of the pinnacle;
the sons of Keros, the sons of Sia, the sons of Padon; the sons of Lebana, the sons of Hagaba, the sons of Salmai;
the sons of Lebana, the sons of Hagaba, the sons of Salmai; the sons of Hanan, the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar; read more. the sons of Reaiah, the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda; the sons of Gazzam, the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah; the sons of Besai, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephushesim;
The Sons of the Servants of Solomon, The sons of Sotai, the sons of Sophereth, the sons of Perida;
The Sons of the Servants of Solomon, The sons of Sotai, the sons of Sophereth, the sons of Perida; the sons of Jaala, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel;
All the Nethinim, and the Sons of the Servants of Solomon, were three hundred, and ninety-two.
So the priests and the Levites and the door-keepers and the singers and some of the people, and the Nethinim and all Israel, took up their abode in their cities. And, when the seventh month arrived, the sons of Israel were in their cities.
So the priests and the Levites and the door-keepers and the singers and some of the people, and the Nethinim and all Israel, took up their abode in their cities. And, when the seventh month arrived, the sons of Israel were in their cities.
And, the rest of the people - the priests, the Levites, the doorkeepers, the singers, the Nethinim, and all who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons and their daughters, - every one having knowledge and understanding, were holding fast unto their distinguished brethren, and were entering into a curse and into an oath, to walk in the law of God, which was given through Moses the servant of God, - and to observe and do, all the commandments of Yahweh our Lord, and his regulations, and his statutes; read more. and that we would not give our daughters unto the peoples of the land, - and, their daughters, would we not take for our sons;
Now, these, are the chiefs of the province, who dwelt in Jerusalem, but, in the cities of Judah, dwelt every man in his possession throughout their cities, Israel, the priests, and the Levites and the Nethinim, and the Sons of the Servants of Solomon.
Howbeit, the Nethinim, were dwelling in Ophel, - and, Ziha and Gishpa, were over the Nethinim.
So then thou shalt say unto the perverse house unto the house of Israel, Thus saith My Lord, Yahweh: Let it more than suffice you Out of all your abominations, O house of Israel:
Morish
Neth'inim
Name, signifying 'given, devoted ones,' applied to those who assisted the Levites in the service of the tabernacle and the temple. The name does not occur until 1Ch 9:2, and afterwards in Ezra and Nehemiah. The Gibeonites were made "hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar." Jos 9:27. These are not mentioned after 2 Samuel, so that they and their descendants may have been the 'Nethinim.' It does not appear that God appointed them, as He did the Levites, but 'David and the princes' appointed them 'for the service of the Levites.' Ezr 8:20. Some of the Midianite captives were also given to the Levites. Nu 31:46-47. After the return from exile the Nethinim are called the 'ministers of this house of God.' They were, along with the priests and Levites, exempt from 'toll, tribute, or custom.' Ezr 7:24. A list of them is given in Ezr 2:43-54; Ne 7:46-56,60; 10:28; etc.
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and, human persons, sixteen thousand. So then Moses took - out of the half belonging to the sons of Israel the allotted portion one out of fifty, of the human beings and of the beasts, - and gave them unto the Levites, the keepers of the charge of the habitation of Yahweh, As Yahweh commanded Moses.
And Joshua appointed them that day to be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto the assembly, - and unto the altar of Yahweh, as they are until this day, in the place which he should choose.
Now, the first inhabitants, who were in their possessions, in their cities, were Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the Nethinim.
The Nethinim, The sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth; the sons of Keros, the sons of Siaha, the sons of Padon; read more. the sons of Lebanah, the sons of Hagabah, the sons of Akkub; the sons of Hagab, the sons of Shamlai, the sons of Hanan; the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar, the sons of Reaiah; the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, the sons of Gazzam; the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah, the sons of Besai; the sons of Asnah, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephisim; the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur; the sons of Bazluth, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha; the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Temah; the sons of Neziah, the sons of Hatipha.
And, you, we do certify, that, as touching any of the priests or the Levites, the singers, the doorkeepers, the Nethinim, or the servitors of this house of God, tribute, excise or toll, shall it not be competent to impose upon them.
and, of the Nethinim whom David and the rulers had given for the service of the Levites, Nethinim, two hundred and twenty, - all of them, expressed by name.
the sons of Keros, the sons of Sia, the sons of Padon; the sons of Lebana, the sons of Hagaba, the sons of Salmai; read more. the sons of Hanan, the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar; the sons of Reaiah, the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda; the sons of Gazzam, the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah; the sons of Besai, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephushesim;
All the Nethinim, and the Sons of the Servants of Solomon, were three hundred, and ninety-two.
And, the rest of the people - the priests, the Levites, the doorkeepers, the singers, the Nethinim, and all who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons and their daughters, - every one having knowledge and understanding,
Smith
Neth'inim
(given, dedicated), As applied specifically to a distinct body of men connected with the services of the temple, this name first meets us in the later books of the Old Testament-- in 1 Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah, The word and the ideas embodied in it may, however, be traced to a much earlier period. As derived from the verb nathan, i.e. give, set apart, dedicate, it was applied to those who were pointed to the liturgical offices of the tabernacle. We must not forget that the Levites were given to Aaron and his sons, i.e. to the priests as an order, and were accordingly the first Nethinim.
At first they were the only attendants, and their work must have been laborious enough. The first conquests, however, brought them their share of the captive slaves of the Midianites and 320 were given to them as having charge of the tabernacle,
while 32 only were assigned specially to the priests. This disposition to devolve the more laborious offices of their ritual upon slaves of another race showed itself again in the treatment of the Gibeonites. No addition to the number thus employed pears to have been mad ring the period of the judges, and they continued to be known by their own name as the Gibeonites. Either the massacre at Nob had involved the Gibeonites as well as the priests,
or else they had fallen victims to some other outburst of Saul's fury; and though there were survivors,
the number was likely to be quite inadequate for the greater stateliness of the new worship at Jerusalem. It is to this period accordingly that the origin of the class bearing this name may be traced. The Nethinim were those "whom David and the princes appointed (Heb. gave) for the service of the Levites."
At this time the Nethinim probably lived within the precincts of the temple, doing its rougher work and so enabling the Levites to take a higher position as the religious representatives and instructors of the people. The example set by David was followed by his successor.
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Thus shalt thou give the Levites unto Aaron and unto his sons, - given, given, they are unto him, from among the sons of Israel;
therefore have I given the Levites as a gift unto Aaron and unto his sons, out of the midst of the sons of Israel, to do the laborious work of the sons of Israel in the tent of meeting, and to put a propitiatory-covering over the sons of Israel, - so shall there be among the sons of Israel, no plague, by the coming nigh of the sons of Israel unto the sanctuary.
So then Moses took - out of the half belonging to the sons of Israel the allotted portion one out of fifty, of the human beings and of the beasts, - and gave them unto the Levites, the keepers of the charge of the habitation of Yahweh, As Yahweh commanded Moses.
Nob also, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, - and oxen and asses and sheep, with the edge of the sword.
The king therefore called the Gibeonites, and said unto them (now, the Gibeonites, were, not of the sons of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites, with whom, the sons of Israel, had entered into an oath, and Saul had sought to smite them, in his jealousy for the sons of Israel and Judah) -
and, of the Nethinim whom David and the rulers had given for the service of the Levites, Nethinim, two hundred and twenty, - all of them, expressed by name.