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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And I will give the Levites, being given to Aaron and to his sons, from the midst of the sons of Israel, to work the works of the sons of Israel in the tent of appointment, and to expiate for the sons of Israel: and there shall not be a blow among the sons of Israel, in the sons of Israel coming to the holy place.
And they will go forth to the field, and they will gather their vineyards, and they will tread down, and they will make rejoicings, and go in to the house of their God, and they will eat and drink, and curse Abimelech.
All the people remaining of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, which were not of the sons of Israel; Their sons which were left after them in the land, which the sons of Israel will not be able to destroy them, and Solomon will bring them up for tribute of work even to this day.
All the Nethinims, the sons of Solomon's servants, three hundred ninety and two.
And the priests dwelt, and the Levites, and from the people, and those singing, and those opening the gates, and the Nethinims, in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.
And I shall bring them forth to Iddo the head, with the silver of the place, and I shall set words in their mouth to speak to Iddo, his brethren the Nethinims, with the silver of the place, to bring to us those serving to the house of our God.
And from the Nethinims David gave, and the chiefs, for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were specified by names.
And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gate-keepers, those singing, the Nethinims, and all being separated from the people of the lands to the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, all knowing understanding;
And these the heads of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem: and in the cities of Judah they dwelt, each in his possession in their cities of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the Nethinims, and the sons of Solomon's servants.
For good a day in thine enclosures above a thousand. I chose to wait on the threshold in the house of my God, rather than to dwell in the tents of injustice.
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 will give them in that day hewing wood and drawing water for the assembly and for the altar of Jehovah till this day, to the place which he shall choose.
The Nethinims: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth.
All the Nethinims, the sons of Solomon's servants, three hundred ninety and two.
And the priests dwelt, and the Levites, and from the people, and those singing, and those opening the gates, and the Nethinims, in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.
And there will go up from the sons of Israel, and from the priests and the Levites, and those singing, and they watching the gates, and the Nethinims, to Jerusalem, in the seventh year to Arthasatha the king.
And making known to you that all the priests and Levites, the players, the porters, the Nethinims, and those serving this house of God, tribute, excise and toll, not being permitted to be lifted up upon them.
And from the Nethinims David gave, and the chiefs, for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were specified by names.
And from the Nethinims David gave, and the chiefs, for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were specified by names.
And from the Nethinims David gave, and the chiefs, for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were specified by names.
The Nethinims: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth,
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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And give the Levites to Aaron and to his sons; being given they were given to him from the sons of Israel.
For being given, they were given to me from the midst of the sons of Israel; instead of the first-born cleaving every womb, every one from the sons of Israel, have I taken them to me. For to me all the first-born among the sons of Israel among man and among cattle: in the day I struck every first-born in the land of Egypt I consecrated them to me. read more. And I will take the Levites instead of all the first-born among the sons of Israel. And I will give the Levites, being given to Aaron and to his sons, from the midst of the sons of Israel, to work the works of the sons of Israel in the tent of appointment, and to expiate for the sons of Israel: and there shall not be a blow among the sons of Israel, in the sons of Israel coming to the holy place.
And the souls of man, sixteen thousand; and their tribute to Jehovah, two and thirty souls.
And from the sons of Israel's half which Moses divided from the men having warred,
Moses will take from the sons of Israel's half, one taking from fifty, from man and from cattle, and he will give them to the Levites watching the watches of the tent of Jehovah; as Jehovah commanded Moses.
Your little ones, your wives and thy stranger which is in the midst of thy camp, from him cutting thy woods to him drawing thy waters:
And they will say to him, From a land very far off thy servants came, for the name of Jehovah thy God; for we heard his fame and all that he did in Egypt
And Joshua will give them in that day hewing wood and drawing water for the assembly and for the altar of Jehovah till this day, to the place which he shall choose.
All the people remaining of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, which were not of the sons of Israel;
And the first inhabitants which were in their possession in their cities, Israel the priests, the Levites, and the Nethinims.
The priests: the sons of Jedaiah to the house of Joshua, nine hundred seventy and three. The sons of Immer, a thousand fifty and two. read more. The sons of Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven. The sons of Harim, a thousand and seventeen. The Levites: the sons of Joshua and Kadmiel, to the sons of Hodaviah, seventy and four. Those singing: the sons of Asaph, a hundred twenty and eight The sons of the gates: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatite, the sons of Shobi, all, a hundred thirty and nine. The Nethinims: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth.
The Nethinims: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth.
The Nethinims: 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 Shalmi, the sons of Hanan
The sons of Hagab, the sons of Shalmi, the sons of Hanan The sons of Giddel, sons of Gahar, the sons of Reaiah,
The sons of Giddel, sons of Gahar, the sons of Reaiah, The sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, the sons of Gazzt:m,
The sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, the sons of Gazzt:m, 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 Mehunim, the sons of Nephusim,
The sons of Asnah, the sons of Mehunim, the sons of Nephusim, 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 Thamah,
The sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Thamah, The sons of Neziah, the sons of Hatipha.
The sons of Neziah, the sons of Hatipha. The sons of Solomon's servants: the sons of Sotai, the sons of Sophereth, the sons of Peruda,
The sons of Solomon's servants: the sons of Sotai, the sons of Sophereth, the sons of Peruda, The sons of Jaalah, the sons of Darkon, the eons of Giddel, read more. The sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth of Zebaim, the sons of Ami. All the Nethinims, the sons of Solomon's servants, three hundred ninety and two.
And the priests dwelt, and the Levites, and from the people, and those singing, and those opening the gates, and the Nethinims, in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.
And making known to you that all the priests and Levites, the players, the porters, the Nethinims, and those serving this house of God, tribute, excise and toll, not being permitted to be lifted up upon them.
And making known to you that all the priests and Levites, the players, the porters, the Nethinims, and those serving this house of God, tribute, excise and toll, not being permitted to be lifted up upon them.
And I shall gather them together to the river going to Ahava, and there we shall encamp three days: and I shall look upon the people and upon the priests, and from the sons of Levi I found not these.
And I shall bring them forth to Iddo the head, with the silver of the place, and I shall set words in their mouth to speak to Iddo, his brethren the Nethinims, with the silver of the place, to bring to us those serving to the house of our God.
And I shall bring them forth to Iddo the head, with the silver of the place, and I shall set words in their mouth to speak to Iddo, his brethren the Nethinims, with the silver of the place, to bring to us those serving to the house of our God.
And from the Nethinims David gave, and the chiefs, for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were specified by names.
And from the Nethinims David gave, and the chiefs, for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were specified by names.
And from the Nethinims David gave, and the chiefs, for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were specified by names.
All the Nethinims, and the sons of Solomon's servants, three hundred ninety and two.
And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gate-keepers, those singing, the Nethinims, and all being separated from the people of the lands to the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, all knowing understanding;
And we cast the lots for the oblation of the woods, of the priests, the Levites and the people, to bring to the house of our God, for the house of our fathers at the times appointed year by year, to burn upon the altar of Jehovah our God, as written in the law:
And the Nethinims dwelling in Ophel: and Ziha and Gispa over the Nethinims.
And the Nethinims dwelling in Ophel: and Ziha and Gispa over the Nethinims.
Hastings
The word is a late form of a passive participle n?th
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And all the cities of stores which were to Solomon, and the cities of chariots, and the cities of horsemen, and the pleasure of Solomon which he pleased to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon; and in all the land of his ruling. All the people remaining of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, which were not of the sons of Israel; read more. Their sons which were left after them in the land, which the sons of Israel will not be able to destroy them, and Solomon will bring them up for tribute of work even to this day.
And with them their brethren being second, Zechariah the son, and Jahaziel and Shemiramoth and Jehiel, and Unni, Eliab, and Benaiah. and Maaseiah, and Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obed-Edom, Jeiel, gate-keepers.
For from their station at the hand of the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of Jehovah, upon the enclosures and upon the cells and for the cleansing to all the holy place and the works of the service of the house of God.
For the divisions to the gates. To the Korahites, Meshelemiah, the son of Kora from the sons of Asaph. And to Meshelemiah, sons: Zechariah the first-born, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth, read more. Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Elioenai the seventh. And to Obed-Edom, sons: Shemaiah, the first-born, Jehozabad the second, Josh the third, and Sacar the fourth, and Nathaniel the fifth, Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peulthai the eighth: for God blessed him. To Shemaiah his son were sons born, lords to the house of their fathers: for they were strong of power. The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, Elzabad, his brethren, sons of strength, Elihu and Sema-chiah. All these from the sons of Obed-Edom: they and their sons and their brethren, men of strength in power for the service, sixty and two to Obed-Edom. And to Meshelemiah sons and brethren, sons of strength, eighteen. And to Hosah from the sons of Merari, Shimri the head, (for he was not the first-born, and his father will set him for head;) Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth: all the sons and the brethren to Hosah, thirteen. To these the divisions of the gates for the heads of the strong ones, the watches near their brethren, to serve in the house of Jehovah. And they will cast lots, according to small according to great, for the house of their fathers, to gate and gate And the lot will fall from the sunrising to Shelemiah. And Zechariah his son counseling in understanding, they cast lots; and his lot will go forth north. To Obed-Edom, south; and to his sons the house of stores. To Shuppim and to Hosah to the west, with the gate of Shallecheth, by the highway of the going up, watch over against watch. To the sunrising, six Levites; to the north, four for the day, to the south, four for the day, and to Asuppim, two, two. To Parbar to the west, four at the highway, two at the open portico, These the divisions of the gates to the sons of the Korahites, and to the sons of Merari.
The sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, the sons of Gazzt:m, The sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah, the sons of Besai, read more. The sons of Asnah, the sons of Mehunim, the sons of Nephusim, 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 Thamah, The sons of Neziah, the sons of Hatipha. The sons of Solomon's servants: the sons of Sotai, the sons of Sophereth, the sons of Peruda,
The sons of Solomon's servants: the sons of Sotai, the sons of Sophereth, the sons of Peruda, The sons of Jaalah, the sons of Darkon, the eons of Giddel, read more. The sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth of Zebaim, the sons of Ami. All the Nethinims, the sons of Solomon's servants, three hundred ninety and two.
All the Nethinims, the sons of Solomon's servants, three hundred ninety and two.
And the priests dwelt, and the Levites, and from the people, and those singing, and those opening the gates, and the Nethinims, in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.
And the priests dwelt, and the Levites, and from the people, and those singing, and those opening the gates, and the Nethinims, in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.
And making known to you that all the priests and Levites, the players, the porters, the Nethinims, and those serving this house of God, tribute, excise and toll, not being permitted to be lifted up upon them.
And from the Nethinims David gave, and the chiefs, for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were specified by names.
And from the Nethinims David gave, and the chiefs, for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were specified by names.
From above the gate of horses held fast the priests, a man to the front of his house.
After him held fast Malchiah son of the goldsmith, even to the house of the Nethinims, and the merchants before the gate of the review, and even to the going up of the turning.
The Nethinims: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth, The sons of Keros, the sons of Sia, the sons of Padon, read more. The sons of Lebana, the sons of Hagaba, the sons of Shalmi.
The sons of Lebana, the sons of Hagaba, the sons of Shalmi. 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 Bezai, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephishesim, The sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur, The sons of Bazlith, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha, The sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Thamah, The sons of Neziah, the sons of Hatipha, The sons of Solomon's servant's: the sons of Sotai, the sons of Sophereth, the sons of Perida,
The sons of Solomon's servant's: 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 Nethinims, and the sons of Solomon's servants, three hundred ninety and two.
And there dwelt the priests and the Levites and the gatekeepers, and those singing, and from the people and the Nethinims, and all Israel in their cities; and the seventh month will draw near, and the sons of Israel in their cities.
And there dwelt the priests and the Levites and the gatekeepers, and those singing, and from the people and the Nethinims, and all Israel in their cities; and the seventh month will draw near, and the sons of Israel in their cities.
And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gate-keepers, those singing, the Nethinims, and all being separated from the people of the lands to the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, all knowing understanding; Holding upon their brethren, their mighty ones, and coming into a curse, and into an oath, to go in the law of God which was given by the hand of Moses the servant of God, and to watch and to do all the command of Jehovah our Lord, and his judgments and his ordinances; read more. And that we will not give our daughters to the people of the land, and we will not take their daughters to our sons:
And these the heads of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem: and in the cities of Judah they dwelt, each in his possession in their cities of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the Nethinims, and the sons of Solomon's servants.
And the Nethinims dwelling in Ophel: and Ziha and Gispa over the Nethinims.
And thou shalt say to the perverse to the house of Israel, Thus said the Lord Jehovah: Enough for you 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 the souls of man, sixteen thousand;) Moses will take from the sons of Israel's half, one taking from fifty, from man and from cattle, and he will give them to the Levites watching the watches of the tent of Jehovah; as Jehovah commanded Moses.
And Joshua will give them in that day hewing wood and drawing water for the assembly and for the altar of Jehovah till this day, to the place which he shall choose.
And the first inhabitants which were in their possession in their cities, Israel the priests, the Levites, and the Nethinims.
The Nethinims: 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 Shalmi, the sons of Hanan The sons of Giddel, sons of Gahar, the sons of Reaiah, The sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, the sons of Gazzt:m, The sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah, the sons of Besai, The sons of Asnah, the sons of Mehunim, the sons of Nephusim, 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 Thamah, The sons of Neziah, the sons of Hatipha.
And making known to you that all the priests and Levites, the players, the porters, the Nethinims, and those serving this house of God, tribute, excise and toll, not being permitted to be lifted up upon them.
And from the Nethinims David gave, and the chiefs, for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were specified by names.
The Nethinims: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth, The sons of Keros, the sons of Sia, the sons of Padon, read more. The sons of Lebana, the sons of Hagaba, the sons of Shalmi. 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 Bezai, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephishesim, The sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur, The sons of Bazlith, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha, The sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Thamah, The sons of Neziah, the sons of Hatipha,
All the Nethinims, and the sons of Solomon's servants, three hundred ninety and two.
And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gate-keepers, those singing, the Nethinims, and all being separated from the people of the lands to the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, all knowing 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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And give the Levites to Aaron and to his sons; being given they were given to him from the sons of Israel.
And I will give the Levites, being given to Aaron and to his sons, from the midst of the sons of Israel, to work the works of the sons of Israel in the tent of appointment, and to expiate for the sons of Israel: and there shall not be a blow among the sons of Israel, in the sons of Israel coming to the holy place.
Moses will take from the sons of Israel's half, one taking from fifty, from man and from cattle, and he will give them to the Levites watching the watches of the tent of Jehovah; as Jehovah commanded Moses.
And Nob the city of the priests. he struck with the mouth of the sword, from man and even to woman, from child and even to suckling, and ox, and ass, and sheep, with the mouth of the sword.
And the king will call for the Gibeonites, and say to them; (and the Gibeonites not of the sons of Israel, but they from the remainder of the Amorites; and the sons of Israel sware to them: and Saul will seek to strike them in his jealousy for the sons of Israel and Judah.)
And from the Nethinims David gave, and the chiefs, for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were specified by names.