Nethinim

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Nethinim \Neth"i*nim\, n. pl. [Heb., pl. of n[=a]th[imac]n
     given, granted, a slave of the temple, fr. n[=a]than to
     give.] (jewish Antiq.)
     Servants of the priests and Levites in the menial services
     about the tabernacle and temple.
     [1913 Webster]



From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:

  Nethinim
     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"
     (Ezra 2:70; 7:7, 24; 8:20, etc.). The tradition is that the
     Gibeonites (Josh. 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 (Ezra 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 (Ezra 2:58; 8:20). They were
     under the control of a chief from among themselves (2:43; Neh.
     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.