Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezra 2:43
The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,
43. Nethinims ] R.V. Nethinim. The termination ‘-im’ is the sign of the plural. In the same way the R.V. corrects the inaccurate form ‘Cherubims’ to ‘Cherubim’ (Gen 3:24), ‘Anakims’ to ‘Anakim’, ‘Horims’ to ‘Horites’, ‘Emims’ to ‘Emim’, ‘Zanzummims’ to ‘Zanzummim’, ‘Avims’ and ‘Caphtorims’ to ‘Avvim’ and ‘Caphtorim’ (Deu 2:10-12; Deu 2:20-23).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
43 54. Nethinim. This class is mentioned in the books Ezra and Nehemiah (Ezr 2:43; Ezr 2:58; Ezr 2:70; Ezr 7:7; Ezr 7:24; Ezr 8:17; Ezr 8:20; Neh 3:26; Neh 3:31; Neh 7:46; Neh 7:60; Neh 7:73; Neh 10:28; Neh 11:3; Neh 11:21) and only once elsewhere (1Ch 9:2). From these passages it is evident that the Nethinim were a class subordinate to the Levites but ranking before ‘the servants of Solomon’ (Ezr 2:55) in the services of the Temple. Their origin is hid in great obscurity. The name denotes ‘given’. Jewish tradition identified them mainly with the Gibeonites, who had been assigned by Joshua to the Levites to assist them in the discharge of the more menial tasks (Jos 9:3-27). Their numbers were also, according to this supposition, increased by the captives taken in war, of whom a certain proportion were given over to the priests and Levites as their share in the booty of a campaign (Num 31:28 &c.). Thus in Ezr 8:20 we find a mention of certain of this class ‘whom David and the princes had appointed (lit. ‘given’) for the service of the Levites’.
The later Jewish tradition of the Talmud spoke of the Nethinim with great contempt and forbade intermarriage between them and the Jews. It is not improbable that these expressions were employed long after this distinctive class had been lost to view, and merely reflected the tradition which ascribed their origin to the Gibeonites and the Canaanites who fell under the special ban of the Law (Exo 34:12-16; Deu 7:1 &c.).
A recent theory, coupling the strong terms of Jewish hatred with the numerous feminine terminations in -a and -ah to be found in the genealogy of the Nethinim, supposes them to be the descendants of those who during the monarchy had led infamous lives in the precincts and vicinity of the Temple as devotees of Astarte and of Ashera (see Babyl. and Orient. Record, Feb., March 1888). But even if it were granted that the very odium of their origin would thus account for the mystery in which it is veiled, it does not seem probable that the strict notions which prevailed at the time of the Return would have admitted such a class to participate in the ministrations, however lowly, of the Temple.
The peculiar termination of the names derives a natural explanation from their foreign extraction.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The Nethinims – The hieroduli or sacred slaves, given to the Levites to assist them in their work (see 1Ch 9:2 note).
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
The Nethinims; the persons devoted to the inferior services of the priests and Levites; of whom see 1Ch 9:2.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Ver. 43-58. The Nethinims,…. Supposed by Aben Ezra and Jarchi to be the Gibeonites, who were “given” by Joshua, as the word Nethinims signifies, to the congregation, to be hewers of wood and drawers of water; but rather were those that were given by David to assist the Levites; of these is an account from hence to the end of Ezr 2:58, together with those who descended from Solomon’s servants, who seem to be the remains of the Canaanites in the land, whom Solomon made bondservants of, 1Ki 9:20, who, and their posterity, became proselytes; or those sprung from men that were domestic servants of Solomon’s, and valued themselves on that account; the number of the Nethinims and these together were three hundred ninety and two.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(43-58) The Nethinims.By the etymology those given: known by this name only in the later books. (See 1Ch. 9:2.) They were hieroduli, or temple-bondsmen: the lowest order of the ministry, performing the more laborious duties of the sanctuary. Their history runs through a long period. Moses apportioned them first, from the Midianite captives (Num. 31:47); they were reinforced from the Gibeonites (Jos. 9:23), and probably later by David (Ezr. 8:20). Three namesAkkub, Hagab, and Asnahhave dropped from Neheniiahs list, which gives also some unimportant changes in the spelling of the names.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
43. The Nethinim The given ones, that is, given to the Levites as hereditary temple servants, to perform for them the menial work of the sanctuary See on 1Ch 9:2.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
The Enrolling Of The Nethinim ( Ezr 2:43-54 ).
The Nethinim (given ones) probably had their origin in the Gibeonites who were forced to become ‘hewers of wood and drawers of water’ for the Tabernacle (Jos 9:27). Whoever they were they were seen as ‘given to God’. (Compare the same description of the Levites in Num 8:16 where the word is ‘nethunim’). They would later be added to by prisoners of war and other slaves, as Ezr 8:29 makes clear when it speaks of them as ‘those whom David and the princes had given for the service of the Levites’. Others were no doubt ‘given’ later by various kings. The Nethinim are distinguished in the list from ‘Solomon’s servants’ (Ezr 2:55), but included with these in the final total of two (Ezr 2:58), they thus clearly had similar functions. Nevertheless their status was such that they were exempt from taxes (Ezr 7:24), had their own quarters in Jerusalem (3:26; 3:31), and took the oath connected with the sure covenant of Nehemiah (Neh 10:28-31).
With regard to the Gibeonites, many of them had probably merged into Israel and would no doubt for this purpose at some stage have become of those who were circumcised. They might well therefore have been relieved from the most onerous duties, being replaced by prisoners of war and slaves. But there were certainly others who retained their identity as Gibeonites, and they clearly had an element of freedom (2Sa 21:2-9). And this at the time when David introduced the prisoners of war and slaves into the Temple. No doubt the slaves and prisoners of war, being required to work in the Temple, were also circumcised, and that not all of them saw their position as humiliating and undesirable comes out in the fact that so many of them chose to return from Exile as compared with the generality of Levites (Ezr 2:40), although we do not know how far they were free to choose. Further Nethinim would return with Ezra (Ezr 8:29). The Nethinim had their quarters in Ophel (‘eminence’), a district in Jerusalem near the Temple and near the old Water Gate (Neh 3:26; Neh 11:21). The only mention of them outside Ezra/Nehemiah is in 1Ch 9:2.
Ezr 2:43
‘The Nethinim.’
The families of the Nethinim are now listed. There are thirty five of them (in Nehemiah thirty two), and therefore, in view of the small total number (Ezr 2:58), there were a limited number in each family. This ties in with them as not having a long ancestry. The number of non-Israelite names is very illuminating.
As has been stated, whilst having a lowly place among the Temple personnel, these, along with the Levites, singers and gatekeepers, were exempted from taxes (Ezr 7:24), had their own quarters in Jerusalem (3:26, 31), and took the oath connected with the sure covenant of Nehemiah (Neh 10:28-31).
Ezr 2:43
‘The sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth, Ezr 2:44 the sons of Keros, the sons of Siaha, the sons of Padon, Ezr 2:45 the sons of Lebanah, the sons of Hagabah, the sons of Akkub, Ezr 2:46 the sons of Hagab, the sons of Shamlai, the sons of Hanan, Ezr 2:47 the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar, the sons of Reaiah, Ezr 2:48 the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, the sons of Gazzam, Ezr 2:49 the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah, the sons of Besai, Ezr 2:50 the sons of Asnah, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephisim, Ezr 2:51 the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur, Ezr 2:52 the sons of Bazluth, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha, Ezr 2:53 the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Temah, Ezr 2:54 the sons of Neziah, the sons of Hatipha.’
Tabbaoth, possibly the people of Tabbath (Jdg 7:22). Meunim (compare 2Ch 26:7) and Nephisim (compare 1Ch 5:19) may well be the names of enemy tribes (note the plural ending) from which these were captured. The sons of Akkub, Hagab and Asnah are omitted in Nehemiah 7, possibly having returned to Babylonia, or possibly having been wiped out by pestilence or violence (they would be few in number). For Shamlai Neh 7:48 has Salmai (such deliberate transpositions were common with names). For Nephisim Neh 7:52 has Nephusheism, an alternative name. All other variations relate only to differences of form.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Ezr 2:43 The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,
Ver. 43. The Nethinims ] i.e. Deodati, men given to God, devoted to the service of his house. These were those Gibeonites that, having saved their lives by a lie, were made drawers of water to the temple for a punishment. God made this cross a mercy: for the nearer they were to the Church the nearer to God. Their employment was to minister to the Levites, as the Levites did to the priests, Jos 9:21 ; and this gave them occasion to partake of the things of God, and to behold his face in righteousness.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Ezr 2:43-54
43The temple servants: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth,
44 the sons of Keros, the sons of Siaha, the sons of Padon,
45 the sons of Lebanah, the sons of Hagabah, the sons of Akkub,
46 the sons of Hagab, the sons of Shalmai, the sons of Hanan,
47 the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar, the sons of Reaiah,
48 the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, the sons of Gazzam,
49 the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah, the sons of Besai,
50 the sons of Asnah, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephisim,
51 the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur,
52 the sons of Bazluth, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha,
53 the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Temah,
54 the sons of Neziah, the sons of Hatipha.
Ezr 2:43; Ezr 2:58; Ezr 2:70 the temple servants Nethinim means, the given ones (BDB 682). This term was used for the Levites being given by God to serve the temple to help the priests in Num 3:9; Num 8:16; Num 16:19, but here this group apparently were descendants of Canaanite slaves who were used for service in the temple. This is because of the unusual non-Jewish names. This use of captured people was not uncommon in David’s day (cf. 2Sa 15:18-22). The Gibeonites, who tricked Joshua during the conquest, fall into the same kind of category (cf. Jos 9:27). It also appears that Ezekiel speaks to this group in Eze 44:6-31.
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
Nethinims = men given to God or His service. Temple servants. Compare Ezr 2:58; Ezr 7:7, Ezr 7:24; Ezr 8:17, Ezr 8:20. Neh 3:26; Neh 10:28; Neh 11:21. 1Ch 9:2.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Ezr 2:43-54
Ezr 2:43-54
THE NETHINIM WHO RETURNED
“The Nethinim: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth, the children of Keilos, the children of Siaha, the children of Padon, the children of Lebanah, the children of Hagabah, the children of Akkub, the children of Hagab, the children of Shamlai, the children Hanan, the children of Gibbel, the children of Gahar, the children of Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, the children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, the children of Besai, the children of Asnah, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephisim, the children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur, the children of Bazluth, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha, the children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Temah, the children of Nezeiah, the children of Hatipha.”
“The Nethinim” (Ezr 2:43). “The name comes from a Hebrew expression which means, `given as helpers,’ that is, bondmen of the temple.”[14] Cook also referred to these as, “The sacred slaves given to assist the Levites.” However, Williamson believed that, “The name might mean no more than devoted.” To this writer, the more likely meaning is that given by Cook. This is supported by the prominence of foreign names in the list, names connected with the ancient Canaanites, and also by their being classified with the “children of Solomon’s servants” (Ezr 2:55), who were most certainly slaves. A plausible theory, supported by the considerable number of foreign names, is that they were prisoners of war allocated to the temple for the more mundane tasks.”
E.M. Zerr:
Ezr 2:43-54. The Nethinims were a class of servants given over for the rougher work about the temple. They had no official status, but waited on the men who were conducting the service of the house of God. There must have been a considerable number of them, for this paragraph lists the descendants of 35 men who were classed in that service. We do not have any definite statement of the tasks they performed. A fair example of the kind of service they did is the case of the Gibeonites in Jos 9:21-23. I do not mean these people were put in the same rank as the Nethinims. They were of a foreign blood while the Nethinims were Israelites. But the nature of service that was exacted of them will serve as an illustration of the kind of work done by this particular class of servants that happened to be called Nethinims.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Nethinims: Ezr 2:58, 1Ch 9:2, Neh 7:46-56, Neh 10:28
Hasupha: This variation only exists in the translation, the original being written here Husupha, and in the parallel place defectively, Hasupha. Neh 7:46, Hashupha
Reciprocal: Jos 9:27 – made them Ezr 7:7 – Nethinims Ezr 8:17 – the Nethinims Ezr 8:20 – Nethinims Neh 3:26 – Nethinims Neh 11:3 – Nethinims Eze 48:18 – that serve
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Ezr 2:43. Nethinims Persons devoted to the inferior services of the priests and Levites. Commonly supposed to be the Gibeonites, given (so their name signifies) by Joshua first, and again by David, when Saul had expelled them, to the priests and Levites, for those services.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2:43 The {h} Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,
(h) So called because they were given to the temple, to cut wood and bear water for the use of the sacrifices and came of the Gibeonites who were appointed to this use by Joshua, Jos 9:23.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The temple servants 2:43-54
The "temple servants" were an order of Israelites that David had established to assist the Levites (Ezr 8:20). The biblical writers sometimes called them the Nethinim (lit. those given, i.e., dedicated, to God). They may have been the descendants of the Gibeonites whom Joshua had subjugated (Jos 9:27), and or the descendants of other war captives. [Note: Myers, p. 19.]