NETHINIM

- Were the servants of the Levites Ezr 8:20 - Probably originated in the appointment of the Gibeonites Jos 9:27 - The remnant of the Canaanites appointed as, by Solomon 1Ki 9:20,21; Ezr 2:58 - WITH THE PRIESTS AND LEVITES . Had cities to reside in 1Ch 9:2; Ezr 2:70 . Exempted from tribute Ezr 7:24 - Had chiefs or captains over them Ne 11:21 - A large number of, returned from the captivity Ezr 2:43-54; Ne 7:46-56,60 - Were zealous for the covenant Ne 10:28,29

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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, Jud 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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Nethinim. 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.

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servants of the Levites 1Ch 9:2; Ezr 2:43; 7:7; 8:20; Ne 3:26; 7:46; 10:28; 11:3

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‖Neth″i‐nim (?), n. pl. [[Heb., pl. of nāthīn given, granted, a slave of the temple, fr. nāthan to give.]] (jewish Antiq.) Servants of the priests and Levites in the menial services about the tabernacle and temple.