Nethinim
Encyclopedia
Nethinim was the name given to the Temple
assistants in ancient Jerusalem. The term was applied originally in the Book of Joshua
(where it is found in its verbal form) to the Gibeonites who converted during the time of Joshua, later in the Book of Ezra
they include the Avdei Shlomo ("Servants of Solomon") the descendants of the remnant of the Canaanite people in the land.
2:70; 7:7, 24; 8:17, 20; Neh
3:26; 7:46, 60, 73; 10:29). Lexicons generally regard Netinim as derived from the semitic root N-T-N, "to give."
(1911) article "Nathinites."
In Greek the Septuagint renders the with graecicized οἱ Ναθιναῖοι, hoi Nathinaioi "the Nathinites" (Ezra 2:43; Neh 11:3), transliterated ναθινιν (Ezra 2:58); and on only one occasion, translated into Greek - as οἱ δεδομένοι hoi dedoménoi, "the given ones" (1 Chron
9:2). Josephus
renders the term as ἰερόδουλοι ierodouloi "temple servants" (Antiquities of the Jews
, 11.1. 6). The Vulgate
has ). In Syriac the Peshitta
follows the Hebrew, except that 1 Chron. 9 renders netinim with Syriac geyora pl., equivalent of Hebrew gerim.
and particularly enumerated in and The original form of the name was Nethunim, as in the Khetib (consonantal reading) of (cf. ), and means "given" or "dedicated," i.e. to the temple. The Talmud
has also the singular form Nathin. In all, 612 Nethinim came back from the Exile and were lodged near the "House of the Nethinim " at Ophel, towards the east wall of Jerusalem so as to be near the Temple, where they served under the Levites and were free of all tolls, from which they must have been supported. It is mentioned that they had been ordered by David and the princes to serve the Levites .
Notwithstanding their sacred service, the Nethinim are placed in tables of precedence below mamzerim and in the Mishna it is stated that the prohibition against intermarriage with the Moabites, Ammon
ites, Egyptians
and Edomites, though given in the Bible, only applied for a certain number of generations or did not apply at all to their daughters, but, it is added, "Mamzerim and Nethinim are prohibited (to marry Israelites), and this prohibition is perpetual and applies both to males and females."
A large majority of the names of the parents mentioned seem to be feminine in form or meaning, and suggest that the Nethinim could not trace back to any definite paternity; and this is confirmed by the fact that the lists are followed by the enumeration of those who could not "show their father's house" .
publications apply the term "Nethinim" to modern Christian elders
serving in positions of responsibility immediately under the oversight of their Governing Body. Whereas they consider Governing Body members and other "anointed" Witnesses to be members of "the Israel of God" and "really Israel", the vast majority of Witnesses consider themselves personally associated with but not members of "spiritual Israel".
Solomon's Temple
Solomon's Temple, also known as the First Temple, was the main temple in ancient Jerusalem, on the Temple Mount , before its destruction by Nebuchadnezzar II after the Siege of Jerusalem of 587 BCE....
assistants in ancient Jerusalem. The term was applied originally in the Book of Joshua
Book of Joshua
The Book of Joshua is the sixth book in the Hebrew Bible and of the Old Testament. Its 24 chapters tell of the entry of the Israelites into Canaan, their conquest and division of the land under the leadership of Joshua, and of serving God in the land....
(where it is found in its verbal form) to the Gibeonites who converted during the time of Joshua, later in the Book of Ezra
Book of Ezra
The Book of Ezra is a book of the Hebrew Bible. Originally combined with the Book of Nehemiah in a single book of Ezra-Nehemiah, the two became separated in the early centuries of the Christian era...
they include the Avdei Shlomo ("Servants of Solomon") the descendants of the remnant of the Canaanite people in the land.
Etymology
The noun occurs 18 times in the Masoretic Text of the Hebrew Bible, once in 1 Chronicles 9, then the remainder in Ezra and Nehemiah, and always in the plural. (EzraBook of Ezra
The Book of Ezra is a book of the Hebrew Bible. Originally combined with the Book of Nehemiah in a single book of Ezra-Nehemiah, the two became separated in the early centuries of the Christian era...
2:70; 7:7, 24; 8:17, 20; Neh
Book of Nehemiah
The Book of Nehemiah is a book of the Hebrew Bible. Told largely in the form of a first-person memoir, it concerns the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem by Nehemiah, a Jew who is a high official at the Persian court, and the dedication of the city and its people to God's laws...
3:26; 7:46, 60, 73; 10:29). Lexicons generally regard Netinim as derived from the semitic root N-T-N, "to give."
Translations and spellings
In English Nethinim is one of several Hebrew words which are transliterated rather than translated in the King James Version (1611), although incorrectly as "Nethinims" duplicating the Hebrew plural -im with an additional and redundant English -s. It is also the most common academic spelling. Netinim occurs as a transcription in The spelling Nathinites is found in the Douay-Rheims Version and consequently in the Catholic EncyclopediaCatholic Encyclopedia
The Catholic Encyclopedia, also referred to as the Old Catholic Encyclopedia and the Original Catholic Encyclopedia, is an English-language encyclopedia published in the United States. The first volume appeared in March 1907 and the last three volumes appeared in 1912, followed by a master index...
(1911) article "Nathinites."
In Greek the Septuagint renders the with graecicized οἱ Ναθιναῖοι, hoi Nathinaioi "the Nathinites" (Ezra 2:43; Neh 11:3), transliterated ναθινιν (Ezra 2:58); and on only one occasion, translated into Greek - as οἱ δεδομένοι hoi dedoménoi, "the given ones" (1 Chron
Books of Chronicles
The Books of Chronicles are part of the Hebrew Bible. In the Masoretic Text, it appears as the first or last book of the Ketuvim . Chronicles largely parallels the Davidic narratives in the Books of Samuel and the Books of Kings...
9:2). Josephus
Josephus
Titus Flavius Josephus , also called Joseph ben Matityahu , was a 1st-century Romano-Jewish historian and hagiographer of priestly and royal ancestry who recorded Jewish history, with special emphasis on the 1st century AD and the First Jewish–Roman War, which resulted in the Destruction of...
renders the term as ἰερόδουλοι ierodouloi "temple servants" (Antiquities of the Jews
Antiquities of the Jews
Antiquities of the Jews is a twenty volume historiographical work composed by the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus in the thirteenth year of the reign of Roman emperor Flavius Domitian which was around 93 or 94 AD. Antiquities of the Jews contains an account of history of the Jewish people,...
, 11.1. 6). The Vulgate
Vulgate
The Vulgate is a late 4th-century Latin translation of the Bible. It was largely the work of St. Jerome, who was commissioned by Pope Damasus I in 382 to make a revision of the old Latin translations...
has ). In Syriac the Peshitta
Peshitta
The Peshitta is the standard version of the Bible for churches in the Syriac tradition.The Old Testament of the Peshitta was translated into Syriac from the Hebrew, probably in the 2nd century AD...
follows the Hebrew, except that 1 Chron. 9 renders netinim with Syriac geyora pl., equivalent of Hebrew gerim.
Hebrew Bible
The Nethinim are mentioned at the return from the ExileExile
Exile means to be away from one's home , while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened with imprisonment or death upon return...
and particularly enumerated in and The original form of the name was Nethunim, as in the Khetib (consonantal reading) of (cf. ), and means "given" or "dedicated," i.e. to the temple. The Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
has also the singular form Nathin. In all, 612 Nethinim came back from the Exile and were lodged near the "House of the Nethinim " at Ophel, towards the east wall of Jerusalem so as to be near the Temple, where they served under the Levites and were free of all tolls, from which they must have been supported. It is mentioned that they had been ordered by David and the princes to serve the Levites .
Notwithstanding their sacred service, the Nethinim are placed in tables of precedence below mamzerim and in the Mishna it is stated that the prohibition against intermarriage with the Moabites, Ammon
Ammon
Ammon , also referred to as the Ammonites and children of Ammon, was an ancient nation located east of the Jordan River, Gilead, and the Dead Sea, in present-day Jordan. The chief city of the country was Rabbah or Rabbath Ammon, site of the modern city of Amman, Jordan's capital...
ites, Egyptians
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...
and Edomites, though given in the Bible, only applied for a certain number of generations or did not apply at all to their daughters, but, it is added, "Mamzerim and Nethinim are prohibited (to marry Israelites), and this prohibition is perpetual and applies both to males and females."
A large majority of the names of the parents mentioned seem to be feminine in form or meaning, and suggest that the Nethinim could not trace back to any definite paternity; and this is confirmed by the fact that the lists are followed by the enumeration of those who could not "show their father's house" .
Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's WitnessesJehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses is a millenarian restorationist Christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity. The religion reports worldwide membership of over 7 million adherents involved in evangelism, convention attendance of over 12 million, and annual...
publications apply the term "Nethinim" to modern Christian elders
Elder (Christianity)
An elder in Christianity is a person valued for his wisdom who accordingly holds a particular position of responsibility in a Christian group. In some Christian traditions an elder is a clergy person who usually serves a local church or churches and who has been ordained to a ministry of Word,...
serving in positions of responsibility immediately under the oversight of their Governing Body. Whereas they consider Governing Body members and other "anointed" Witnesses to be members of "the Israel of God" and "really Israel", the vast majority of Witnesses consider themselves personally associated with but not members of "spiritual Israel".