Nethinims

Josh. ix.NETHINIMS. This Word comes from the Hebrew Nathan to give. The Nethinims were Servants who had been given up and dedicated to the Service of the Tabernacle and Temple, to perform the meanest and most laborious Services therein, as the carrying of Wood and Water thither. At first the Gibeonites were appointed to this Office. Afterwards the Canaanites that surrendered themselves, and whose Lives were spared, were consigned to the Performance of the same Duties. We read in Ez. viii. 20.Ezra, that the Nethinims were Slaves devoted by David, and the other Princes to the Ministry of the Temple; and elsewhere, that they were Slaves given by Ez. ii. 58.Solomon: The Children of Solomon’s Servants. And we see in the Book of Kings, that this 1 Kings ix. 20, 21.Prince had subdued the Remains of the Canaanites, and had constrained them to several Servitudes; and it is very probable he gave a good Number of them to the Priests and Levites, for the Service of the Temple. The Nethinims were carried into Captivity with the Tribe of Judah, and there were great Numbers of them towards the Coasts of the Caspian Sea, from whence Ezra Ez. viii. 17.brought some of them back. At the Return from the Captivity, they dwelt in the Cities Ez. ii. 17.appointed for them. There were some of ‘em also at Jerusalem, who inhabited that Part of the City called Ophel. Those who returned Nehem. iii. 26. Ezr. viii. 20. Ezr. ii. 58.with Ezra were to the Number of two Hundred and twenty; and those that followed Zerubbabel made up three Hundred ninety two. This Number was but small in Regard to the Offices that were imposed on them; so that we see afterwards they instituted a Solemnity called Xylophoria, in which the People carried Wood to the Temple with great Ceremony, to keep up the Fire of the Altar of burnt Sacrifices z.

Read this article in its place on the printed pages