Biblical Proper Names: Biographies

A Dictionary of the Bible The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Further reading

nethinim

A Dictionary of the Bible | 1997 | | Copyright

nethinim Employees in the second Temple; Jewish tradition regarded them as the descendants of the Gibeonites who saved themselves from death at the hands of the invading Israelites by means of a ruse; they were punished by Joshua to be ‘hewers of wood and drawers of water’ (Josh. 9: 27). They are supposed to have been in David's service (Ezra 8: 20). The Mishnah reports that nethinim could marry into the families of priests and Levites; though this is late evidence, it could be that, from the time of the Return from Exile, the nethinim were absorbed into mainstream Jewish life.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

W. R. F. BROWNING. "nethinim." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

W. R. F. BROWNING. "nethinim." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-nethinim.html

W. R. F. BROWNING. "nethinim." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-nethinim.html

Learn more about citation styles

Nethinim

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2011 | Copyright

Nethinim , in the Bible, alien captives of the Jews who performed the humblest tasks of the temple. Their lot improved until in post-Exilic times they became the equals of other temple officials.