Nethinim

Screen capture of seal found in 2008 at temple site

Last Sunday Pastor’s sermon from Joshua 9 included a mention of the Nethinim.  I couldn’t remember hearing the word before and intended to do some research, but didn’t – until I read Ezra this week.

Pastor was speaking of the Gibeonites. Having heard of the Israelites conquest of Jericho and Ai (those stories are interesting, too – the differences between those battles, their outcome!) and were determined not to be part of spoils of war. Joshua 9 tells of their plan.

Their subterfuge worked. Joshua and the elders looked at their worn clothing, the old wine bottles, their molded bread and made a decision without consulting the Lord.

And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD. And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them. (Joshua 9:14-15 KJV)

Remember, the children of Israel had been told to remove the inhabitants of the land.  Here they had been tricked into going against God’s plan and had to live with the consequences of their actions. Another decision was made:

And the princes said unto them, Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had promised them. (Joshua 9:21 KJV)

The word Nethinim is first mentioned:

Now the first inhabitants that dwelt in their possessions in their cities were, the Israelites, the priests, Levites, and the Nethinims. (1 Chronicles 9:2 KJV)

Let’s jump ahead to Ezra:

Also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were expressed by name. (Ezra 8:20 KJV)

Tradition holds David appointed the ‘hewers of wood and drawers of water’ to be in the ‘service of the Levites’. Tradition also holds these are listed in Ezra 2:43-54, the Nethinim, returning with Israelites to assist in the rebuilding of the temple. Some scholars point to others being Nethinim rather than the traditional Gibeonites, but it appears they were the first.

Nethinim means ‘given’, ‘set apart.’ These people were set apart to serve the Lord, a change from His orders to Joshua. Which reminded me of Peter’s explanation regarding another setting apart, another change to those who are to carry His word in His service:

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10 KJV)

It is a blessing for me to be included as part of ‘the people of God,’ having ‘obtained mercy’ through His son, Jesus Christ.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (1 Peter 1:3 KJV)