Who Were the Nethinims in Chronicles and Ezra?

1 Chronicles 9

1 So all Israel were reckoned by genealogies; and, behold, they were written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah, who were carried away to Babylon for their transgression.

2 Now the first inhabitants that dwelled in their possessions in their cities were, the Israelites, the priests, Levites, and the Nethinims.

3 And in Jerusalem dwelled of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin, and of the children of Ephraim, and Manasseh;

4 Uthai the son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, of the children of Pharez the son of Judah.

5 And of the Shilonites; Asaiah the firstborn, and his sons.

6 And of the sons of Zerah; Jeuel, and their brothers, six hundred and ninety.

7 And of the sons of Benjamin; Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hasenuah,

8 And Ibneiah the son of Jeroham, and Elah the son of Uzzi, the son of Michri, and Meshullam the son of Shephathiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah;

9 And their brothers, according to their generations, nine hundred and fifty and six. All these men were chief of the fathers in the house of their fathers.

10 And of the priests; Jedaiah, and Jehoiarib, and Jachin,

11 And Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ruler of the house of God;

12 And Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchijah, and Maasiai the son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer;

13 And their brothers, heads of the house of their fathers, a thousand and seven hundred and three score; very able men for the work of the service of the house of God.

14 And of the Levites; Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari;

15 And Bakbakkar, Heresh, and Galal, and Mattaniah the son of Micah, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph;

16 And Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, that dwelled in the villages of the Netophathites.

17 And the porters were, Shallum, and Akkub, and Talmon, and Ahiman, and their brothers: Shallum was the chief;

18 Who till now waited in the king’s gate eastward: they were porters in the companies of the children of Levi.

19 And Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brothers, of the house of his father, the Korahites, were over the work of the service, keepers of the gates of the tabernacle: and their fathers, being over the host of the LORD, were keepers of the entry.

20 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar was the ruler over them in time past, and the LORD was with him.

21 And Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was porter of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

22 All these which were chosen to be porters in the gates were two hundred and twelve. These were reckoned by their genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the seer did ordain in their set office.

23 So they and their children had the oversight of the gates of the house of the LORD, namely, the house of the tabernacle, by wards.

24 In four quarters were the porters, toward the east, west, north, and south.

25 And their brothers, which were in their villages, were to come after seven days from time to time with them.

26 For these Levites, the four chief porters, were in their set office, and were over the chambers and treasuries of the house of God.

27 And they lodged round about the house of God, because the charge was on them, and the opening thereof every morning pertained to them.

28 And certain of them had the charge of the ministering vessels, that they should bring them in and out by tale.

29 Some of them also were appointed to oversee the vessels, and all the instruments of the sanctuary, and the fine flour, and the wine, and the oil, and the frankincense, and the spices.

30 And some of the sons of the priests made the ointment of the spices.

31 And Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the set office over the things that were made in the pans.

32 And other of their brothers, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the show bread, to prepare it every sabbath.

33 And these are the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites, who remaining in the chambers were free: for they were employed in that work day and night.

34 These chief fathers of the Levites were chief throughout their generations; these dwelled at Jerusalem.

35 And in Gibeon dwelled the father of Gibeon, Jehiel, whose wife’s name was Maachah:

36 And his firstborn son Abdon, then Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Ner, and Nadab.

37 And Gedor, and Ahio, and Zechariah, and Mikloth.

38 And Mikloth begat Shimeam. And they also dwelled with their brothers at Jerusalem, over against their brothers.

39 And Ner begat Kish; and Kish begat Saul; and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal.

40 And the son of Jonathan was Meribbaal: and Meribbaal begat Micah.

41 And the sons of Micah were, Pithon, and Melech, and Tahrea, and Ahaz.

42 And Ahaz begat Jarah; and Jarah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza;

43 And Moza begat Binea; and Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son.

44 And Azel had six sons, whose names are these, Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan: these were the sons of Azel.

Los Nethinims eran servidores hereditarios del templo, originalmente de origen extranjero, que fueron dedicados para asistir a los Levitas en las tareas más pesadas y manuales del santuarioSBD Nethinim.2+1. Su nombre proviene de la palabra hebrea nâthan, que significa "dar", "apartar" o "dedicar", lo que los identifica como los "entregados" para el servicio sagradoSBD Nethinim.2+1.

A continuación, se detalla su historia, funciones y relevancia según los registros bíblicos:

Origen e Historia

• Identidad Original: Se cree que los Gibeonitas fueron el núcleo original de esta clase, tras ser condenados por Josué a ser leñadores y aguadores para la casa de Dios Joshua 9:23+1ETI Nethinim.2.

• Nombramiento Real: Aunque sus raíces son antiguas, la clase específica de los Nethinim fue organizada formalmente por el rey David y los príncipes para servir a los Levitas Ezra 8:20SBD Nethinim.2+1.

• Procedencia Extranjera: Muchos eran descendientes de cautivos tomados en batalla, como los Midianitas, o de los Hivitas que habitaban en Gabaón Numbers 31:47SBD Nethinim.2+1.

• Continuidad: El sistema iniciado por David fue continuado por su sucesor, Salomón, e incluso se menciona a los hijos de los siervos de Salomón en las listas junto a los Nethinim Ezra 2:58SBD Nethinim.2+1.

Funciones y Posición Social

• Asistencia a los Levitas: Su propósito principal era realizar el trabajo más duro y "tosco" del templo, lo que permitía a los Levitas ocupar posiciones más altas como representantes religiosos e instructores del puebloSBD Nethinim.2+1.

• Residencia: Antes del cautiverio, probablemente vivían dentro de los recintos del templo, y tras el regreso de Babilonia, habitaron en una zona específica de Jerusalén llamada Ofel, en la colina del templo 2 Chronicles 27:3+1ETI Ophel.2+1.

• Estatus Legal: Eran considerados parte del orden eclesiástico; por ello, el rey Artaxerxes decretó que no era lícito imponerles peaje, tributo o aduana, otorgándoles la misma inmunidad que a los sacerdotes y Levitas Ezra 7:24PK 611.1+1.

Regreso del Cautiverio

• Liderazgo Propio: Al regresar de Babilonia bajo el mando de Zorobabel y más tarde con Esdras, los Nethinim estaban organizados bajo sus propios jefes, como Ziha y Gispa Ezra 2:43+1ETI Nethinim.2+1.

• Cifras del Retorno: En la primera caravana regresaron 392 Nethinim y siervos de Salomón, y posteriormente otros 220 se unieron a Esdras tras una búsqueda especial de ministros para la casa de Dios Ezra 2:58+1KJV — Ezra 2:70+1.

• Integración Nacional: Después del exilio, se mencionan habitando en sus propias ciudades junto con el resto de Israel, participando plenamente en la vida nacional y en la renovación del pacto con Dios Ezra 2:70+1EVCO 478.2+1.

Familias Mencionadas en Crónicas y Esdras

Los registros genealógicos nombran diversas familias de Nethinim, entre las que destacan los hijos de Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth, Keros, Siaha, Padon, Lebanah, Hagabah, Akkub, Hagab, Shalmai, Hanan, Giddel, Gahar, Reaiah, Rezin, Nekoda, Gazzam, Uzza, Paseah, Besai, Asnah, Mehunim, Nephusim, Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur, Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha, Barkos, Sisera, Thamah, Neziah y Hatipha Ezra 2:43-54+1KJV — Ezra 2:43. Estos hombres eran considerados ministros valiosos y ayudantes necesarios para el restablecimiento de los servicios del santuarioRH February 13, 1908, par. 7+1.