Ezra 8:20

Favouring their designs and orders, protecting those that were sent, and inclining those they were sent to use their interest and authority with those that were under them, and making them willing also to agree to what was proposed to them: they brought us a man of understanding of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; an Israelite, of the tribe of Levi, in the line of Mahli a son of Merari, the third son of Levi: and Sherebiah; or rather "even Sherebiah"; so Aben Ezra; for he is the understanding man that is meant, and described by his pedigree: with his sons and his brethren, eighteen; all together made this number. Ezra 8:19 Ver. 19. And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari,.... These were of the same division of Levites as Sherebiah: his brethren and their sons, twenty; these thirty eight, with those they came with, were all Levites; the Nethinims follow. Ezra 8:20 Ver. 20. Also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites,....

Also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites,.... To wait upon them, and minister to them, as they did to the priests; some think those were the same with the Gibeonites, whom Joshua gave to the service of the sanctuary, and David confirmed; but others are of opinion these were different from them, and an addition to them: two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were expressed by name; in the history that Iddo sent of them to Ezra; and so the names of the Levites, though not here expressed, only the names of those they came with.

(20) The Nethinims —It is here alone recorded that David appointed these to aid the Levites. All of them were expressed by name.—Not, as some think, that they were all famous, but that Iddo sent their names in a list not given. The relief of their coming is gratefully ascribed to the “good hand of our God upon us.”

Ezra 8:20 . Also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed — The Gibeonites, who were devoted to the service of the Levites by Joshua and the princes of his time, ( Joshua 9:21 ,) and are said to have been appointed by David and his princes, because they were confirmed by them in their former office, and more particularly applied to the several services of the temple. Of them two hundred and twenty, upon this hasty summons, listed themselves, and had the honour to be expressed by name in Ezra’s muster-roll. This success Ezra ascribes to the good hand of God upon them. If, where ministers have been wanting, the vacancies are well supplied, let God have the glory, and his good hand, qualifying them for the service, inclining them to it, and then opening a door of opportunity for them.

Verse 20. - The Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed. We learn this fact from the present passage only; since neither in Kings nor Chronicles is there any mention made of David's adding to the hieroduli , or temple servants. It is, however, quite in accordance with his other arrangements that he should have done so. The original Nethinims were the Gibeonites ( Joshua 9:23 ). All... were expressed by name. Iddo sent to Ezra a list of the Nethinims, which, however, he does not think it necessary to insert. CHAPTER 8:21-36 Ezra 8:20

The Gibeonites, who were devoted to this service by Joshua and the princes of his time, Joshua 9:21 , and are said to be appointed by David and his princes, because they were confirmed by them in their former office, and more particularly applied to the several services of the temple; though this be not distinctly related in 1 Chronicles 24 1Ch 25 1Ch 26 , because his business there was to give an account only of the new constitutions and alterations made by David in those matters.

16-20. then sent I for Eliezer … with commandment unto Iddo the chief—Ezra sent this deputation, either by virtue of authority which by his priestly character he had over the Levites, or of the royal commission with which he was invested. The deputation was despatched to Iddo, who was a prince or chief of the Nethinims—for the Persian government allowed the Hebrews during their exile to retain their ecclesiastical government by their own chiefs, as well as to enjoy the privilege of free worship. Iddo's influence procured and brought to the camp at Ahava thirty-eight Levites, and two hundred twenty Nethinims, the descendants of the Gibeonites, who performed the servile duties of the temple.

20 . also of the Nethinims ] R.V. and of the Nethinim . whom David and the princes had appointed ] R.V. whom David and the princes had given . ‘Given’, not ‘appointed’, more literal rendering and corresponds with meaning of Nethinim (=given). See on Ezra 2:55 . The sentence illustrates the prevailing tradition as to the origin of the Nethinim. for the service of ] here as usually = “for ministration or service to”; cf. Exodus 30:16 : frequent in Chron. in the phrase “the service of the house of God”. Sometimes = “service rendered by”, e.g. Exodus 38:21 . For its primary meaning cf. Nehemiah 5:18 (bondage). all … expressed by name ] cf. the same phrase 1 Chronicles 12:31 ; 1 Chronicles 16:41 ; 2 Chronicles 28:15 ; 2 Chronicles 31:19 . The metaphor of the original is that of being ‘pricked’ off on the list. The list was probably before the compiler, who does not think it worth while to occupy space with the names.

With respect to the Nethinim, whom David and the princes (of Israel) had given for the service of the Levites (i.e., made servants of the temple, to perform the lowest offices for the Levites), comp. Joshua 9:21 and Ezra 2:43 . "They all were distinguished by name," i.e., were men of note; comp. remarks on 1 Chronicles 12:31 .