DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan

 Neth·i·nim n. pl.  jewish Antiq. Servants of the priests and Levites in the menial services about the tabernacle and temple.
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 Nethinim
    the name given to the hereditary temple servants in all the
    post-Exilian books of Scripture. The word means given, i.e.,
    "those set apart", viz., to the menial work of the sanctuary for
    the Levites. The name occurs seventeen times, and in each case
    in the Authorized Version incorrectly terminates in "s",
    "Nethinims;" in the Revised Version, correctly without the "s"
    (Ezra 2:70; 7:7, 24; 8:20, etc.). The tradition is that the
    Gibeonites (Josh. 9:27) were the original caste, afterwards
    called Nethinim. Their numbers were added to afterwards from
    captives taken in battle; and they were formally given by David
    to the Levites (Ezra 8:20), and so were called Nethinim, i.e.,
    the given ones, given to the Levites to be their servants. Only
    612 Nethinim returned from Babylon (Ezra 2:58; 8:20). They were
    under the control of a chief from among themselves (2:43; Neh.
    7:46). No reference to them appears in the New Testament,
    because it is probable that they became merged in the general
    body of the Jewish people.