2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Nethinim  \Neth"i*nim\,  n.  pl  [Heb.,  pl  of  n[=a]th[=i]n  given 
  granted,  a  slave  of  the  temple,  fr  n[=a]than  to  give.] 
  (jewish  Antiq.) 
  Servants  of  the  priests  and  Levites  in  the  menial  services 
  about  the  tabernacle  and  temple. 
 
  From  Easton's  1897  Bible  Dictionary  [easton]: 
 
  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. 
 

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