BibleWord.ai› Bible› Ezra› Chapter 8› Verse 20

Ezra 8:20

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Ezra 8:20 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “and of the Nethinim, whom David and the princes had given for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinim: all of them were mentioned by name.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

and of the Nethinim, whom David and the princes had given for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinim: all of them were mentioned by name.
Ezra 8:20 — American Standard Version

Context — Ezra 8

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
17And I sent them forth unto Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia; and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, [and] his brethren the Nethinim, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God.
18And according to the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of discretion, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen;
19and Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brethren and their sons, twenty;
20and of the Nethinim, whom David and the princes had given for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinim: all of them were mentioned by name.
21Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek of him a straight way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.
22For I was ashamed to ask of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way, because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them that seek him, for good; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.
23So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was entreated of us.
← Ezra 8:19Ezra 8:21 →
← Full Chapter 8 Ezra Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, etc.] 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.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“8:20 first instituted by King David and his officials: See 1 Chr 24–26.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Nethinims: Ezr 8:17, Ezr 2:43, Ezr 7:7; Ch1 9:2 all of them: Phi 4:3 Ezra 8:21”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Read Ezra 8 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification