Ezra 2:43

Ezr 2:43 The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,

Ver. 43. The Nethinims ] i.e. Deodati, men given to God, devoted to the service of his house. These were those Gibeonites that, having saved their lives by a lie, were made drawers of water to the temple for a punishment. God made this cross a mercy: for the nearer they were to the Church the nearer to God. Their employment was to minister to the Levites, as the Levites did to the priests, Joshua 9:21 ; and this gave them occasion to partake of the things of God, and to behold his face in righteousness.