Lexical Definition
גִּדֵּל Giddêl (ghid-dale') Giddel N:N-M-P
from גָּדַל; stout
Giddel.
- § Giddel = "very great"
- Giddel, the name of one of the Nethinim, also of one of 'Solomon's servants'
1) the head of a family of temple slaves returning from exile with Zerubbabel
2) the head of the descendants of Solomon's servants returning from exile with Zerubbabel
Extended Information
- A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Ezr.2.56
Brown-Driver-Briggs
גִּדֵּל proper name, masculine (very great) —
1. head of one of the families of Nethinim Ezra 2:47; Neh 7:49.
2. head of one of the families of Solomon's servants Ezra 2:56; Neh 7:58.
Brown-Driver-Briggs References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| Ezra | 2:47 · 2:56 |
| Nehemiah | 7:49 · 7:58 |
Profile
Male • Returned from exile • Ancestor of Solomon's servants who returned from Babylonian exile.
Man living at the time of Exile and Return
Giddel was an ancestor of a group of Solomon's servants who returned to Jerusalem from the Babylonian exile.
- A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Ezr.2.56;
- only referred to as Giddel גִּדֵּל.
Giddel is mentioned in Ezra 2:56 and Nehemiah 7:58 as an ancestor of a group of Solomon's servants who returned to Jerusalem from the Babylonian exile. Solomon's servants were a distinct group of temple personnel, separate from the Levites and the Nethinim (Ezra 2:55, 58; Nehemiah 7:57, 60). They were likely descendants of the Canaanites whom Solomon had conscripted as forced laborers for his building projects, including the construction of the temple (1 Kings 9:20-21; 2 Chronicles 8:7-8). In the lists of the exiles who returned to Jerusalem under the leadership of Zerubbabel (Ezra 2) and Nehemiah (Nehemiah 7), the descendants of Giddel are counted among Solomon's servants. This suggests that Giddel's descendants had continued to serve in the temple, even during the exile, and were part of the group who returned to restore worship in Jerusalem. The inclusion of Solomon's servants in the lists of returning exiles highlights the diverse composition of the Jewish community and the various roles and lineages represented in the temple service.
All entries for Giddel: גִּדֵּל