Giddel
A Name Among the Temple Servants
The first Giddel was the head of a family of Nethinim, the temple servants who assisted the Levites in their duties at the Jerusalem temple. His descendants are listed among those who returned from Babylonian exile with Zerubbabel around 538 BC. The family appears in Ezra 2:47, Nehemiah 7:49, and the parallel passage in 1 Esdras 5:30 (where the name appears as Cathua).
A Name Among Solomon's Servants
The second Giddel was the head of a family counted among the "descendants of Solomon's servants," a distinct group that returned from exile alongside the Nethinim. This family is listed in Ezra 2:56, Nehemiah 7:58, and 1 Esdras 5:33 (where the name appears as Isdael). Solomon's servants were a special class of temple workers originally organized by King Solomon for service related to the temple and royal administration.
The Nethinim and Solomon's Servants
The Nethinim (meaning "given ones") were a class of temple workers who performed menial but essential tasks in support of Israel's worship. Tradition held that some were descendants of the Gibeonites who were assigned to serve as woodcutters and water carriers after their deception of Joshua (Joshua 9:27). Solomon's servants appear to have been a similar group, possibly organized during the building of the first temple. Both groups occupied a humble but recognized position in Israel's religious community.
Despite their lower social status, the Nethinim and Solomon's servants were considered important enough to be counted in the official return lists. Their presence among the returnees indicates that they were integral to reestablishing proper temple worship in Jerusalem.
The Return from Exile
The return from Babylon was a monumental event in Israel's history, fulfilling God's promise through the prophets that the exile would not be permanent (Jeremiah 29:10). The detailed lists in Ezra 2 and Nehemiah 7 served as a national registry, establishing who had legitimate claims to land, heritage, and participation in the restored community. Families like Giddel's, though not prominent in the narrative, played vital roles in rebuilding the infrastructure of worship.
The Meaning of the Name
The name Giddel means "very great" or "stout," possibly given as a reflection of the parents' hopes for their child or as a description of physical characteristics. The name appears only in the context of the return lists, and no individual stories about any Giddel have been preserved. Nevertheless, the inclusion of these families in the sacred record affirms their place in God's redemptive plan for Israel.
Biblical Context
Giddel appears in the post-exilic return lists: as a Nethinim family head in Ezra 2:47 and Nehemiah 7:49, and as a family head among Solomon's servants in Ezra 2:56 and Nehemiah 7:58. The parallel text of 1 Esdras uses variant name forms. All references place the Giddel families among those who returned from Babylon to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel.
Theological Significance
The inclusion of humble temple servants like Giddel's descendants in the return lists demonstrates that God values every person who serves in his house, regardless of social standing. The restoration of proper worship after exile required not only priests and Levites but also the supporting workers who made daily temple operations possible. Their faithful return and service illustrate that no role in God's kingdom is insignificant.
Historical Background
The Nethinim and Solomon's servants were hereditary temple service classes that predated the exile. Their origins likely trace to foreign captives or treaty partners who were assigned to assist in the temple. During the exile, these groups maintained their identity in Babylon, and their return to Jerusalem was essential for restoring the full complement of temple personnel. The Persian period records preserved in Ezra and Nehemiah provide the most detailed information about these service classes.