Lexical Summary Netophah: Netophah Original Word: נְטֹפָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Netophah From nataph; distillation; Netophah, a place in Palestine -- Netophah. see HEBREW nataph NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom nataph Definition a place in Judah NASB Translation Netophah (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs נְטֹפָה proper name, of a location in Judah (dropping, dripping, compare LewySemitic Fremdwörter 40); — Ezra 2:22 = Nehemiah 7:26; ᵐ5. Νετωφα, ᵐ5L Νετωφαγι (as adjective, of a people Nehemiah 12:28). Topical Lexicon Name and Symbolism The place-name evokes the picture of water dripping gently to the ground. In Scripture this quiet imagery often accompanies the idea of steady blessing that may seem small in the moment yet accumulates to life-sustaining abundance (compare Deuteronomy 32:2; Isaiah 55:10). Thus the town’s very name hints at the Lord’s ability to sustain His people in hidden, often overlooked locations. Geographical Setting Netophah lay in the Judean hill country just south of Jerusalem and within walking distance of Bethlehem. Its position on the edge of fertile terraces and near several perennial springs made it suitable for both agriculture and sheep raising. Because the terrain slopes toward the wilderness of Tekoa, Netophah also served as a natural staging point between settled Judah and the rugged land where David once sought refuge. Although the exact site is not confirmed, most surveys favor a cluster of ruins roughly four kilometers southeast of Bethlehem. The strategic location explains why soldiers, Levites, and farmers alike could easily travel from Netophah to the royal city or to the Temple. Biblical Occurrences 1. Ezra 2:22 lists “the men of Netophah, 56;” returning with Zerubbabel. Additional references employ the gentilic “Netophathite” or “Netophathites,” showing the reach of the town’s families: Military Significance in the Days of David That at least two elite warriors emerged from Netophah underscores the town’s martial reputation. Maharai and Heleb distinguished themselves among “the Thirty,” an honor requiring proven courage (2 Samuel 23:8). Their loyalty to David during wilderness campaigns might reflect hometown sympathy for a fugitive similarly raised on Judea’s margins. Their exploits remind readers that God often raises remarkable servants from obscure places, fulfilling 1 Samuel 16:7’s principle that the Lord “looks at the heart.” Role in Temple Worship The proximity to Bethlehem and the presence of Levites (1 Chronicles 9:16) suggest that Netophah supplied singers and gatekeepers. By dwelling in outlying villages yet commuting to Jerusalem for duty, these Levites modeled faithful service that did not depend on urban prestige. They also illustrate how worship in Israel functioned through a network of communities cooperating to maintain constant praise before the Lord (1 Chronicles 9:33). Faithful Remnant after the Babylonian Siege Seraiah the Netophathite (Jeremiah 40:8) stands out among the men who sought peace with Gedaliah. While many fled to neighboring lands, Netophah contributed leaders willing to rebuild what Babylon had ruined. Their commitment became a practical demonstration of Jeremiah’s call to “seek the welfare of the city” even under foreign rule (Jeremiah 29:7). Return from Exile Both Ezra’s and Nehemiah’s census lists preserve Netophah’s name. Although the numbers differ (56 in Ezra; 188 when grouped with Bethlehem in Nehemiah), the records agree that Netophah sent families back to Judah—families who then labored on Jerusalem’s walls (Nehemiah 3:28) and sustained worship in the restored Temple (Nehemiah 12:28). The discrepancy need not imply contradiction: Ezra counts an initial wave; Nehemiah tallies later arrivals, possibly including births in transit or additional recruits. Together the lists testify to God’s preservation of even the smallest Judean settlements. Messianic Overtones Netophah’s tandem mention with Bethlehem (Nehemiah 7:26) foreshadows Micah 5:2’s prophecy concerning the Messiah. Just as Bethlehem the “least among the clans of Judah” became the birthplace of Jesus Christ, so Netophah—Bethlehem’s silent neighbor—shares in the honor of hosting families from whom the Savior’s ancestors may have sprung (Matthew 1:5–6). The linkage dramatizes God’s pattern of choosing humble contexts for His greatest redemptive acts. Lessons for Today • Obscurity does not limit usefulness; Netophah’s soldiers, Levites, and exiles accomplished enduring work recorded for all generations. Summary Netophah, though mentioned only twice by name and often overshadowed by Bethlehem, contributed warriors to David’s kingdom, servants to Solomon’s Temple, loyalists to Judah’s remnant, and families to the post-exilic community. From the monarchy through the exile and into the era of restoration, the town embodies quiet faithfulness that the Lord sees, records, and rewards. Forms and Transliterations וּנְטֹפָ֔ה ונטפה נְטֹפָ֖ה נטפה nə·ṭō·p̄āh netoFah nəṭōp̄āh ū·nə·ṭō·p̄āh unetoFah ūnəṭōp̄āhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 2:22 HEB: אַנְשֵׁ֥י נְטֹפָ֖ה חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים וְשִׁשָּֽׁה׃ NAS: the men of Netophah, 56; KJV: The men of Netophah, fifty and six. INT: the men of Netophah fifty and six Nehemiah 7:26 2 Occurrences |
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