Netophah is a town mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, primarily in the context of the post-exilic period and the return of the Jewish exiles from Babylon. It is located in the tribal territory of Judah, although its precise location remains uncertain. The town is noted for its inhabitants, the Netophathites, who played a role in the restoration of Jerusalem and its surrounding areas.

Biblical References:

1. Return from Exile: Netophah is first mentioned in the context of the return from Babylonian exile. In the book of Ezra, the Netophathites are listed among those who returned with Zerubbabel to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. Ezra 2:21-22 states, "The men of Bethlehem, 123; the men of Netophah, 56." This indicates that a small but significant group from Netophah participated in the restoration efforts.

2. Census of the People: The book of Nehemiah also records the returnees from Netophah. Nehemiah 7:26 echoes the account in Ezra, "The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, 188." This suggests that the Netophathites were counted among the faithful who returned to reestablish their community and religious practices in the land of Judah.

3. David's Mighty Men: Netophah is also associated with some of King David's mighty warriors. In 2 Samuel 23:28-29 , two of David's mighty men are identified as being from Netophah: "Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite, Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite." This highlights the town's contribution to David's military strength and the valor of its inhabitants.

4. Post-Exilic Settlements: The book of Nehemiah further mentions Netophah in the context of the settlements around Jerusalem. Nehemiah 12:28 notes, "The singers gathered from the region around Jerusalem, from the villages of the Netophathites." This indicates that Netophah was part of the network of villages that supported the religious and cultural life of Jerusalem.

Historical and Archaeological Context:

While the exact location of Netophah is not definitively known, it is generally believed to have been situated near Bethlehem, based on its frequent association with the town in biblical lists. Some scholars suggest that Netophah may have been located in the hill country of Judah, contributing to the agricultural and pastoral economy of the region.

Cultural and Religious Significance:

Netophah's mention in the context of the return from exile underscores the town's role in the reestablishment of Jewish life and worship in the land of Judah. The participation of its inhabitants in the rebuilding efforts reflects their commitment to the covenant community and the restoration of the Temple, which was central to Jewish identity and religious practice.

The association of Netophah with David's mighty men also highlights the town's historical significance during the united monarchy. The valor and loyalty of the Netophathites to King David exemplify the martial spirit and dedication to the divinely appointed king, which were highly valued in the biblical narrative.

In summary, Netophah is a town of historical and religious importance in the biblical narrative, representing the themes of return, restoration, and loyalty to God's chosen leaders. Its inhabitants, the Netophathites, are remembered for their contributions to the community of Israel during critical periods of its history.Netophah

(distillation), a town the name of which occurs only in the catalogue of those who returned with Zerubbabel from the captivity. (Ezra 2:22; Nehemiah 7:26) 1 Esdr. 5:18. But, though not directly mentioned till so late a period, Netophah was really a much older place. Two of David's guard, (1 Chronicles 17:13,15) were Netophathites. The "villages of the Neophathites" were the residence of the Levites. (1 Chronicles 9:16) From another notice we learn that the particular Levites who inhabited these villages were singers. (Nehemiah 12:28) To judge from (Nehemiah 7:26) the town was in the neighborhood of, or closely connected with, Bethlehem.

Netophah

A town near Bethlehem, of which little more than the name is known, 2 Samuel 24:25,25; 2 Kings 25:23; Ezra 2:22; Nehemiah 7:26.

Distillation; dropping, a town in Judah, in the neighbourhood, probably, of Bethlehem (Nehemiah 7:26; 1 Chronicles 2:54). Two of David's guards were Netophathites (1 Chronicles 27:13, 15). It has been identified with the ruins of Metoba, or Um Toba, to the north-east of Bethlehem. NETOPHAH

ne-to'-fa (neTophah; Septuagint Netopha, Nephota, and other variants): The birthplace of two of David's heroes, Maharai and Heleb (2 Samuel 23:28, 29), also of Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, one of the captains who came to offer allegiance to Gedaliah (2 Kings 25:23 Jeremiah 40:8). "The villages of the Netophathites" are mentioned (1 Chronicles 9:16) as the dwellings of certain Levites and (Nehemiah 12:28, the King James Version "Netophathi") of certain "sons of the singers."

The first mention of the place itself is in Ezra 2:22 Nehemiah 7:26; 1Es 5:18 (the Revised Version (British and American) "Netophas"), where we have parallel lists of the exiles returning from Babylon under Zerubbabel; the place is mentioned between Bethlehem and Anathoth and in literary association with other cities in the mountains of Judah, e.g. Gibeon, Kiriath-jearim, Chephereh and Beeroth. In this respect it is most plausible to identify it with NEPHTOAH (which see), although the disappearance of the terminal guttural in the latter creates a difficulty. Conder has suggested a site known as Khirbet UmmToba, Northeast of Bethlehem, an ancient site, but not apparently of great importance. Beit Nettif, an important village on a lofty site in the Shephelah near the "Vale of Elah," also appears to have an echo of the name, and indeed may well be the Beth Netophah of the Mishna (Shebhu`oth, ix0.5; Neubauer, Geogr., 128), but the position does not seem to agree at all with that of the Old Testament Netophah. For Khirbet Umm-Toba see Palestine Exploration Fund, III, 128; for Beit Nettif, Palestine Exploration Fund, III, 24; RBR, II, 17 f; both Sh XVII.

E. W. G. Masterman

5199. Netophah -- a place in Judah
... 5198b, 5199. Netophah. 5200 . a place in Judah. Transliteration: Netophah
Phonetic Spelling: (net-o-faw') Short Definition: Netophah. ...
/hebrew/5199.htm - 6k

5200. Netophathi -- inhab. of Netophah
... inhab. of Netophah. Transliteration: Netophathi Phonetic Spelling: (net-o-faw-thee')
Short Definition: Netophathite. Word Origin from Netophah Definition inhab. ...
/hebrew/5200.htm - 6k

Netophah (2 Occurrences)
... It has been identified with the ruins of Metoba, or Um Toba, to the north-east
of Bethlehem. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. NETOPHAH. ...
/n/netophah.htm - 9k

Neto'phah (2 Occurrences)
Neto'phah. Netophah, Neto'phah. Netoph'ah . Multi-Version Concordance
Neto'phah (2 Occurrences). Ezra 2:22 The men of Netophah, fifty and six. (See RSV). ...
/n/neto'phah.htm - 6k

Nethinims (15 Occurrences)

/n/nethinims.htm - 11k

56 (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance 56 (1 Occurrence). Ezra 2:22 The
men of Netophah, fifty-six. (See NAS NIV). ...
/num/56.htm - 6k

188 (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance 188 (1 Occurrence). Nehemiah 7:26 The men of Bethlehem
and Netophah, one hundred eighty-eight. (See NAS NIV). ...
/num/188.htm - 6k

Netophas
... ne-to'-fas (Codex Vaticanus Netebas; Codex Alexandrinus Netophae): A town named
in 1 Esdras 5:18, identical with "Netophah" of Ezra 2:22 Nehemiah 7:26. ...
/n/netophas.htm - 6k

Fifty-six (4 Occurrences)
... (WEB BBE DBY RSV). Ezra 2:14 The children of Bigvai, two thousand fifty-six. (WEB
BBE DBY RSV). Ezra 2:22 The men of Netophah, fifty-six. (WEB BBE DBY RSV). ...
/f/fifty-six.htm - 7k

Etam (5 Occurrences)
... near Bethlehem and Tekoah, and some distance apparently to the north of (1). It
seems to have been in the district called Nephtoah (or Netophah), where were ...
/e/etam.htm - 11k

Eighty-eight (2 Occurrences)
... (WEB BBE DBY RSV). Nehemiah 7:26 The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, one hundred
eighty-eight. (WEB BBE DBY RSV). Eighty, Eighty-eight. Eighty-five . ...
/e/eighty-eight.htm - 7k

Maharai (3 Occurrences)
... in rotation. He was of the family of Zerah, and dwelt in Netophah in Judah.
Multi-Version Concordance Maharai (3 Occurrences). 2 ...
/m/maharai.htm - 7k

Who were the mighty men of David? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus