Nethinim - (Barb Anderson please comment if you can!) :)

by wallsofjericho 8 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  wallsofjericho

  *** w06 2/15 p. 28 par. 11 Walking in the Path of Increasing Light ***

  The year 1992 saw still another refinement, one that is comparable to what happened after the Israelites and others returned from exile in Babylon. Back at that time, there were not a sufficient number of Levites to care for temple service. So non-Israelite Nethinim were given more to do in helping the Levites. Accordingly, to assist the faithful and discreet slave class in caring for its increasing earthly interests, in 1992 some of the “other sheep” received added service responsibilities. They were appointed as helpers to the Governing Body committees.—John 10:16.

  Blondie pasted this in another thread recently. I always thought that after this 92 article actually went so far as to suggest that all the 144k could die beforeArmageddon and that there could be only "other sheep" remaining to run the organization.

  I also beleive Barb Anderson had some comments about this article causing a shock wave at bethel with a few brothers getting their wrists slapped over it

  It seemed to have just been shelved. Was this revived in 2006? Or was it just revisionism, ignoring the part about all the 144k dieing before the big A and just talking about the added responsibility?
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  blondie

  Even if they were alive, would they be mentally and physically capable of running things? There are more women in the WTS and women outlive men by far...and women can't be elders or GB members.

  The WTS says now that the anointed will all go to heaven shortly after the GT begins to be married to Christ as the Bride of Christ. Who will run things on earth between that time and the end of Armageddon as the WTS teaches the great crowd will enter the new system?
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  blondie

  http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/156536/1/Bethel-Boys-Whats-the-Deal-with-Nethinim
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  blondie

  http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/101208/1/The-e2809cGiven-Ones-e2809d-Jehovahe28099s-Provision-by-Barbara-Anderson
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  leaving_quietly

  The 1992 article is really the only article ever to attribute the GB helpers to the Nethinim. What's interesting is that the 1992 article said that the Nethinim were never considered equal to the Levites. One of their references was the Dictionary of the Bible, and when reading that source, it later says (but not quoted by WTBTS) that the Nethinim later became indistinguishable from the Levites. This was one of the first places I noticed intentional misquoting by WTBTS.

  The WT article says this:

  16 When the group returned from Babylon, it contained few Levites, compared to the priests or Nethinim and “sons of the servants of Solomon.” (Ezra 8:15-20) The Dictionary of the Bible, by Dr. James Hastings, observes: “After a time we find [the Nethinim] so completely established as a sacred official class, that privileges are accorded to them.” The scholarly journal Vetus Testamentum notes: “A change occurred. After the Return from Exile, these [foreigners] were no longer regarded as slaves of the Temple, but as ministrants in it, enjoying a status similar to that of those other bodies, which officiated in the Temple.”—See the box “A Changed Status.”
  17 Of course, the Nethinim did not become the equals of the priests and the Levites.

  The Dictionary of the Bible says this (page 654):

  From this point the Nethinim gradually rose in official position, until they were Indistinguishable from the Levites.

  Another interesting thing is that the revised NWT no longer says "Nethinim". Each place where that term occurred in the old NWT, it's been replaced by "temple servant".

  The term itself was first applied to the Gibeonites who tricked Joshua (see Joshua chapter 9).

  For WTBTS to apply this to the helpers to the GB was and still is way out of line. If they want to have helpers, fine. But don't say these are "given ones" or "Nethinim". The two terms have nothing to do with each other.
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  wallsofjericho

  good stuff folks,

  Another interesting thing is that the revised NWT no longer says "Nethinim". Each place where that term occurred in the old NWT, it's been replaced by "temple servant".

  great catch!

  But I recall it implied that all the 144k could die off and the Org would be run by the "given ones" until the Big A. Did you get this too?
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  leaving_quietly

  But I recall it implied that all the 144k could die off and the Org would be run by the "given ones" until the Big A. Did you get this too?

  That's the impression that has been given, yes, though they don't come out and say that explicitly.

  Here's the exact wording in the 1992 article:

  In ancient times, priests and Levites continued to serve among the Jews. (John 1:19) Today, however, the remnant of spiritual Israel on earth must go on decreasing. (Contrast John 3:30.) Finally, after the demise of Babylon the Great, all 144,000 ‘sealed ones’ will be in heaven for the marriage of the Lamb. (Revelation 7:1-3; 19:1-8) But now the other sheep must go on increasing. The fact that some of them, comparable to the Nethinim and the sons of the servants of Solomon, are now being assigned weighty responsibilities under the oversight of the anointed remnant does not cause them to be presumptuous or feel self-important. (Romans 12:3) This gives us confidence that as God’s people “come out of the great tribulation,” there will be experienced men—“princes”—prepared to take the lead among the other sheep.—Revelation 7:14; Isaiah 32:1; compare Acts 6:2-7.

  Another article was in 1995 (w95 7/1 pp. 21,22):

  7 In 537 B.C.E., when Israel returned from exile in Babylon, they set about organizing service on the temple site. However, the Levites who returned were not very numerous. Hence, the Nethinim—circumcised alien residents who previously were assistants of the Levites—were given increased privileges in temple service. They were not, however, equals of the anointed Aaronic priests.—Ezra 7:24; 8:15-20; Nehemiah 3:22-26.
  8 Anointed Christians today have followed this pattern. As “the time of the end” has progressed, the remaining ones of the anointed have become fewer and fewer in the “land” of God’s people. (Daniel 12:9; Revelation 12:17) In view of this, the great crowd now accomplish most of the work of rendering “sacred service.” (Revelation 7:15) Following the lead of their anointed brothers, they “offer to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips which make public declaration to his name.” They “do not forget the doing of good and the sharing of things with others,” knowing that “with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”—Hebrews 13:15, 16.
  9 Moreover, with the great crowd increasing by the hundreds of thousands each year, there is an ever-growing need for oversight. At one time this was handled exclusively by anointed Christians. Now, oversight of most congregations, as well as circuits, districts, and branches, has of necessity been entrusted to the other sheep. In 1992 a few of these were given the privilege of attending meetings of committees of the Governing Body and serving as nonvoting helpers. Still, the other sheep remain loyal to their anointed fellow Christians and feel privileged to support them as Jehovah’s faithful and discreet slave.—Matthew 25:34-40.

  I suggest you also look at w97 5/15 pp. 15-19 as it has a discussion regarding the other sheep and its responsibilities. A search for "Nethinim" or "given ones" in the WT Library CD might be helpful.
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  Separation of Powers

  When the Nethinim arrangement was institituted some believed it was just a way to give credit to those brothers that actually did everything. I do appreciate how the distinction was made, just as reminder to THEM, that the helper was not EQUAL to one of the anointed/GB/FDS.
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  steve2

  A small - but telling - example of how application of scripture is used to tart up a servile position - and then, reflecting its smallness, disappears off the radar of JW-consciousness, leaving sensible readers asking, "What ever became of...?"