Mattaniah
“Gift of Jehovah”
Summary
Mattaniah, meaning 'gift of Jehovah,' was the original name of King Zedekiah of Judah, as well as the name of several Levites and other individuals in Israel's history.
☩King Zedekiah
The most notable Mattaniah was the uncle of King Jehoiachin, whose name was changed to Zedekiah ('justice of Jehovah') by Nebuchadnezzar when the Babylonian king placed him on the throne of Judah in place of his nephew. This practice of renaming vassal kings was common, as Pharaoh Necho had similarly renamed Eliakim to Jehoiakim. Zedekiah became the last king of Judah before the Babylonian exile.
☩Levitical Musicians
Several Levites bore this name, most prominently a son of Heman appointed by David as head of the ninth division of Temple singers. Another Mattaniah of the family of Asaph led the temple choir and participated in the dedication of Jerusalem's walls after the exile. A descendant of Asaph also helped purify the Temple during Hezekiah's reformation.
☩Others
Four Israelites named Mattaniah divorced their foreign wives at Ezra's command after the return from exile—men from the families of Elam, Zattu, Pahath-moab, and Bani. Another Mattaniah was the father of Zaccur and ancestor of Hanan, whom Nehemiah appointed over the distribution of tithes.
Related Verses16 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Mattaniah," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. V (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Mattaniah," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. III (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Mattaniah," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).