Mattenai
מַתְּנַי/mat-TEN-ay/
“Liberal or gift of Jehovah (contracted from Mattaniah)”
Summary
Mattenai was the name of three men in the post-exilic period: two Israelites who divorced their foreign wives, and a priest in the time of Joiakim.
☩The Three Mattenais
Two men named Mattenai divorced their foreign wives at Ezra's command—one from the family of Hashum and another from the family of Bani. A third Mattenai was a priest who served as the representative of the house of Joiarib during the days of Joiakim the high priest, shortly after the return from exile.
Key verses:Ezra 10:33Ezra 10:37Nehemiah 12:19
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Mattenai," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. V (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Mattenai," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. III (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).