Casiphia
“Possibly related to silver”
Summary
A place in Babylon where Levites and temple servants (Nethinim) lived during the exile, from which Ezra recruited workers for the temple.
☩Location and Significance
Casiphia was a locality in the Babylonian empire where a significant community of Levites and Nethinim (temple servants) had settled during the exile. When Ezra gathered his company to return to Jerusalem, he found no Levites among them, so he sent to Iddo, the chief man at Casiphia, requesting ministers for the house of God.
☩Ezra's Request
Ezra sent eleven leading men to Casiphia with a specific message for Iddo and his brethren the Nethinim, asking them to send servants for the temple in Jerusalem. The mission was successful: they received eighteen Levites and two hundred twenty Nethinim to accompany the returning exiles. The location of Casiphia is unknown, though its name may relate to the Hebrew word for silver.
Related Verses1 mention
Ezra· 1 verse
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Casiphia," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. II (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).