netophah Summary and Overview

distillation; dropping, a town in Judah, in the neighbourhood, probably, of Bethlehem (Neh. 7:26; 1 Chr. 2:54). Two of David's guards were Netophathites (1 Chr. 27:13, 15). It has been identified with the ruins of Metoba, or Um Toba, to the NE of Bethlehem.

(distillation), a town the name of which occurs only in the catalogue of those who returned with Zerubbabel from the captivity. #Ezr 2:22; Ne 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, #1Ch 17:13,15| were Netophathites. The "villages of the Neophathites" were the residence of the Levites. #1Ch 9:16| From another notice we learn that the particular Levites who inhabited these villages were singers. #Ne 12:28| To judge from #Ne 7:26| the town was in the neighborhood of, or closely connected with, Bethlehem.

NETO'PHAH (dropping), a town, apparently in Judah, the name of which occurs only in the catalogue of those who returned with Zerubbabel from the Captivity. Ezr 2:22; Neh 7:26; ??1 Esd. 5:18??. Netophah was really an old place. Two of David's guard, 1 Chr 27:13, 1 Chr 27:15, were Netophathites. The "villages of the Netophathites" were the residence of the Levites. 1 Chr 9:16. Levites who inhabited these villages were singers. Neh 12:28. From Neh 7:26, the town seems to have been in the neighborhood of, or closely connected with, Bethlehem. Van de Velde suggests Antubeh, 2 miles north-east of Bethlehem, as the site of Netophah, The Palestine Memoirs note ruins north-east of Bethlehem that were called Metoba or Usum Toba, probably the same as Antubeh of Van de Velde, and Conder identifies them as ancient Netophah.

("dropping".) A town coupled with Bethlehem in Nehemiah 7:26, also in 1 Chronicles 2:54; therefore near it. Two of David's heroes (1 Chronicles 27:1; 1 Chronicles 27:13; 1 Chronicles 27:15), captains of two of the 12 monthly military courses, were NETOPHATHITES (2 Samuel 23:28-29). "Villages of Netophathites" were Levite singers' residences (1 Chronicles 9:16; Nehemiah 12:28). The Targum (1 Chronicles 2:54; Rth 4:20; Ecclesiastes 3:11) states that they slew the guards whom Jeroboam stationed on the roads to Jerusalem, to intercept the firstfruits from the villages to the temple. The fast on the 23rd Sivan, still in the Jewish calendar, commemorates Jeroboam's opposition. Between Bethlehem and Anathoth. Noticed as "in the wilderness" of Judah in the Acta Sanctorum. Answering to the ruin Metoba. N.E. of Bethlehem on the edge of the Mar Saba desert.