Ezra 2:57

The first thing to notice is that this record exists at all. That shows how precious to God was the response His grace had produced in the hearts of His people — however weakly they may have grasped His thoughts about His house. For this reason He has kept this list. It shows He sees with joy the smallest fruits of His Spirit's work, and that He knows and announces the very names of His people. This encourages everyone to walk in His ways, to stand with His interests, and to stay faithful in times of corruption and falling away.

Here, then, we probably find the origin of the Nethinim — those who were spared from the just judgment of God. They were reduced to slave labour, but it was slavery in His mercy, tied to His house. So the very curse resting on them became a blessing. Instead of dying by the sword of the Lord's army, they were rescued. Centuries later we find them in honourable association with the Lord's people, and with a heart for the Lord's house too, since they came back from Babylon with their fellow captives at this special moment. They are surely no small picture of the objects of grace even in this age. About Solomon's servants the information is less clear. But we read that Solomon imposed lasting forced labour on the children of the Amorites and others left in the land, whom the children of Israel had not been able to destroy completely (1 Kings 9:19-21). The descendants of these men may be the ones who received the title "Solomon's servants." Either way, the lesson already drawn is again telling: the smallest link with the Lord's people and the Lord's things becomes a means of blessing — not always spiritual blessing, but nearly always earthly blessing. But with Solomon's servants there must have been more than this. Through grace they had returned, by their own desire, to help build the house of God at Jerusalem.

Then comes the record of the children of Solomon's servants. We know nothing certain about these extra servants. Their duty looks much like that of the Nethinim. Some take them to be the descendants of the foreigners whom Solomon enlisted in the building of the temple (1 Kings 5:13).

Hattil. Servant of Solomon, whose descendants returned from exile. Ezra 2:57; Neh. 7:59.

Zebaim. The place to which Pochereth, a servant of Solomon, belonged. Ezra 2:57; Neh. 7:59.

The gatekeepers numbered 139. The Nethinim, or lower servants of the sanctuary, together with Solomon's servants, numbered 392 (v. 58). These modest duties are very valuable in the eyes of the Lord. See how, from verse 43 to verse 57, God is pleased to record all the names of their fathers. It is the same today. The Lord forgets none of it — serving tables, passing the bread and the cup, looking after the "upper room". He records the names of those who kept this service, and they deserve it as much as any. And we shall see, more than once, that the child of God who took the last place, forgetting himself to serve others, will hold a place of honour. Meanwhile a striking gift, which tended to glorify man rather than Christ, will sit down in shame in the last place.

And God even takes account of those we might have forgotten: the Nethinim (v.43) and Solomon's servants (v.55). These may not have been of Jewish descent, and they were occupied with lowly service. But God is pleased to mention all the names of the fathers of those who went up to Jerusalem. It is the same in the body of Christ. Members have different tasks, duties, and abilities. The most prominent ones may not be the most important ones (1 Cor. 12).