Mattenai
Peopleâš¡ IN BRIEF (SUMMARY)
The name Mattenai identifies two laymen, one son of Hashum and the other son of Bani, who were recorded as having married foreign wives during the reforms of Ezra, and a priest named Mattenai who served during the high priesthood of Joiakim son of Jeshua.
What is the meaning of Mattenai in the Bible?
The name Mattenai identifies two laymen, one son of Hashum and the other son of Bani, who were recorded as having married foreign wives during the reforms of Ezra, and a priest named Mattenai who served during the high priesthood of Joiakim son of Jeshua.
SIGNIFICANCE
These records provide concrete evidence of the social dynamics and identity formation within the restored Jewish community, specifically illustrating the enforcement of endogamy to preserve religious and ethnic distinctiveness after the Babylonian exile.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Mattenai in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Mattenai clarify?
Source Attribution & Provenance
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been editorially modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and formatted for fast contextual reference.