Mattaniah was a Levite who served in the temple after returning from exile in Babylon. He is mentioned in several contexts in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, including as one of those who played music at the dedication of Jerusalem's wall, and as one of those who had taken foreign wives and had to send them away. The name means 'gift of the Lord' and was common among Levites and priests during this period.
Événements clés
Mentioned among the Levites who took foreign wives
Mattaniah was one of the priests who had taken foreign wives during the exile and who had to separate from them in accordance with Ezra's reforms.
Mattaniah stood at Ezra's right hand as he read the law to the people by the Water Gate and witnessed this important event in Israel's spiritual renewal.
4Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform built for the occasion. Beside him on his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah; and on his left, Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
18and with them their relatives of the second rank: Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, and Obed-Edom and Jeiel, the gatekeepers.
35and some of the priests' sons with trumpets: Zechariah son of Jonathan, son of Shemaiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Micaiah, son of Zaccur, son of Asaph,