Darkon דַּרְקוֹן
Ancestor of a family of temple servants
Who is Darkon in the Bible?
Darkon was the ancestor of a family of temple servants, known as the Nethinim, who returned to Jerusalem from the Babylonian exile around 538 BC. His descendants are mentioned in Ezra 2:56 and Nehemiah 7:58 as part of the group that came back under the leadership of Zerubbabel and the high priest Jeshua, following the decree of King Cyrus of Persia. The Nethinim were assigned to assist the Levites in maintaining and serving the Temple, and though they were not themselves Levites, they played an essential role in restoring Temple worship. The inclusion of Darkon's family in the lists of returnees demonstrates the importance of these temple servants in rebuilding the community and religious life of postexilic Judah.
Biography
Darkon is mentioned in Ezr.2.56 and Neh.7.58 as the ancestor of a family of temple servants (Nethinim) who returned to Jerusalem from the Babylonian exile. The Nethinim were a group of people assigned to assist the Levites in the maintenance and service of the Temple.
In both passages, the descendants of Darkon are listed among the Nethinim who returned to Jerusalem under the leadership of Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, and Jeshua, the high priest. This return took place around 538 BC, after the Persian king Cyrus issued a decree allowing the Jews to return to their homeland and rebuild the Temple.
The mention of Darkon's family in these lists highlights the importance of the Nethinim in the restoration of Temple worship after the exile. Although they were not Levites, they played a vital role in supporting the Temple's functions and were considered part of the Jewish community.
Apart from being named as the ancestor of a family of temple servants, no other information about Darkon himself is provided in the Bible.
In Scripture
2 biblical books ; 2 with study contentEzra 1 verse
- Ezra 2:56
"the descendants of Jaala, the descendants of Darkon, the descendants of Giddel,"
Study Ezra →
Nehemiah 1 verse
- Nehemiah 7:58
"the descendants of Jaala, the descendants of Darkon, the descendants of Giddel,"
Study Nehemiah →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | דַּרְקוֹן |