The name Giddel, which signifies one who is “very great” or “stout,” is preserved in the sacred registers of those who returned from the Babylonian captivity. In the economy of God, the name is shared by two distinct heads of families, both of whom demonstrated a firm resolve to return to the land of promise and restore the service of the sanctuary.
The first Giddel was a patriarch among the Nethinim, a group of temple servants whose lineage was dedicated to the physical upkeep and support of the Levites. When Zerubbabel led the remnant back to Jerusalem, the “children of Giddel” were found among those who had not forgotten their holy station despite decades in a pagan land. Their names are etched in the records of the faithful:
“The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha… The children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar,” (Ezra 2:43, 47)
The second Giddel was an ancestor among the “children of Solomon’s servants.” This group held a specialized role, likely descending from those originally appointed by King Solomon to maintain the royal and temple infrastructure. Like their Nethinim counterparts, the descendants of this Giddel chose the hardship of reconstruction over the comfort of Babylon.
“The children of Solomon’s servants: the children of Sotai… the children of Jaalah, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,” (Ezra 2:55-56)
In the defense of the truth, there are no small roles. Both men named Giddel represent the strength of a heritage that survives the fires of judgment. Though they were not of the priestly line of Aaron nor the royal line of David, their service was indispensable for the functioning of the House of God. They prove that a name is made “great” not by the applause of the world, but by the preservation of one’s place in the service of the King.
These families stood fast when the city was large and great but the people few, showing a physical obedience that matched their spiritual conviction. They are a testimony to us today: that every laborer, no matter how “behind-the-scenes” their work may seem, is recorded and remembered by the Lord who sees in secret.
“The children of Jaala, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,” (Nehemiah 7:58)