Etymology and Meaning:
The name "Mattan" is derived from the Hebrew word "מַתָּן" (Mattan), meaning "gift" or "gift of God." This name reflects a common biblical theme where individuals are seen as gifts or blessings from God.

Biblical References:
Mattan is mentioned in the Old Testament, specifically in the context of the history of the kings of Judah. The primary reference to Mattan is found in 2 Kings 11:18 and 2 Chronicles 23:17.

1. Mattan, the Priest of Baal:
Mattan is identified as a priest of Baal during the reign of King Ahaziah and Queen Athaliah in the Kingdom of Judah. His role as a priest of Baal indicates his involvement in the idolatrous practices that were prevalent during this period, which were in direct opposition to the worship of Yahweh, the God of Israel.

· 2 Kings 11:18 : "So all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols to pieces and killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars."

· 2 Chronicles 23:17 : "So all the people went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols and killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars."

These passages describe the events following the overthrow of Queen Athaliah by Jehoiada the priest, who led a movement to restore the worship of Yahweh. The destruction of the temple of Baal and the execution of Mattan were part of a broader religious reform aimed at eradicating idolatry from Judah.

Historical and Theological Context:
The period during which Mattan lived was marked by significant religious and political turmoil. The influence of Baal worship in Judah was largely due to the marriage alliances with the northern kingdom of Israel, where Baal worship was more entrenched, particularly under the influence of Queen Jezebel, the wife of King Ahab of Israel.

Mattan's execution symbolizes the rejection of Baal worship and the reaffirmation of the covenantal relationship between Yahweh and His people. The actions taken by Jehoiada and the people of Judah reflect a return to the worship of Yahweh and a cleansing of the nation from foreign religious influences.

Significance in Biblical Narrative:
Mattan's role as a priest of Baal and his subsequent death highlight the ongoing struggle between the worship of Yahweh and the infiltration of pagan practices in Israel and Judah. This narrative underscores the biblical theme of fidelity to God and the consequences of idolatry. The eradication of Baal worship during this period serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining religious purity and the centrality of Yahweh in the life of the nation.

Lessons and Applications:
The account of Mattan serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of idolatry and the importance of spiritual leadership in guiding a nation back to God. It emphasizes the need for vigilance in preserving the integrity of worship and the necessity of decisive action in the face of spiritual compromise. The narrative encourages believers to remain steadfast in their faith and to actively oppose influences that lead away from the worship of the one true God.Mattan

Mattana, Mattenai, gifts; rains

Mattan

(a gift).

1. The priest of Baal slain before his altars in the idol temple at Jerusalem. (2 Kings 11:18; 2 Chronicles 23:17) He probably accompanied Athalia from Samaria.
2. The father of Shephatiah. (Jeremiah 38:1)

Gift.

(1.) A priest of Baal, slain before his altar during the reformation under Jehoiada (2 Kings 11:18).

(2.) The son of Eleazar, and father of Jacob, who was the father of Joseph, the husband of the Virgin Mary (Matthew 1:15).

(3.) The father of Shephatiah (Jeremiah 38:1).

MATTAN

mat'-an (mattan, "a gift"):

(1) A priest in the house of Baal, slain by Jehoiada before Baal's altar (2 Kings 11:18 2 Chronicles 23:17).

(2) The father of Shephatiah a contemporary and persecutor of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 38:1), one of those who put Jeremiah into Malechiah's dungeon (38:6).

3157. Matthan -- Matthan, an Israelite
... Word Origin of Hebrew origin Mattan Definition Matthan, an Isr. ... Of Hebrew origin
(Mattan); Matthan (ie Mattan), an Israelite -- Matthan. see HEBREW Mattan. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3157.htm - 6k4977. Mattan -- a priest of Baal, also a man of Judah
... 4976, 4977. Mattan. 4978 . a priest of Baal, also a man of Judah. Transliteration:
Mattan Phonetic Spelling: (mat-tawn') Short Definition: Mattan. ...
/hebrew/4977.htm - 6k

4976. mattan -- a gift
... 4975, 4976. mattan. 4977 . a gift. Transliteration: mattan Phonetic Spelling:
(mat-tawn') Short Definition: gift. ... 4975, 4976. mattan. 4977 . Strong's Numbers
/hebrew/4976.htm - 6k

4982. Mattenay -- an Israelite priest, also two Israelites
... NASB Word Usage Mattenai (3). Mattenai. From mattan; liberal; Mattenai, the name
of three Israelites -- Mattenai. see HEBREW mattan. 4981, 4982. ...
/hebrew/4982.htm - 6k

4991. mattath -- a gift
... 1). gift. Feminine of mattan abbreviated form; a present -- gift. see HEBREW
mattan. 4990, 4991. mattath. 4992 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/4991.htm - 6k

4979. mattanah -- a gift
... Word Origin fem. of mattan Definition a gift NASB Word Usage bestowed (1), bribe
(1), bribes (1), gift (3), gifts (10), give (1). gift. ... see HEBREW mattan. ...
/hebrew/4979.htm - 6k

4983. Mattanyah -- "gift of Yah," the last king of Judah, also a ...
... Word Origin from mattan and Yah Definition "gift of Yah," the last king of Judah,
also a number of Isr. NASB Word Usage Mattaniah (16). ... see HEBREW mattan. ...
/hebrew/4983.htm - 6k

4980. Mattanah -- a place East of the Jordan
... Definition: Mattanah. Word Origin fem. of mattan Definition a place E. of
the Jordan NASB Word Usage Mattanah (2). Mattanah. The same ...
/hebrew/4980.htm - 6k

How Athaliah Reigned Over Jerusalem for Five [Six] Years when ...
... Athaliah and her husband Jehoram had built, to the dishonor of the God of their
fathers, and to the honor of Ahab, and demolished it, and slew Mattan, that had ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 7 how athaliah reigned.htm

Chapter xxxiv
... m??har, here, no doubt, actually the purchase price paid to parents for their daughter,
though Israelites never bought wives) and "gift" (mattan, the wedding ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxiv.htm

The Siege. (xxi, xxxii-xxxiv, xxxvii, xxxviii. )
... XXXVIII.1. And Shephatiah, Mattan's son, Gedaliah Pashhur's son, Jucal Shelamiah's
son, and Pashhur Malchiah's son,(587) heard the words Jeremiah was speaking ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/3 the siege xxi xxxii-xxxiv.htm

The Fall of the House of Ahab
... the people of the land went into the house of Baal, and brake it down; his altars
and his images brake they in pieces thoroughly, and slew Mattan the priest of ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 16 the fall of.htm

The Assyrian Revival and the Struggle for Syria
History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 7. <. ...
/.../chapter ithe assyrian revival and.htm

Mattan (3 Occurrences)
...MATTAN. mat'-an (mattan, "a gift"): (1) A priest in the house of Baal, slain by
Jehoiada before Baal's altar (2 Kings 11:18 2 Chronicles 23:17). ...
/m/mattan.htm - 8k

Smashed (22 Occurrences)
... the people of the land went to the house of Baal, and broke it down; his altars
and his images broke they in pieces thoroughly, and killed Mattan the priest of ...
/s/smashed.htm - 13k

Shephatiah (13 Occurrences)
... (8) A Perezzite (Judahite), some of whose descendants dwelt at Jerusalem in the
time of Nehemiah (Nehemiah 11:4). (9) A son of Mattan, a contemporary of ...
/s/shephatiah.htm - 12k

Altars (55 Occurrences)
... the people of the land went to the house of Baal, and broke it down; his altars
and his images broke they in pieces thoroughly, and killed Mattan the priest of ...
/a/altars.htm - 25k

Ba'al (55 Occurrences)
... the people of the land went to the house of Baal, and broke it down; his altars
and his images broke they in pieces thoroughly, and killed Mattan the priest of ...
/b/ba'al.htm - 22k

Pulled (84 Occurrences)
... 11:18 Then all the people of the land went to the house of Baal and had it pulled
down: its altars and images were all broken to bits, and Mattan, the priest ...
/p/pulled.htm - 33k

Tore (59 Occurrences)
... 11:18 And all the people of the land go in to the house of Baal, and break it down,
its altars and its images they have thoroughly broken, and Mattan priest of ...
/t/tore.htm - 25k

Tyre (59 Occurrences)
... He reigned 32 years, and was followed by Badezor and Mattan, who gave his daughter,
Elissa (Dido), in marriage to her uncle Sicharbas and transferred the ...
/t/tyre.htm - 45k

Brake (80 Occurrences)
... the people of the land went into the house of Baal, and brake it down; his altars
and his images brake they in pieces thoroughly, and slew Mattan the priest of ...
/b/brake.htm - 34k

Jehoiada (51 Occurrences)
... and the people enter into a solemn covenant to be Yahweh's people, and the result
is the destruction of the temple of Baal, and the death of Mattan, its priest ...
/j/jehoiada.htm - 36k

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