Amarkol (Hebrew: אמרכל; plural, אמרכלים, amarkolim), is a title applied to a Temple trustee superintending the cashiers[1] (gizbarim [he]). While the three – or, according to the Baraita,[2] thirteen – cashiers handled all the money that flowed into the Temple treasury, "the amarkolim, seven in number, held the seven keys to the seven gates of the Temple hall (azara [he]), none opening his gate before all the others had assembled".[3] Above the seven amarkolim were two catholici, and these again were under the supervision of the high priest.[4][5]

Abba Saul ben Batnit, in his attack against the priestly house of Ishmael ben Fabus, said: "They themselves are high priests, and their sons gizbarim, and their sons-in-law amarkolim".[6] Eleazar, the "chief over the chiefs of the Levites",[7] is given the title of amarkol.[8] Eliakim, son of Hilkiah, as keeper of the keys of the Temple is also called amarkol,[9] and Jeremiah is represented as a descendant of the amarkolim, who had their inheritance in Anathoth.[10] In addition, יוצר in Zechariah 11:13 (Authorized Version, the potter) is translated in Targum Jonathan, amarkol,[11] meaning treasurer. Adolf Büchler has shown[12] by referring to Josephus, Against Apion 2:8, that certain Temple officers handed the keys of the Temple to their successors each day, as a symbol of their charge — and these were none others than the amarkolim; who were, however, laymen and not priests. And it was in view of this that the title of amarkol was applied to them.[5]

In Targum Onkelos,[13] Targum Jonathan,[14] and Targum Pseudo-Jonathan,[15] the title of amarkol is applied to nesiim (princes) and to shomere ha-saf (the doorkeepers), in accordance with Jerusalem Talmud Shekalim Chapter 5, Numbers Rabbah Chapter 3, and Leviticus Rabbah Chapter 5.[5]

Etymology

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According to The Jewish Encyclopedia, the word is from the Persian amarkir or Armenian hamarakar, meaning "master of finance".[5]

Alternative etymologies are given by Rabbi Judah[16] as a contraction of mar kol ("master over all"), and by Rav Chisda[17] as a contraction of amar kulla ("he who has everything to say").[5]

References

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  1. ^ Marcus Jastrow. A Dictionary of the Targumim, the Talmud Babli and Yerushalmi, and the Midrashic Literature  – via Wikisource.
  2. ^ Tamid 27a.
  3. ^ Tosefta, Shekalim 2:15; Jerusalem Talmud Shekalim Chapter 5 page 49a.
  4. ^ Jerusalem Talmud Shekalim Chapter 5 page 49a.
  5. ^ a b c d e   One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainKaufmann Kohler (1901–1906). "AMARKOL (אמרכל; from the Persian, amarkir; Armenian, hamarakar = master of finance)". In Singer, Isidore; et al. (eds.). The Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls.
    Jewish Encyclopedia bibliography:
  6. ^ Tosefta Menachot 13:21; Pesachim 57a.
  7. ^ Numbers 3:32.
  8. ^ Targum Onkelos Numbers 3:32; Targum Pseudo-Jonathan Numbers 3:32; Numbers Rabbah 3:11.
  9. ^ Targum Jonathan Isaiah 22:23.
  10. ^ Targum Jonathan Jeremiah 1:1.
  11. ^ Targum Jonathan Zechariah 11:13.
  12. ^ Against Emil Schürer, Geschichte des Jüdischen Volkes, 1st edition, ii. 216.
  13. ^ Numbers 3:32.
  14. ^ 2 Kings 22:4.
  15. ^ Numbers 3:32.
  16. ^ Tosefta, Shekalim 2:15.
  17. ^ Horayot 13a.