Mattan

Mat'tan (Heb. Mattan', מִתָּן, a gift, as in Ge 34:12, etc.), the name of two men in the Old Testament and one in the New. SEE MITHNITE.

1. (Sept. Μαθάν, Ματθάν v. r. Μαγθάν and Μαχάν.) The priest of Baal slain before his idolatrous altar during the reformation instituted by Jehoiada (2Ki 11:18; 2Ch 23:17). B.C. 876. "He probably accompanied Athaliah from Samaria, and would thus be the first priest of the Baal-worship which Jehoram, king of Judah, following the steps of his father-in-law Ahab, established at Jerusalem (2Ch 21:6,13). Josephus (Ant. 9:7, 3) calls him Μααθάν" (Smith).

2. (Sept. Ναθάν v. r. Μαθάν.) The father of the Shephatiah who was one of the nobles that charged Jeremiah with treason (Jer 38:1). B.C. ante 589.

⇒Bible concordance for MATTAN.

3. (Ματθάν, Auth.Vers. "Matthan".) The son of Eleazar and father of Jacob, which last was father of Joseph, the husband of the Virgin Mary (Mt 1:15). According to tradition he was a priest (which disagrees with his tribal descent), and father of Anna, the mother of the same Mary (Niceph. Hist. Ev. 2:3). B.C. considerably ante 40. SEE GENEALOGY OF JESUS CHRIST.

⇒See also the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia.