Tirathite

Ti'rathite (Heb. Tirati', תָּרעתּי, patrial from some unknown תַּרָעָה , Tirandh [a gate (Gesenius) or fissure (Fürst)]; Sept. Α᾿ργαθιείμ v.r. θαργαθιίμ and Ταθείμ ; Vulg. canentes), the designation of one of the three families of Scribes residing at Jabez (1 Chronicles 2, 55), the others being the Shimeathites and Suchathites. The passage is hopelessly obscure, and it is perhaps impossible to discover whence these three families derived their names. The Jewish commentators, playing with the names in true Shemitic fashion, interpret them thus, "They called them Tirathim, because their voices when they sang resounded loud (תּרִע); and Shimeathites because they made themselves heard (שָׁמִע) in reading the law."

⇒See also the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia.