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

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