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, יוצרinZechariah 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]
InTargum 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]
According to The Jewish Encyclopedia, the word is from the Persian amarkirorArmenian hamarakar, meaning "master of finance".[5]
Alternative etymologies are given by Rabbi Judah[16] as a contractionofmar kol ("master over all"), and by Rav Chisda[17] as a contraction of amar kulla ("he who has everything to say").[5]
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Kaufmann 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.
