Hireling, Hired Servant.
These were distinct from the house servants who were generally slaves. Hired servants were engaged by the day and paid at the close of the day. A servant hired by the priest was not regarded as one of the family, and was not allowed to eat of the holy things, whereas the slaves were considered a part of the family. Leviticus 19:13; Leviticus 22:10; Deuteronomy 15:18; Deuteronomy 24:14; Job 14:6; Malachi 3:5. They are contrasted in the N.T. with the Shepherd who owned the sheep. Matthew 20:1-8; Luke 15:17, Luke 1:15; John 10:12, John 1:10.