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记返国之俘囚

巴比伦尼布甲尼撒从前掳到巴比伦犹大省的人,现在他们的子孙从被掳到之地回耶路撒冷犹大,各归本城。 他们是同着所罗巴伯耶书亚尼希米西莱雅利来雅末底改必珊米斯拔比革瓦伊利宏巴拿回来的。

以色列人民的数目记在下面:巴录的子孙二千一百七十二名, 示法提雅的子孙三百七十二名, 亚拉的子孙七百七十五名, 巴哈摩押的后裔,就是耶书亚约押的子孙二千八百一十二名, 以拦的子孙一千二百五十四名, 萨土的子孙九百四十五名, 萨改的子孙七百六十名, 10 巴尼的子孙六百四十二名, 11 比拜的子孙六百二十三名, 12 押甲的子孙一千二百二十二名, 13 亚多尼干的子孙六百六十六名, 14 比革瓦伊的子孙二千零五十六名, 15 亚丁的子孙四百五十四名, 16 亚特的后裔,就是希西家的子孙九十八名, 17 比赛的子孙三百二十三名, 18 约拉的子孙一百一十二名, 19 哈顺的子孙二百二十三名。 20 吉罢珥人九十五名, 21 伯利恒人一百二十三名, 22 尼陀法人五十六名, 23 亚拿突人一百二十八名, 24 亚斯玛弗人四十二名, 25 基列耶琳人、基非拉人、比录人共七百四十三名, 26 拉玛人、迦巴人共六百二十一名, 27 默玛人一百二十二名, 28 伯特利人、人共二百二十三名, 29 尼波人五十二名, 30 末必人一百五十六名, 31 别的以拦子孙一千二百五十四名, 32 哈琳的子孙三百二十名, 33 罗德人、哈第人、阿挪人共七百二十五名, 34 耶利哥人三百四十五名, 35 西拿人三千六百三十名。

36 祭司,耶书亚耶大雅的子孙九百七十三名, 37 音麦的子孙一千零五十二名, 38 巴施户珥的子孙一千二百四十七名, 39 哈琳的子孙一千零一十七名。

40 利未人,何达威雅的后裔,就是耶书亚甲篾的子孙七十四名。 41 歌唱的,亚萨的子孙一百二十八名。 42 守门的,沙龙的子孙、亚特的子孙、达们的子孙、亚谷的子孙、哈底大的子孙、朔拜的子孙共一百三十九名。

43 尼提宁[a]西哈的子孙、哈苏巴的子孙、答巴俄的子孙、 44 基绿的子孙、西亚的子孙、巴顿的子孙、 45 利巴拿的子孙、哈迦巴的子孙、亚谷的子孙、 46 哈甲的子孙、萨买的子孙、哈难的子孙、 47 吉德的子孙、迦哈的子孙、利亚雅的子孙、 48 利汛的子孙、尼哥大的子孙、迦散的子孙、 49 乌撒的子孙、巴西亚的子孙、比赛的子孙、 50 押拿的子孙、米乌宁的子孙、尼普心的子孙、 51 巴卜的子孙、哈古巴的子孙、哈忽的子孙、 52 巴洗律的子孙、米希大的子孙、哈沙的子孙、 53 巴柯的子孙、西西拉的子孙、答玛的子孙、 54 尼细亚的子孙、哈提法的子孙。

55 所罗门仆人的后裔,就是琐太的子孙、琐斐列的子孙、比路大的子孙、 56 雅拉的子孙、达昆的子孙、吉德的子孙、 57 示法提雅的子孙、哈替的子孙、玻黑列哈斯巴音的子孙、亚米的子孙。 58 尼提宁和所罗门仆人的后裔共三百九十二名。

59 特米拉特哈萨基绿押但音麦上来的,不能指明他们的宗族谱系是以色列人不是。 60 他们是第来雅的子孙、多比雅的子孙、尼哥大的子孙,共六百五十二名; 61 祭司中哈巴雅的子孙、哈哥斯的子孙、巴西莱的子孙(因为他们的先祖娶了基列巴西莱的女儿为妻,所以起名叫巴西莱), 62 这三家的人在族谱之中寻查自己的谱系,却寻不着,因此算为不洁,不准供祭司的职任。 63 省长对他们说:“不可吃至圣的物,直到有用乌陵和土明决疑的祭司兴起来。”

返国者之总数

64 会众共有四万二千三百六十名。 65 此外还有他们的仆婢七千三百三十七名,又有歌唱的男女二百名。 66 他们有马七百三十六匹,骡子二百四十五匹, 67 骆驼四百三十五只,驴六千七百二十匹。

68 有些族长到了耶路撒冷耶和华殿的地方,便为神的殿甘心献上礼物,要重新建造。 69 他们量力捐入工程库的,金子六万一千达利克,银子五千弥拿,并祭司的礼服一百件。

70 于是,祭司、利未人、民中的一些人、歌唱的、守门的、尼提宁并以色列众人,各住在自己的城里。

Footnotes

  1. 以斯拉记 2:43 就是殿役。

回归的流亡者名单

巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒从前把犹大省的人掳到巴比伦,这些人的子孙从流亡之地返回耶路撒冷和犹大后,各回本城。 他们是与所罗巴伯、耶书亚、尼希米、西莱雅、利来雅、末底改、必珊、米斯拔、比革瓦伊、利宏和巴拿一同回来的。

以下是返回的以色列人的数目:

巴录的子孙两千一百七十二人; 示法提雅的子孙三百七十二人; 亚拉的子孙七百七十五人; 巴哈·摩押的子孙,即耶书亚和约押的子孙两千八百一十二人; 以拦的子孙一千二百五十四人; 萨土的子孙九百四十五人; 萨改的子孙七百六十人; 10 巴尼的子孙六百四十二人; 11 比拜的子孙六百二十三人; 12 押甲的子孙一千二百二十二人; 13 亚多尼干的子孙六百六十六人; 14 比革瓦伊的子孙两千零五十六人; 15 亚丁的子孙四百五十四人; 16 亚特的子孙,即希西迦的子孙九十八人; 17 比赛的子孙三百二十三人; 18 约拉的子孙一百一十二人; 19 哈顺的子孙二百二十三人; 20 吉罢珥的子孙九十五人。

21 伯利恒人一百二十三名; 22 尼陀法人五十六名; 23 亚拿突人一百二十八名; 24 亚斯玛弗人四十二名; 25 基列·耶琳人、基非拉人和比录人七百四十三名; 26 拉玛人和迦巴人六百二十一名; 27 默玛人一百二十二名; 28 伯特利人和艾人二百二十三名; 29 尼波人五十二名; 30 末必人一百五十六名; 31 另一个以拦的子孙一千二百五十四人; 32 哈琳人三百二十名; 33 罗德人、哈第人和阿挪人七百二十五名; 34 耶利哥人三百四十五名; 35 西拿人三千六百三十名。

36 祭司有耶大雅的子孙,即耶书亚的子孙九百七十三人; 37 音麦的子孙一千零五十二人; 38 巴施户珥的子孙一千二百四十七人; 39 哈琳的子孙一千零一十七人。

40 利未人有何达威雅的子孙,即耶书亚和甲篾的子孙七十四人; 41 负责歌乐的亚萨的子孙一百二十八人; 42 负责守卫殿门的沙龙的子孙、亚特的子孙、达们的子孙、亚谷的子孙、哈底大的子孙和朔拜的子孙一百三十九人。

43 殿役有西哈的子孙、哈苏巴的子孙、答巴俄的子孙、 44 基绿的子孙、西亚的子孙、巴顿的子孙、 45 利巴拿的子孙、哈迦巴的子孙、亚谷的子孙、 46 哈甲的子孙、萨买的子孙、哈难的子孙、 47 吉德的子孙、迦哈的子孙、利亚雅的子孙、 48 利汛的子孙、尼哥大的子孙、迦散的子孙、 49 乌撒的子孙、巴西亚的子孙、比赛的子孙、 50 押拿的子孙、米乌宁的子孙、尼普心的子孙、 51 巴卜的子孙、哈古巴的子孙、哈忽的子孙、 52 巴洗律的子孙、米希大的子孙、哈沙的子孙、 53 巴柯的子孙、西西拉的子孙、答玛的子孙、 54 尼细亚的子孙和哈提法的子孙。

55 所罗门仆人的子孙有琐太的子孙、琐斐列的子孙、比路大的子孙、 56 雅拉的子孙、达昆的子孙、吉德的子孙、 57 示法提雅的子孙、哈替的子孙、玻黑列·哈斯巴音的子孙和亚米的子孙。

58 殿役和所罗门仆人的子孙共三百九十二人。

59 以下这些人来自特·米拉、特·哈萨、基绿、押但和音麦,但不能证明自己是以色列人的后代: 60 第来雅的子孙、多比雅的子孙和尼哥大的子孙,共六百五十二人。

61-62 祭司中的哈巴雅宗族、哈哥斯宗族和巴西莱宗族,在族谱中都找不到自己的谱系,因此他们算为不洁净,不能做祭司。巴西莱子孙的祖先娶了基列人巴西莱的女儿为妻,因此取名叫巴西莱。 63 省长吩咐他们,要等到用乌陵和土明求问上帝的祭司出现后,才可以吃至圣之物。

64 回到犹大的人共四万二千三百六十名。 65 此外还有他们的七千三百三十七名男女仆婢,二百名男女歌乐手, 66 七百三十六匹马,二百四十五匹骡子, 67 四百三十五头骆驼和六千七百二十头驴。

68 有些族长来到耶路撒冷耶和华的殿时,甘愿为上帝的殿献上礼物,用来在旧址上重新建殿。 69 他们尽自己的能力为这工程捐献了五百公斤金子,三吨银子,以及一百件祭司礼服。

70 祭司、利未人、一些百姓、歌乐手、殿门守卫和殿役住在自己的城里,其余的以色列人也都住在自己的城里。

回歸的流亡者名單

巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒從前把猶大省的人擄到巴比倫,這些人的子孫從流亡之地返回耶路撒冷和猶大後,各回本城。 他們是與所羅巴伯、耶書亞、尼希米、西萊雅、利來雅、末底改、必珊、米斯拔、比革瓦伊、利宏和巴拿一同回來的。

以下是返回的以色列人的數目:

巴錄的子孫兩千一百七十二人; 示法提雅的子孫三百七十二人; 亞拉的子孫七百七十五人; 巴哈·摩押的子孫,即耶書亞和約押的子孫兩千八百一十二人; 以攔的子孫一千二百五十四人; 薩土的子孫九百四十五人; 薩改的子孫七百六十人; 10 巴尼的子孫六百四十二人; 11 比拜的子孫六百二十三人; 12 押甲的子孫一千二百二十二人; 13 亞多尼干的子孫六百六十六人; 14 比革瓦伊的子孫兩千零五十六人; 15 亞丁的子孫四百五十四人; 16 亞特的子孫,即希西迦的子孫九十八人; 17 比賽的子孫三百二十三人; 18 約拉的子孫一百一十二人; 19 哈順的子孫二百二十三人; 20 吉罷珥的子孫九十五人。

21 伯利恆人一百二十三名; 22 尼陀法人五十六名; 23 亞拿突人一百二十八名; 24 亞斯瑪弗人四十二名; 25 基列·耶琳人、基非拉人和比錄人七百四十三名; 26 拉瑪人和迦巴人六百二十一名; 27 默瑪人一百二十二名; 28 伯特利人和艾人二百二十三名; 29 尼波人五十二名; 30 末必人一百五十六名; 31 另一個以攔的子孫一千二百五十四人; 32 哈琳人三百二十名; 33 羅德人、哈第人和阿挪人七百二十五名; 34 耶利哥人三百四十五名; 35 西拿人三千六百三十名。

36 祭司有耶大雅的子孫,即耶書亞的子孫九百七十三人; 37 音麥的子孫一千零五十二人; 38 巴施戶珥的子孫一千二百四十七人; 39 哈琳的子孫一千零一十七人。

40 利未人有何達威雅的子孫,即耶書亞和甲篾的子孫七十四人; 41 負責歌樂的亞薩的子孫一百二十八人; 42 負責守衛殿門的沙龍的子孫、亞特的子孫、達們的子孫、亞谷的子孫、哈底大的子孫和朔拜的子孫一百三十九人。

43 殿役有西哈的子孫、哈蘇巴的子孫、答巴俄的子孫、 44 基綠的子孫、西亞的子孫、巴頓的子孫、 45 利巴拿的子孫、哈迦巴的子孫、亞谷的子孫、 46 哈甲的子孫、薩買的子孫、哈難的子孫、 47 吉德的子孫、迦哈的子孫、利亞雅的子孫、 48 利汛的子孫、尼哥大的子孫、迦散的子孫、 49 烏撒的子孫、巴西亞的子孫、比賽的子孫、 50 押拿的子孫、米烏寧的子孫、尼普心的子孫、 51 巴卜的子孫、哈古巴的子孫、哈忽的子孫、 52 巴洗律的子孫、米希大的子孫、哈沙的子孫、 53 巴柯的子孫、西西拉的子孫、答瑪的子孫、 54 尼細亞的子孫和哈提法的子孫。

55 所羅門僕人的子孫有瑣太的子孫、瑣斐列的子孫、比路大的子孫、 56 雅拉的子孫、達昆的子孫、吉德的子孫、 57 示法提雅的子孫、哈替的子孫、玻黑列·哈斯巴音的子孫和亞米的子孫。

58 殿役和所羅門僕人的子孫共三百九十二人。

59 以下這些人來自特·米拉、特·哈薩、基綠、押但和音麥,但不能證明自己是以色列人的後代: 60 第來雅的子孫、多比雅的子孫和尼哥大的子孫,共六百五十二人。

61-62 祭司中的哈巴雅宗族、哈哥斯宗族和巴西萊宗族,在族譜中都找不到自己的譜系,因此他們算為不潔淨,不能做祭司。巴西萊子孫的祖先娶了基列人巴西萊的女兒為妻,因此取名叫巴西萊。 63 省長吩咐他們,要等到用烏陵和土明求問上帝的祭司出現後,才可以吃至聖之物。

64 回到猶大的人共四萬二千三百六十名。 65 此外還有他們的七千三百三十七名男女僕婢,二百名男女歌樂手, 66 七百三十六匹馬,二百四十五匹騾子, 67 四百三十五頭駱駝和六千七百二十頭驢。

68 有些族長來到耶路撒冷耶和華的殿時,甘願為上帝的殿獻上禮物,用來在舊址上重新建殿。 69 他們盡自己的能力為這工程捐獻了五百公斤金子,三噸銀子,以及一百件祭司禮服。

70 祭司、利未人、一些百姓、歌樂手、殿門守衛和殿役住在自己的城裡,其餘的以色列人也都住在自己的城裡。

The List of the Exiles Who Returned(A)

Now these are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles,(B) whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon(C) had taken captive to Babylon (they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to their own town,(D) in company with Zerubbabel,(E) Joshua,(F) Nehemiah, Seraiah,(G) Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum and Baanah):

The list of the men of the people of Israel:

the descendants of Parosh(H)2,172
of Shephatiah372
of Arah775
of Pahath-Moab (through the line of Jeshua and Joab)2,812
of Elam1,254
of Zattu945
of Zakkai760
10 of Bani642
11 of Bebai623
12 of Azgad1,222
13 of Adonikam(I)666
14 of Bigvai2,056
15 of Adin454
16 of Ater (through Hezekiah)98
17 of Bezai323
18 of Jorah112
19 of Hashum223
20 of Gibbar95
21 the men of Bethlehem(J)123
22 of Netophah56
23 of Anathoth128
24 of Azmaveth42
25 of Kiriath Jearim,[a] Kephirah and Beeroth743
26 of Ramah(K) and Geba621
27 of Mikmash122
28 of Bethel and Ai(L)223
29 of Nebo52
30 of Magbish156
31 of the other Elam1,254
32 of Harim320
33 of Lod, Hadid and Ono725
34 of Jericho(M)345
35 of Senaah3,630

36 The priests:

the descendants of Jedaiah(N) (through the family of Jeshua)973
37 of Immer(O)1,052
38 of Pashhur(P)1,247
39 of Harim(Q)1,017

40 The Levites:(R)

the descendants of Jeshua(S) and Kadmiel (of the line of Hodaviah)74

41 The musicians:(T)

the descendants of Asaph128

42 The gatekeepers(U) of the temple:

the descendants of
Shallum, Ater, Talmon,
Akkub, Hatita and Shobai139

43 The temple servants:(V)

the descendants of
Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth,
44 Keros, Siaha, Padon,
45 Lebanah, Hagabah, Akkub,
46 Hagab, Shalmai, Hanan,
47 Giddel, Gahar, Reaiah,
48 Rezin, Nekoda, Gazzam,
49 Uzza, Paseah, Besai,
50 Asnah, Meunim, Nephusim,
51 Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur,
52 Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha,
53 Barkos, Sisera, Temah,
54 Neziah and Hatipha

55 The descendants of the servants of Solomon:

the descendants of
Sotai, Hassophereth, Peruda,
56 Jaala, Darkon, Giddel,
57 Shephatiah, Hattil,
Pokereth-Hazzebaim and Ami
58 The temple servants(W) and the descendants of the servants of Solomon392

59 The following came up from the towns of Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon and Immer, but they could not show that their families were descended(X) from Israel:

60 The descendants of
Delaiah, Tobiah and Nekoda652

61 And from among the priests:

The descendants of
Hobaiah, Hakkoz and Barzillai (a man who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite(Y) and was called by that name).

62 These searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood(Z) as unclean. 63 The governor ordered them not to eat any of the most sacred food(AA) until there was a priest ministering with the Urim and Thummim.(AB)

64 The whole company numbered 42,360, 65 besides their 7,337 male and female slaves; and they also had 200 male and female singers.(AC) 66 They had 736 horses,(AD) 245 mules, 67 435 camels and 6,720 donkeys.

68 When they arrived at the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, some of the heads of the families(AE) gave freewill offerings toward the rebuilding of the house of God on its site. 69 According to their ability they gave to the treasury for this work 61,000 darics[b] of gold, 5,000 minas[c] of silver and 100 priestly garments.

70 The priests, the Levites, the musicians, the gatekeepers and the temple servants settled in their own towns, along with some of the other people, and the rest of the Israelites settled in their towns.(AF)

Footnotes

  1. Ezra 2:25 See Septuagint (see also Neh. 7:29); Hebrew Kiriath Arim.
  2. Ezra 2:69 That is, about 1,100 pounds or about 500 kilograms
  3. Ezra 2:69 That is, about 3 tons or about 2.8 metric tons

Chapter 2

A Census of the Returned Exiles. [a](A)These are the inhabitants of the province who returned from the captivity of the exiles, whom Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had carried away to Babylon, and who came back to Jerusalem and Judah, to their various cities (those who returned with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah):

The census of the people of Israel: descendants of Parosh, two thousand one hundred and seventy-two; descendants of Shephatiah, three hundred and seventy-two; descendants of Arah, seven hundred and seventy-five; descendants of Pahath-moab, who were descendants of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve; descendants of Elam, one thousand two hundred and fifty-four; descendants of Zattu, nine hundred and forty-five; descendants of Zaccai, seven hundred and sixty; 10 descendants of Bani, six hundred and forty-two; 11 descendants of Bebai, six hundred and twenty-three; 12 descendants of Azgad, one thousand two hundred and twenty-two; 13 descendants of Adonikam, six hundred and sixty-six; 14 descendants of Bigvai, two thousand and fifty-six; 15 descendants of Adin, four hundred and fifty-four; 16 descendants of Ater, who were descendants of Hezekiah, ninety-eight; 17 descendants of Bezai, three hundred and twenty-three; 18 descendants of Jorah, one hundred and twelve; 19 descendants of Hashum, two hundred and twenty-three; 20 descendants of Gibeon, ninety-five; 21 descendants of Bethlehem, one hundred and twenty-three; 22 people of Netophah, fifty-six; 23 people of Anathoth, one hundred and twenty-eight; 24 people of Beth-azmaveth, forty-two; 25 people of Kiriath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred and forty-three; 26 people of Ramah and Geba, six hundred and twenty-one; 27 people of Michmas, one hundred and twenty-two; 28 people of Bethel and Ai, two hundred and twenty-three; 29 descendants of Nebo, fifty-two; 30 descendants of Magbish, one hundred and fifty-six; 31 descendants of the other Elam, one thousand two hundred and fifty-four; 32 descendants of Harim, three hundred and twenty; 33 descendants of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred and twenty-five; 34 descendants of Jericho, three hundred and forty-five; 35 descendants of Senaah, three thousand six hundred and thirty.

36 The priests: descendants of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred and seventy-three; 37 descendants of Immer, one thousand and fifty-two; 38 descendants of Pashhur, one thousand two hundred and forty-seven; 39 descendants of Harim, one thousand and seventeen.

40 (B)The Levites: descendants of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the descendants of Hodaviah, seventy-four.

41 The singers:[b] descendants of Asaph, one hundred and twenty-eight.

42 The gatekeepers:[c] descendants of Shallum, descendants of Ater, descendants of Talmon, descendants of Akkub, descendants of Hatita, descendants of Shobai, one hundred and thirty-nine in all.

43 The temple servants: descendants of Ziha, descendants of Hasupha, descendants of Tabbaoth, 44 descendants of Keros, descendants of Siaha, descendants of Padon, 45 descendants of Lebanah, descendants of Hagabah, descendants of Akkub, 46 descendants of Hagab, descendants of Shamlai, descendants of Hanan, 47 descendants of Giddel, descendants of Gahar, descendants of Reaiah, 48 descendants of Rezin, descendants of Nekoda, descendants of Gazzam, 49 descendants of Uzza, descendants of Paseah, descendants of Besai, 50 descendants of Asnah, descendants of the Meunites, descendants of the Nephusites, 51 descendants of Bakbuk, descendants of Hakupha, descendants of Harhur, 52 descendants of Bazluth, descendants of Mehida, descendants of Harsha, 53 descendants of Barkos, descendants of Sisera, descendants of Temah, 54 descendants of Neziah, descendants of Hatipha.

55 Descendants of Solomon’s servants: descendants of Sotai, descendants of Hassophereth, descendants of Peruda, 56 descendants of Jaalah, descendants of Darkon, descendants of Giddel, 57 descendants of Shephatiah, descendants of Hattil, descendants of Pochereth-hazzebaim, descendants of Ami. 58 The total of the temple servants together with the descendants of Solomon’s servants was three hundred and ninety-two.

59 The following who returned from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer were unable to prove that their ancestral houses and their descent were Israelite: 60 descendants of Delaiah, descendants of Tobiah, descendants of Nekoda, six hundred and fifty-two. 61 (C)Also, of the priests: descendants of Habaiah, descendants of Hakkoz, descendants of Barzillai (he had married one of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and was named after him). 62 These searched their family records, but their names could not be found there, and they were excluded from the priesthood. 63 (D)The governor[d] ordered them not to partake of the most holy foods until there should be a priest to consult the Urim and Thummim.

64 The entire assembly taken together came to forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty, 65 not counting their male and female servants, who numbered seven thousand three hundred and thirty-seven. They also had two hundred male and female singers. 66 Their horses numbered seven hundred and thirty-six, their mules two hundred and forty-five, 67 their camels four hundred and thirty-five, their donkeys six thousand seven hundred and twenty.

68 When they arrived at the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, some of the heads of ancestral houses made voluntary offerings for the house of God, to rebuild it in its place. 69 According to their means they contributed to the treasury for the temple service: sixty-one thousand drachmas of gold, five thousand minas of silver, and one hundred priestly robes. 70 The priests, the Levites, and some of the people took up residence in Jerusalem; the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants settled in their cities. Thus all the Israelites settled in their cities.

Footnotes

  1. 2:1–67 As it now stands, this list, which also appears at Neh 7:6–72, is an expanded form of lists of Babylonian repatriates from the sixth century B.C. It served to establish membership in the reconstituted Temple community; civic status and perhaps also title to property depended on this membership.
  2. 2:41 The singers: the term covers the composition as well as the rendition of liturgical music. Since they are listed as distinct from Levites (2:40), they had not yet attained levitical status, as in Chronicles (e.g., 1 Chr 9:33–34; 23:3–6).
  3. 2:42 The gatekeepers: their principal task was to protect the ritual purity of the temple area (e.g., 2 Chr 23:19). The author assumes that they were established by David as a distinct levitical category (1 Chr 15:18; 26:1–19).
  4. 2:63 The governor: the honorific title was also held by Nehemiah (Neh 8:9; 10:2). The identity of the governor is unknown; both Sheshbazzar (Ezr 5:14) and Zerubbabel (Hg 1:1, 14; 2:2, 21) are identified as governors of Judah in the early Persian period. Mal 1:8 refers to an unnamed governor, and the names of other occupants of the office (Yehoezer, Ahzai, Elnathan) occur on seal impressions, though their date is uncertain. Urim and Thummim: cf. Ex 28:30.