Bible Commentaries

chief = heads: i.e. heads of houses.

them that went up. Most of these names appear in Ezr 2and Neh 10. The number is 1,496. If there were no women with them, this might be the cause of the "strange" marriages in Ezr 10and Neh 10.

Artaxerxes: i.e. Darius (Hystaspis). See App-57and App-58.

by genealogy = a lineage.

Pahath-moab. Compare Ezra 2:6.

sons of Shechaniah. Septuagint reads "sons of Zattu, Shechaniah".

Of. Some codices, with one early printed edition and Septuagint, read "And of".

sons of Shelomith. Septuagint reads "sons of Bani, Shelomith".

ten. Some codices, with Syriac, read "twenty".

last. In contrast with others.

these. The only case where there were three heads. In all other cases (except Ezra 8:14, where there are two) only one head is mentioned.

them. Hebrew text reads "him"; but some codices, with one early printed edition, read "them", as in Authorized Version.

together = out.

Ahava. Ahava. The name of the river, and of the city. Compare Ezra 8:21.

abode = encamped.

none of the sons of Levi. Only priests and laymen. The Levites were slack. Compare Ezra 2:40. Only a small number accompanied Zerubbabel (Ezra 2:36). Not so the priests (Ezra 2:36-39).

for. The Syriac and Vulgate omit the word "for" throughout this verse, and read "then sent I Eliezer", &c, as in Ezra 8:17.

chief men = heads.

men of understanding. Figure of speech Antimereia (of Noun), App-6= wise and prudent men, especially for teaching.

Casiphia. Not identified. Probably near Babylon.

Nethinims. These were the ministers of the Levites. Originally Gibeonites. See note on Ezra 2:43.

chief = princes.

offering = heave offering. App-43.

all Israel. See note on Ezra 2:2 and 1 Kings 12:17.

basons = bowls.

of = valued at.

fine copper, &c. = copper shining like gold.

holy = a holy body. See note on Exodus 3:5.

By number and by weight of every one: or, the whole by number and weight.

Also, &c. The fourth of the ten Sedarim (or cycles for public reading) begins here and goes on to Nehemiah 2:10, where it ends; thus uniting the two books in one. See note, p. 632.

children = sons.

commissions = Royal decrees. Hebrew. dath.