1sn The list of names and numbers in this chapter of Ezra has a parallel account in Neh 7:6-73. The fact that the two lists do not always agree in specific details suggests that various textual errors have crept into the accounts during the transmission process.

2tn Heb “the sons of.”

3tn The Hebrew term הָעֹלִים (haolim, “those who were going up” [Qal active participle]) refers to continual action in the past. Most translations render this as a simple past: “went up” (KJV), “came up” (RSV, ASV, NASV, NIV), “came” (NRSV). CEV paraphrases: “were on their way back.”

4map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.

5tn Heb “men of the people of Israel.”

6tn The words “was as follows” are not in the Hebrew text but are used in the translation for clarity.

7tn Heb “the sons of.”

8tn Heb “to the sons of.” Cf. v. 40.

9tc The MT reads יוֹאָב (yoav, “Joab”). However, syntax demands the reading וְיוֹאָב (v˙yoav, “and Joab”) which is reflected in the LXX and Syriac.

10tn Heb “to.” So also in vv. 36, 40.

11tc The translation follows the suggestion in BHS and reads אַנְשֵׁי (’anshe, “the men of”) here rather than the reading בְּנֵי (b˙ne, “the sons of”) found in the MT. So also in vv. 25, 26, 33, 34.

12map For location see Map5-B1; Map7-E2; Map8-E2; Map10-B4.

13tc The translation follows the suggestion in BHS and reads אַשְׁנֵי בֵּית (’ashne bet, “men of the house of”) here rather than the reading בְּנֵי (b˙ne, “the sons of”) found in the MT.

tn Heb “the men of the house of Azmaveth”; some regard בֵּית (bet, “house of”) as a part of the place name: NAB, NLT “Beth-azmaveth.”

14tc The translation, with the support of many manuscripts, reads יְעָרִים (arim) here rather than the reading עָרִים (’arim) of the MT.

15map For location see Map4-G4; Map5-C1; Map6-E3; Map7-D1; Map8-G3.

16map For location see Map5-B2; Map6-E1; Map7-E1; Map8-E3; Map10-A2; Map11-A1.

17tn Heb “the house of.”

18tc Here it is preferable to delete the reading בְּנֵי (b˙ne, “the sons of”) found in the MT.

19tc The translation follows the Qere reading “Shalmai” (so KJV, NASB, NIV, NLT) rather than the MT Kethib “Shamlai” (so ASV, NAB, NRSV).

20tn Heb “relate.”

21tn Heb “the house of their fathers.”

22tn Heb “their seed.”

23tc The translation reads וּמִן (umin, “and from”) rather than the reading וּמִבּנֵי (umibb˙ney, “and from the sons of”) found in the MT.

24tn Heb “their.”

25tn Heb “these.”

26tn Heb “their records were searched for in the genealogical materials, but were not found.” This passive construction has been translated as active for stylistic reasons.

27tn Heb “they were desecrated.”

28tn The Hebrew word תִּרְשָׁתָא (tirshata’) is an official title of the Persian governor in Judea, perhaps similar in meaning to “excellency” (BDB 1077 s.v.; HALOT 1798 s.v.; W. L. Holladay, Concise Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon, 395).

29tn Heb “to stand.”

30sn The same total is given in Neh 7:66, but it is difficult to understand how this number is reached, since the numbers of people listed in the constituent groups do not add up to 42,360. The list in vv. 3-60 apparently is not intended to be exhaustive, but the basis of the selectivity is unclear.

31tn Heb “besides” or “in addition to.”

32tn Heb “the heads of the fathers.”

33tn Heb “cause it to stand.”

34tn Heb “according to their strength.”

35tn The meaning of the Hebrew word דַּרְכְּמוֹנִים (dark˙monim, cf. Neh 7:69, 70, 71) is uncertain. It may be a Greek loanword meaning “drachmas” (the view adopted here and followed also by NAB, NASB, NIV) or a Persian loanword “daric,” referring to a Persian gold coin (BDB 204 s.v. דַּרְכְּמוֹן; HALOT 232 s.v. נִים(וֹ)דַּרְכְּמֹ; cf. ASV, NRSV). For further study, see R. de Vaux, Ancient Israel, 206-9.

36sn The מָנִים (manim, cf. Neh 7:71, 72) is a measuring weight for valuable metals, equal to 1/60 of a talent or 60 shekels (BDB 584 s.v. מָנֶה; HALOT 599 s.v. מָנֶה). For further study, see R. de Vaux, Ancient Israel, 203-6.

37tn Or “garments.”