2:61 And from among 1 the priests: the descendants of Hobaiah, the descendants of Hakkoz, and the descendants of Barzillai (who had taken a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by that 2 name). 2:62 They 3 searched for their records in the genealogical materials, but did not find them. 4 They were therefore excluded 5 from the priesthood. 2:63 The governor 6 instructed them not to eat any of the sacred food until there was a priest who could consult 7 the Urim and Thummim.
1 tc The translation reads וּמִן (umin, “and from”) rather than the reading וּמִבּנֵי (umibbÿney, “and from the sons of”) found in the MT.
2 tn Heb “their.”
3 tn Heb “these.”
4 tn 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.
5 tn Heb “they were desecrated.”
6 tn 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).
7 tn Heb “to stand.”