Ezra 2:61-63

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.

[2:61]  ¹ tc The translation reads וּמִן (umin, “and from”) rather than the reading וּמִבּנֵי (umibbÿney, “and from the sons of”) found in the MT.

[2:61]  ² tn Heb “their.”

[2:62]  ³ tn Heb “these.”

[2:62]  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.

[2:62]  ⁵ tn Heb “they were desecrated.”

[2:63]  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).

[2:63]  ⁷ tn Heb “to stand.”