Ezra 2:68-70
Context2:68 When they came to the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem, some of the family leaders 1 offered voluntary offerings for the temple of God in order to rebuild 2 it on its site. 2:69 As they were able, 3 they gave to the treasury for this work 61,000 drachmas 4 of gold, 5,000 minas 5 of silver, and 100 priestly robes. 6
2:70 The priests, the Levites, some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants lived in their towns, and all the rest of Israel lived in their towns.
[2:68] 1 tn Heb “the heads of the fathers.”
[2:68] 2 tn Heb “cause it to stand.”
[2:69] 3 tn Heb “according to their strength.”
[2:69] 4 tn The meaning of the Hebrew word דַּרְכְּמוֹנִים (darkÿmonim, 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.
[2:69] 5 sn 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.