The leaders 2:1-2a

The "province"referred to was probably Judah³⁸rather than Babylonia³⁹in view of the context. Zerubbabel was the grandson of King Jehoiachin and the nephew of Sheshbazzar, the leader of this return (1 Chron. 3:17-19). Zerubbabel assumed leadership later in Judah. Evidently Sheshbazzar was the official Persian governor and Zerubbabel the popular leader (cf. 3:8-11).⁴⁰Sheshbazzar may have been about 55 to 60 years old at this time and Zerubbabel about 40.⁴¹Jeshua was the high priest (Zech. 3:1) who later led in the re-establishment of temple worship. This Nehemiah must have been a different person from the Nehemiah in the book that bears that name. The second Nehemiah did not return to Judah until almost 100 years later, in 444 B.C. (Neh. 2:9). Likewise this Mordecai was not Esther's cousin (Esth. 2:5) since the latter Mordecai remained in Susa, one of the capitals of the Persian Empire, and lived about 50 years later than this Mordecai.