2:1 Now these [are] the children a of the province that went
up out of the captivity, of those which had been carried
away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried
away unto Babylon, and came again unto Jerusalem and Judah,
every one unto his city;
(a) Meaning Judea, which was a province that is, a country
which was in subjection.
2:2 Which came with b Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah,
Reelaiah, c Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum,
Baanah. The number d of the men of the people of Israel:
(b) Zerubbabel was chief captain and Joshua the high priest:
but Nehemiah a man of great authority did not come now,
but came after 64 years.
(c) This was not the Mordecai who was Esther's kinsman.
(d) Meaning, of the common people.
2:16 The children of Ater of e Hezekiah, ninety and eight.
(e) Who were of the posterity of Hezekiah.
2:21f The children of Bethlehem, an hundred twenty and three.
(f) That is inhabitants, for so this word (some) signifies
when it is joined with the names of places.
2:36 The g priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of
Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three.
(g) Before he has declared the two tribes of Judah and
Benjamin, and now comes to the tribe of Levi and begins
at the priests.
2:43 The h Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of
Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,
(h) So called because they were given to the temple, to cut
wood and bear water for the use of the sacrifices and
came of the Gibeonites who were appointed to this use
by Joshua, (Jos 9:23).
2:55 The children of Solomon's i servants: the children of
Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Peruda,
(i) Which came of them that Solomon had appointed for the
work of the temple.
2:61 And of the children of the priests: the children of
Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of k
Barzillai; which took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai
the Gileadite, and was called after their name:
(k) He is mentioned in (2Sa 17:27,19:31) and because the
priest's office was held in contempt these would have
changed their estate by their name, and so by God's
just judgment lost both the estimation of the world and
the dignity of their office.
2:63 And the l Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not
eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest
with m Urim and with Thummim.
(l) This is a Chaldee name, and signifies him who has
authority over others.
(m) Read (Ex 28:30).
2:69 They gave after their ability unto the treasure of the work
threescore and one thousand n drams of gold, and five
thousand o pounds of silver, and one hundred priests'
garments.
(n) Which in our money amounts to 24,826 pounds, 13
shillings and 4 pence, valuing the french crown at
6 shillings and 4 pence for the dram is the eighth part
of an ounce, and the ounce the eighth part of a mark.
(o) Which are called "mina" and contain 2 marks apiece, so
50,000 minas make 55,000 franks which in our money
amounts to 69,666 pounds, 13 shillings and 4 pence so
that the whole sum was 94,493 pounds, 6 shillings, and
8 pence.
