MPV Commentary

5. My God put it in my heart to gather together the nobles and leaders of our community.

This arrangement was not just a matter of common sense, but was guided by the prompting and direction of God's grace. I decided to create a register that would accurately record the family history and ancestral homes of every individual who had returned from exile. As I worked on this project, I discovered an existing register of those who had come under the care of Zerubbabel when we first arrived in Jerusalem. This register is transcribed below and differs slightly from the one recorded by Ezra (Ezra 2:1-61). The discrepancies can be explained by the different circumstances under which these records were made. Ezra's record was compiled at Babylon, while mine was drawn up in Judea after we had rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem.

The passage of time would naturally lead to changes in the list due to deaths or other causes. For example, one person is listed with two different names, a common practice among our people (compare Hariph in Nehemiah 7:24 with Jorah in Ezra 2:18). This genealogy was not only important for understanding our community's history but also for determining who was responsible for serving at the altar and conducting temple services. Having access to Zerubbabel's original register provided valuable information for this purpose.