C. F. Keil and Franz Delitzsch on Ezra 2:40-58

Ezr 2:40-58

Levites, Nethinim, and Solomon’s servants. Comp. Neh. 7:43-60.

Ezra

Neh.

Levites: the sons of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the sons of Hodivah 74 74

Singers: sons of Asaph 128 148

Sons of the door-keepers; sons of Shallum, Ater. Etc. 139 138

Nethinim and servants of Solomon, in all 392 392

Total 733 752

The Levites are divided into three classes: Levites in the stricter sense of the word, i.e., assistants of the priests in divine worship, singers, and door-keepers; comp. 1Ch 24:20-31, 1Ch 24:25, and 26:1-19. Of Levites in the stricter sense are specified the sons of Jeshua and Kadmiel of the sons of Hodaviah (וקדמיאל, and הודויה of our text are evidently correct readings; and לקדמיאל and הודיה, Keri להודיּה, Neh 7:43, errors of transcription). The addition, “of the sons of Hodaviah,” belongs to Kadmiel, to distinguish him from other Levites of similar name. Jeshua and Kadmiel were, according to Ezr 3:9, chiefs of two orders of Levites in the times of Zerubbabel and Joshua. These names recur as names of orders of Levites in Neh 10:10. We do not find the sons of Hodaviah in the lists of Levites in Chronicles.