translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: EZR

label: NET translator note

text: Heb “the heads of their families.”


label: NET textual note

text: The MT reads here “from the sons of Shecaniah” with no descendant identified in what follows, contrary to the pattern of the context elsewhere. However, it seems better to understand the first phrase of v. 3 with the end of v. 2 ; the phrase would then modify the name “Hattush.” This understanding requires emending the reading מִבְּנֵי ( mibbÿne , “from the sons of”) in the MT to בֵּן ( ben ,“[the] son of”). Cf. NAB, TEV, CEV, NLT.


text: The MT lacks “of Zattu.” The translation adopted above follows the LXX in including the words.


text: The MT lacks “Bani.” It is restored on the basis of certain LXX MSS .


text: Or “those who came later.” The exact meaning of this Hebrew phrase is uncertain. It may refer to the last remaining members of Adonikam’s family who were in Babylon. So, for example, H. G. M. Williamson, Ezra, Nehemiah (WBC), 108; cf. NASB, NIV, NCV. The phrase has also been taken to mean “the younger sons (so NAB), or the ones who “returned at a later date” (so TEV).


text: The translation reads with the Qere , the Lucianic Greek recension, the Syriac Peshitta, and the Vulgate וְזַּכּוּר ( vÿzakkur , “and Zaccur”) rather than the Kethib of the MT, וְזַבוּד ( vÿzavud , “and Zabbud”).


text: The MT has “with him ” (so NAB). The present translation (“with them ”) is based on the reading of many medieval Hebrew MSS , the Lucianic Greek recension, the Syriac Peshitta, and the Vulgate (so also KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV).


text: Or “I gathered them.”


text: Heb “river.” So also in vv. 21, 31 .


text: The name “Elnathan” occurs twice in this list. Some, assuming an accidental repetition, would include it only once (cf. NAB).


text: Heb “I placed in their mouth words.”


text: The translation reads with the LXX and Vulgate וְאֶחָיו ( vÿ ’ ekhayv , “and his brethren” = “relatives”; so NCV, NLT) rather than the reading אָחִיו (’ akhiyv , “his brother”) of the MT.


text: Heb “in the place called.” This phrase has not been repeated in the translation for stylistic reasons.


text: Heb “and Sherebiah.” The words “this man was” are not in the Hebrew text, but have been supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.


text: Or “relatives” (so CEV; NRSV “kin”); also in v. 19 .


text: Heb “a straight way.”


text: A number of modern translations regard this as a collective singular and translate “from enemies” (also in v. 31 ).


text: Heb “his strength and his anger.” The expression is a hendiadys (one concept expressed through two terms).


text: The translation reads וַחֲשַׁבְיָה וְשֵׁרֵבְיָה ( vÿsherevÿyah vakhashavyah , “and Sherebiah and Hashabiah”) rather than the reading חֲשַׁבְיָה לְשֵׁרֵבְיָה ( lÿsherevyah khashavyah , “to Sherebiah Hashabiah”) of the MT.


text: Or “relatives”; or “colleagues” (cf. NLT “ten other priests”).


text: Heb “upon their hand.”


text: Possibly “100 silver vessels worth [?] talents” or “silver vessels weighing 100 talents.”


text: For location see Map5-B1 ; Map6-F3 ; Map7-E2 ; Map8-F2 ; Map10-B3 ; JP1-F4 ; JP2-F4 ; JP3-F4 ; JP4-F4 .


text: Heb “received.”


text: Heb “from the hand of the enemy and the one who lies in wait.” Some modern English versions render the latter phrase as “ambushes” (cf. NASB, NRSV).


text: Heb “upon the hand of.”


text: The words “everything was verified” are not in the Hebrew text but have been supplied in the translation for clarity.