Ezra 2:59

2:59 These are the ones that came up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon, and Immer (although they were unable to certify ¹  their family connection ²  or their ancestry, ³  as to whether they really were from Israel):

Ezra 4:12

4:12 Now ⁴  let the king be aware that the Jews who came up to us from you have gone to Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and odious city. ⁵  They are completing its walls and repairing its foundations.

Ezra 6:20

6:20 The priests and the Levites had purified themselves, every last one, ⁶  and they all were ceremonially pure. They sacrificed the Passover lamb for all the exiles, for their colleagues ⁷  the priests, and for themselves.

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¹ tn Heb “relate.”

² tn Heb “the house of their fathers.”

³ tn Heb “their seed.”

⁴ tn The MT takes this word with the latter part of v. 11, but in English style it fits better with v. 12.

⁵ sn Management of the provinces that were distantly removed from the capital was difficult, and insurrection in such places was a perennial problem. The language used in this report about Jerusalem (i.e., “rebellious,” “odious”) is intentionally inflammatory. It is calculated to draw immediate attention to the perceived problem.

⁶ tn Heb “as one.” The expression is best understood as referring to the unity shown by the religious leaders in preparing themselves for the observance of Passover. On the meaning of the Hebrew phrase see DCH 1:182 s.v. אֶחָד 3b. See also HALOT 30 s.v. אֶחָד 5.

⁷ tn Heb “brothers.”