Discovery BoxEzra 2:42 
Context2:42 The gatekeepers: 1 the descendants of Shallum, the descendants of Ater, the descendants of Talmon, the descendants of Akkub, the descendants of Hatita, and the descendants of Shobai: 139.
Ezra 4:5
Context4:5 They were hiring advisers to oppose them, so as to frustrate their plans, throughout the time 2 of King Cyrus of Persia until the reign of King Darius 3 of Persia. 4
1 tc Here it is preferable to delete the reading בְּנֵי (bÿne, “the sons of”) found in the MT.
2 tn Heb “all the days of.”
3 sn Darius ruled Persia ca. 522-486
4 sn The purpose of the opening verses of this chapter is to summarize why the Jews returning from the exile were unable to complete the rebuilding of the temple more quickly than they did. The delay was due not to disinterest on their part but to the repeated obstacles that had been placed in their path by determined foes.
