Discovery BoxNehemiah 7:64-65 
Context7:64 They searched for their records in the genealogical materials, but none were found. They were therefore excluded 1 from the priesthood. 7:65 The governor 2 instructed them not to eat any of the sacred food until there was a priest who could consult 3 the Urim and Thummim.
1 tn Heb “they were desecrated.”
2 tn The Hebrew term תִּרְשָׁתָא (tirshata’; KJV “Tirshatha”) is the official title of a Persian governor in Judea. In meaning it may be similar to “excellency” (cf. NAB). See further BDB 1077 s.v.; W. L. Holladay, Concise Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon, 395; HALOT 1798 s.v.
3 tn Heb “stood.”
