The next part of the list records the numbers of the priestly clans. In this list the priests are recorded after the ordinary people showing that priority is given here to the laity. This list is repeated three times in all, twice in Ezra (2.36-39 and 10.18-22) and once in Nehemiah (7.39-42).

The priests: See 1.5. Jeshua was the high priest after the exile and was already named in verse 2 above. He was of the priestly family of Jedaiah. The sons of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua can be understood to mean “the sons of Jedaiah, that is those from the house of Jeshua” (compare 1 Chr 24.7). The house of refers to the descendants of someone, as Good News Translation makes explicit. The number in verse 36 refers to the number of people from Jedaiah’s priestly family who returned after the exile, and translators may make this explicit as Good News Translation has done.

Quoted with permission from Noss, Philip A. and Thomas, Kenneth J. A Handbook on Ezra. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2005. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .