Pethahiah came from “the clan of Zerah and the tribe of Judah” (Good News Translation; see Gen 38.5). He was evidently a kind of ambassador who represented the people of Israel in the king’s court. At the king’s hand means that he was available to the king or he was present with the king. His duties were at the Persian court, as Good News Translation states explicitly. Revised English Bible refers to him as “the king’s advisor.” However, since this chapter is a list of those people who were living in Jerusalem, he could actually have been resident in Jerusalem and reported regularly to the king. New Jerusalem Bible refers to him as “the king’s minister.” A possible translation for the last half of this verse is “he was beside the king to give him advice on everything that had to do with the people of Israel.” Translators should not try to identify where he was physically located, but should emphasize instead his role as an advisor to the king. There is no other reference to him in the Old Testament.

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