These are the names of the chiefs or leaders of the priests and Levites who returned from exile in the time of Zerubbabel, governor of Judah in the time of Darius, and Jeshua, high priest at that time (see Ezra 2.2). The names of the priests and Levites listed here became the names of the priestly divisions and Levitical divisions (see Ezra 6.18) for their turns and responsibilities.

Came up: See the comment on “go up” at Ezra 1.3.

Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra: The list of priests begins with these three names and Good News Translation incorporates them with the following verses in order for the list to appear as a single unit.

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 .