Moreover: This adverb translates the Hebrew connective conjunction, which introduces an explanation or justification here.

There were at my table a hundred and fifty men, Jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations which were about us: Although the Hebrew says men, the emphasis is not on men as opposed to women. Good News Translation therefore refers to them as “people” and in many languages there will be a general term that is appropriate here. According to Persian custom, the heads of families and officials were fed at the table of the king. In the same way the governor fed at his table the Jews, probably referring to the family heads (see Ezra 8), and his officials. Officials could also be in apposition to Jews explaining who is meant by them: Jews, that is, officials. In addition, Nehemiah was responsible to feed the Persian officials who were visiting or passing through from the nations which were about us. On the basis of a textual emendation, New Jerusalem Bible has “magistrates” in place of Jews. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project has a B rating for the Hebrew text and this is the text that should be followed by translators.

The Hebrew expression rendered at my table means to eat with someone. The implication here is that it was Nehemiah’s responsibility to feed these people (so Good News Translation). In cultures where tables are not used, this may be restated as “I gave food” or “they ate with me.” One translation has “ate from my spread,” that is, from a cloth laid on the floor for the meal.

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 .