They came with …: These were their “leaders” (Good News Translation). While the list in Ezra 2.2 includes only eleven names, here there are twelve names, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. Nahamani is the additional name in this list. This name occurs only here in the Bible. Like the names Nehemiah, Nehum and Nahum, it is related to the Hebrew word meaning “to comfort.” Three names are written differently in this list from the list in Ezra 2.2. They are Azariah in place of “Seraiah,” Raamiah instead of “Reelaiah,” and Mispereth for “Mispar.” Differences in lists of names may be due to variations in the spelling of names or due to textual problems (see the discussion on “Textual problems” in “Translating Ezra and Nehemiah,” pages 22-23).

The list of names and numbers is formally begun by the phrase The number of the men of the people of Israel. Good News Translation expresses the meaning of this clause with the same words as in Ezra 2.2. However, here Good News Translation incorporates this opening into the following verses 8-25, whereas, in Ezra the translation remains in the same verse as in Hebrew. Translators should be consistent in rendering the formal introduction to the list in Ezra and here.

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 .