Ezra 8:15

15 I assembled the entire group by the canal that runs to the town of Ahava, and we camped there three days. I found that there were priests in the group, but no Levites.

Ezra 8:15 Meaning and Commentary

Ezra 8:15

And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to
Ahava
From whence also the river bore the same name; or that from the river, see ( Ezra 8:21 ) , and may be the same with Adiabene, a country in Assyria, which had its name from the river Adiava:

and there abode we in tents three days;
or pitched their camp; this was the place of their rendezvous:

and I viewed the people and the priests;
mustered them, took the number of them, and what tribe and families they were of:

and found there none of the sons of Levi;
excepting the priests.

Ezra 8:15 In-Context

13 Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah, of the clan of Adonikam, with 60 men (they returned at a later date)
14 Uthai and Zaccur, of the clan of Bigvai, with 70 men
15 I assembled the entire group by the canal that runs to the town of Ahava, and we camped there three days. I found that there were priests in the group, but no Levites.
16 I sent for nine of the leaders: Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, and for two teachers, Joiarib and Elnathan.
17 I sent them to Iddo, head of the community at Casiphia, to ask him and his associates, the Temple workers, to send us people to serve God in the Temple.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.