Ezra 8:17

17 I sent them forth to `Iddo the chief at the place Kasifyah; and I told them what they should tell `Iddo, [and] his brothers the temple servants, at the place Kasifyah, that they should bring to us ministers for the house of our God.

Ezra 8:17 Meaning and Commentary

Ezra 8:17

And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief, at the
place Casiphia
Not a place by the Caspian sea, and near the Caspian mountains, as Munster, which was too far off to go and return in the time they must, see ( Ezra 7:9 ) ( Ezra 8:15 Ezra 8:31 ) , but, as Jarchi, a place in Babylon so called, a village near it, or a parish or street in it, where Ezra knew lived many of the Levites and Nethinims, and where Iddo was the chief of the Levites, and over them both:

and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, and to his brethren the
Nethinims, at the place Casiphia;
but Iddo was not one of the Nethinims; for he was chief of the Levites, and by his authority many of them were sent as well as of the Nethinims; but none of the latter were over the Levites, for they were servants to them, ( Ezra 8:20 ) , but, according to Jarchi, the Nethinims are not at all intended in this clause, who reads the words,

to Iddo and Achim,
(the name of a man with him; perhaps it may be better rendered, "to Iddo and his brother",)

who were appointed, or settled, in the place Casiphia;
and with him De Dieu agrees, and so the Syriac version,

who dwelt in Casiphia: that they should bring unto us ministers for the
house of our God;
both Levites to be singers and porters there, and the Nethinims to wait on them.

Ezra 8:17 In-Context

15 I gathered them together to the river that runs to Ahava; and there we encamped three days: and I viewed the people, and the Kohanim, and found there none of the sons of Levi.

16 Then sent I for Eli`ezer, for Ari'el, for Shemayah, and for Elnatan, and for Yariv, and for Elnatan, and for Natan, and for Zekharyah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Yoiariv, and for Elnatan, who were teachers.

17 I sent them forth to `Iddo the chief at the place Kasifyah; and I told them what they should tell `Iddo, [and] his brothers the temple servants, at the place Kasifyah, that they should bring to us ministers for the house of our God.

18 According to the good hand of our God on us they brought us a man of discretion, of the sons of Machli, the son of Levi, the son of Yisra'el; and Sherevyah, with his sons and his brothers, eighteen;

19 and Hashavyah, and with him Yesha`yah of the sons of Merari, his brothers and their sons, twenty;