Ezra 8:18

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;

Ezra 8:18 Meaning and Commentary

Ezra 8:18

And by the good hand of our God upon us
Favouring their designs and orders, protecting those that were sent, and inclining those they were sent to use their interest and authority with those that were under them, and making them willing also to agree to what was proposed to them:

they brought us a man of understanding of the sons of Mahli, the son of
Levi, the son of Israel;
an Israelite, of the tribe of Levi, in the line of Mahli a son of Merari, the third son of Levi:

and Sherebiah;
or rather "even Sherebiah"; so Aben Ezra; for he is the understanding man that is meant, and described by his pedigree:

with his sons and his brethren,
eighteen; all together made this number.

Ezra 8:18 In-Context

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;

20 and of the temple servants, whom David and the princes had given for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty temple servants: all of them were mentioned by name.