The Message Bible MSG
New International Version NIV
61 These are those who came from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon, and Immer. They weren't able to prove their ancestry, whether they were true Israelites or not:
61
The following came up from the towns of Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon and Immer, but they could not show that their families were descended from Israel:
62 The sons of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda, 642.
62
the descendants of
63 Likewise with these priestly families: -The sons of Hobaiah, Hakkoz, and Barzillai, who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and took that name.
63
And from among the priests:
64 They looked high and low for their family records but couldn't find them. And so they were barred from priestly work as ritually unclean.
64
These searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean.
65 The governor ruled that they could not eat from the holy food until a priest could determine their status by using the Urim and Thummim.
65
The governor, therefore, ordered them not to eat any of the most sacred food until there should be a priest ministering with the Urim and Thummim.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.