Nehemiah 13:13

Shelemiah the priest and Zadok the scribe It is natural to conjecture from the fact that these names are followed by -and of the Levites," that Shelemiah and Zadok were priests, and that the treasurers consisted of two priests and two Levites.

-Shelemiah the priest" is perhaps the same as the Shelemiah of Nehemiah 3:30; and if so, -Zadok the scribe" may be identified with -Zadok the son of Immer" whose name occurs in Nehemiah 3:29, and who was undoubtedly of priestly descent (cf. Immer, Nehemiah 7:40). The title of -scribe" given to him and Ezra, though both of priestly origin, shows that the work of -the scribe" was obtaining increasing importance. Whether it implies that Ezra was dead and that Zadok had succeeded to his office, is an interesting question, but one which we have no means of deciding.

Pedaiah Possibly the same who is mentioned in Nehemiah 8:4.

next to them Literally -upon their hand," i.e. attending and assisting, cf. Nehemiah 11:24, -at the king's hand.

Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah We have had mention of Mattaniah as a Levitical house representing the sons of Asaph (Nehemiah 11:17; Nehemiah 12:8; Nehemiah 12:25-35).

We may conjecture that Shelemiah represented the Temple priests, Zadok the -judicial" section of the priests; Pedaiah the Levites proper, and Hanan the singers and porters.

their officewas] R.V. their duty was. The construction is the same as in Ezra 10:12, but proved too difficult for the versions. The LXX. combines the two clauses, ὅτι πίστοι ἐλογίσθησαν ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς μερίζειν τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς αὐτῶν, Vulg. -et ipsis creditae sunt partes patrum suorum."

to distribute unto their brethren i.e. to distribute fairly among the various houses, and to decide upon the Levites" tenth paid to the priests.