עזרא, פרק ב׳, פסוק ל״ו

The record of returnees from exile shifts its focus from the general population to the spiritual leadership. After completing the census of the Israelites from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, attention turns to those responsible for the sacred duties. This transition follows a consistent order, mirroring the exact sequence in which these groups were mentioned earlier when they first arose to journey back and rebuild the Temple [רש״י].

The overall structure of the registry is highly organized. Following the general count of the Israelites, the record enumerates the priests. Next come the Levites, a group that includes the singers and gatekeepers, and finally, the temple servants who assisted the priests [מלבי״ם].

The detailed tally of the priestly families [מצודת דוד] begins with the descendants of Jedaiah, representing one of the established priestly divisions [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. To precisely identify this specific group, they are noted as belonging to the family line of Jeshua [מצודת דוד]. This clarification ensures their lineage is traced directly to Jeshua the son of Jozadak, the High Priest [ביאור שטיינזלץ].