עזרא, פרק ב׳, פסוק מ״ו

The official records of the returning families capture their ancestral names, but occasionally reveal a gap between how a name was written and how it was spoken. In one instance, the written text records a family patriarch's name as Shamlai, yet the spoken tradition dictates it be read as Shalmai. This difference is not a scribal error. Instead, it reflects the historical reality that this individual was well-known and actively addressed by both variations of his name concurrently during his lifetime [אבן עזרא].

Careful attention is also given to the exact pronunciation of this spoken name. According to the most precise ancient manuscripts, as well as the parallel census list recorded in the Book of Nehemiah, the initial letter of the spoken name should be pronounced with an 's' sound rather than a 'sh' sound, rendering the final spoken name as Salmai [מנחת שי, ביאור שטיינזלץ].