עזרא, פרק ח׳, פסוק כ״ד

Camped by the Ahava River and preparing to face a dangerous desert journey, Ezra recognized the need to protect the sacred wealth entrusted to his caravan. To ensure the safe transport of these valuables, he appointed a select group of men for a highly specialized mission.

The mission had a dual purpose. First, the men were to act as temporary treasurers, taking responsibility for weighing and managing the silver and gold destined for the treasuries of the House of God. Second, they were to serve as armed guards, protecting the caravan and its property from enemies and potential ambushes along the road.

Ezra specifically set apart twelve men for this task. While some commentators understand that these twelve were chosen directly from among the leading priests, [רלב״ג] explains that they were men who served under the authority of those priests. The group was led by Sherebiah and Hashabiah [אבן עזרא ומצודת דוד]. These leaders were from the tribe of Levi, and to complete the required count of twelve, ten of their fellow Levites joined them on this critical assignment.