נחמיה, פרק י״א, פסוק ט״ו

As the record of the new settlers unfolds, the focus shifts to the members of the tribe of Levi. Specifically, attention is given to the Levites who took up residence in Jerusalem [מצודת דוד]. Among these returning leaders is Shemaiah, son of Hasshub, whose background and responsibilities are carefully documented.

A comparison of this record with the parallel account in the Book of Chronicles reveals several important additions. While the earlier record in Chronicles mentions Shemaiah, it leaves out his specific duties and the men under his command. The present account expands on his role, explaining that he was placed in charge of the external work for the Temple. This responsibility involved managing outside logistics, such as overseeing general maintenance and bringing in the wood needed for the altar. Furthermore, the names of his partners in these duties, Shabbethai and Jozabad, are introduced here for the first time.

The record also provides a more extensive look at Shemaiah's family tree, tracing it back to an ancestor named Bunni. This extended genealogy serves to highlight that Shemaiah belonged to the Merari family. While the account in Chronicles stops the family line at Hashabiah, this record goes back four additional generations to include Bunni. This earlier ancestor is specifically named because he was a highly recognized and famous head of the family line, making the lineage much easier for people to identify [מלבי״ם].