נחמיה, פרק ז׳, פסוק ל״ט

As the record of those returning from exile continues, the focus shifts to detailing the specific families of the priesthood. The account introduces the priests as a distinct group to clearly indicate that the upcoming numbers belong specifically to them.

The counting begins with the descendants of Jedaiah. To provide a clear and precise identification, these descendants are explicitly linked to the house of Jeshua. This added detail clarifies their lineage, showing that Jedaiah belonged to this specific family and was a direct descendant of Jeshua [מצודת דוד]. In total, the members of this particular priestly family numbered nine hundred and seventy-three.