נחמיה, פרק ז׳, פסוק ס״ד

Serving in the priesthood required absolute proof of ancestral lineage. Individuals claiming to belong to the priestly class searched for their official family records, needing documents that detailed the exact order of their generations [ביאור שטיינזלץ, מצודת דוד]. However, a significant problem arose when these records could not be found. Because their names were completely absent from the official genealogical registries, they had no valid way to verify their claims [ביאור שטיינזלץ, מצודת דוד].

Without the necessary proof of their heritage, these individuals were disqualified and strictly barred from participating in any priestly service [ביאור שטיינזלץ, מצודת דוד]. Their removal was absolute and carried a sense of deep rejection. They were cast aside and distanced as if they were something dirty, treated with a level of disgust similar to soiled or defiled bread [מצודת ציון].