These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest, the scribe.
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Bede
AD 735
After the succession of the high priests has been described, a catalogue of the lesser priests and Levites who existed in their time is also added so that we may know that after a large number of citizens were gathered in Jerusalem, there was also an excellent and most noble assembly of priests and Levites sufficient to provide for the services of the temple and altar, to confess and praise God, for the guardianship of the temple and city and to educate the people. And it was not done without the understanding of a more sacred mystery that the rebuilt city of Jerusalem deserved a greater multitude of citizens in every rank and order that it is ever said to have lost when the enemy was attacking and destroying it. For in the same way the holy church often receives greater gains from its losses when, by one person’s lapse through carelessness into sin, many are frightened by his example and become more careful to continue steadfastly in the purity of faith; often these same people who ha...
Scribe. Could these records have any greater authority than Nehemias himself? It seems, therefore, that this had been added by a later hand, whose testimony is perfectly authentic and inspired. (Calmet)
Nehemias might also refer to some records which he, or some other, had drawn up. (Haydock)
