Nehemiah 12:32-34

32-34. Hoshaiah was probably a leading chief among these princes of Judah. Keil maintains that all the names in Nehemiah 12:33-34 are the names of princes; while others hold that they are names of priests, being identical with priestly names occurring elsewhere in this book. This latter argument, however, is not conclusive, for princes might have names identical with certain priests, and the special designation of “priests’ sons” in Nehemiah 12:35 seems rather to confirm the view of Keil. Ezra, here, is not the distinguished priest and scribe who is mentioned in Nehemiah 12:36; and Judah and Benjamin are not the names of the tribes, but of individuals among the princes. The name Judah occurs again in Nehemiah 12:36 among the priests’ sons.