Ezra 8:18

And by the good hand R.V. And according to the good hand. For the phrase see on chap. Ezra 7:6.

a man of understanding R.V. a man of discretion. Marg. Or Ish-sechel. Discretion (sechel). Cf. 1 Chronicles 22:12; 2 Chronicles 2:12; Proverbs 19:11: = understanding, Proverbs 3:4; Proverbs 13:15; Proverbs 16:22; Psalms 111:10: = wisdom Proverbs 12:8; Proverbs 23:9: = policy Daniel 8:25. The fact that we find in the following clause "And Sherebiah", &c. favours the supposition that we ought to have the name of the individual mentioned who was "of the sons of Mahli". Either, as is most probable, this proper name has dropped out of the text before the words "a man of discretion", or as is possible -Ish-sechel" (LXX. ἀνὴρ Σαχὼν) is a proper name (cf. Ishbosheth, Ish-tob, 2 Samuel 10:6; Ish-hod, 1 Chronicles 7:18). But such names are rare, and the name Ish-sechel does not occur elsewhere. The view that the -and" before Sherebiah has been carelessly inserted, and that Sherebiah himself is the man of discretion, fails to account for the order of the Hebrew words.

Mahli, the son of Levi, &c. Cf. Exodus 6:16; Exo 6:19; 1 Chronicles 6:19. Mahli was son of Merari, and therefore a grandson of Levi.

Sherebiah Cf. Ezra 8:24; Nehemiah 8:7; Nehemiah 9:4; Nehemiah 10:12; Nehemiah 12:24.