The Levites, in the days of Eliashib,.... The third priest of the second temple:Joiada; he was the son of Eliashib, and the fourth high priest:and Johanan; the same with Jonathan, Ne 12:11 and whom Josephus also calls Joannes:and Jaddua; the same as in Ne 12:10 in the days of each of these wererecorded chief of the fathers; the principal men among the Levites:also the priests, to the reign of Darius the Persian; thought to be Darius Codomannus, the last king of the Persian monarchy, whom Alexander conquered; and if so, this verse must be inserted after the death of Nehemiah, and as the next verse also seems to be; for these two verses interrupt the natural order of the relation: an account is given of the priests in the times of Joiakim, Ne 12:12, these verses being inserted, the account goes on, Ne 12:24, &c.
of the chief of the Levites in the times of Joiakim only. Antiqu. l. 11. c. 7. sect.