17 I sent them forth to Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia; and I told them what they should tell Iddo, (and) his brothers the Nethinim, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring to us ministers for the house of our God.
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
Casiphia - Its situation is wholly unknown; but it cannot have been far from Ahava.
At the place Casiphia - The most judicious commentators are agreed that by Casiphia, the Caspian mountains, between Media and Hyrcania, are intended; where, probably, the Nethinim were employed in working silver mines: כסף keseph, from which the word comes, signifies silver.
And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the (d) chief at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, [and] to his brethren the Nethinims, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God.
(d) He was the chief teacher of the law to the Levites.
And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief, at the place Casiphia,.... Not a place by the Caspian sea, and near the Caspian mountains, as Munster, which was too far off to go and return in the time they must, see Ezra 7:9, but, as Jarchi, a place in Babylon so called, a village near it, or a parish or street in it, where Ezra knew lived many of the Levites and Nethinims, and where Iddo was the chief of the Levites, and over them both:
and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, and to his brethren the Nethinims, at the place Casiphia; but Iddo was not one of the Nethinims; for he was chief of the Levites, and by his authority many of them were sent as well as of the Nethinims; but none of the latter were over the Levites, for they were servants to them, Ezra 8:20, but, according to Jarchi, the Nethinims are not at all intended in this clause, who reads the words:
to Iddo and Achim, (the name of a man with him; perhaps it may be better rendered, "to Iddo and his brother",)
who were appointed, or settled, in the place Casiphia; and with him De Dieu agrees, and so the Syriac version:
who dwelt in Casiphia: that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God; both Levites to be singers and porters there, and the Nethinims to wait on them.
*More commentary available at chapter level.