Asher and the other emissaries had returned from Casiphia with good news, and Ezra wanted to record all the details in his journal: Because the gracious hand of God was on us, they brought us Sherebiah, a capable man, from the descendants of Mahli son of Levi, the son of Israel, and Sherebiah’s sons and brothers, eighteen men; and Hashabiah, together with Jeshaiah from the descendants of Merari and his brothers and nephews, twenty men. They also brought 220 of the temple servants—a body that David and the officials had established to assist the Levites. All were registered by name— “Excuse me.” Ezra looked up to find a man standing over him. He hadn’t heard him approach. “Are you Ezra ben Seraiah?” he asked. “Yes.” “My name is Hashabiah. I’m one of the Levites from Casiphia. I need to speak with you about my nephew, Reuben ben David.” “Please, have a seat,” Ezra said, gesturing to a place beside the campfire.
