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Biblical History Atlas

Historical event dossier · Genealogical, Religious

The priestly and Levitical registers to the days of Jaddua (Neh 12:1–26)

Preliminary researchRevision 1Last reviewed: not reviewed

Human review pending. 1 item from this dossier is awaiting the project owner's review: “Disputed: is "Darius the Persian" of Neh 12:22 Darius II (Keil), or does the Jaddua notice reach the time of Darius III and Alexander (Josephus)?” (queued 2026-10-14, status open). All classifications on this page are machine-proposed unless marked otherwise. Review happens offline. This site has no review controls.

Biblical references

Text: World English Bible (public domain). The ESV and NKJV are the preferred study translations and are referenced, not reproduced.

Nehemiah 12:1–26Narration
1 Now these are the priests and the Levites who went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, 2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, 3 Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, 4 Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah, 5 Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah, 6 Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah, 7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, and Jedaiah. These were the chiefs of the priests and of their brothers in the days of Jeshua. 8 Moreover the Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, who was over the thanksgiving songs, he and his brothers. 9 Also Bakbukiah and Unno, their brothers, were close to them according to their offices. 10 Jeshua became the father of Joiakim, and Joiakim became the father of Eliashib, and Eliashib became the father of Joiada, 11 and Joiada became the father of Jonathan, and Jonathan became the father of Jaddua. 12 In the days of Joiakim were priests, heads of fathers’ households: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah; 13 of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan; 14 of Malluchi, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph; 15 of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai; 16 of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam; 17 of Abijah, Zichri; of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai; 18 of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan; 19 of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi; 20 of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber; 21 of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethanel. 22 As for the Levites, in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua, there were recorded the heads of fathers’ households; also the priests, in the reign of Darius the Persian. 23 The sons of Levi, heads of fathers’ households, were written in the book of the chronicles, even until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib. 24 The chiefs of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers close to them, to praise and give thanks according to the commandment of David the man of God, section next to section. 25 Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers keeping the watch at the storehouses of the gates. 26 These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest and scribe.

Biblical account

Layer: Biblical text

Priests and Levites who came up with Zerubbabel and Jeshua; the line Jeshua, Joiakim, Eliashib, Joiada, Jonathan, Jaddua; the heads of priestly houses in the days of Joiakim; Levites and priests recorded in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan and Jaddua, in the reign of Darius the Persian; Levites written in the book of the chronicles to the days of Johanan son of Eliashib; the Levitical heads who served in the days of Joiakim, Nehemiah and Ezra.

Historical overview

Layer: Historical reconstruction · Period: From 538 BC to the late fifth (or late fourth) century BC

Johanan is high priest in 408/407 (Cowley 30). Keil takes "Darius the Persian" as Darius II (424–404) and the list of 12:22 as one enrolment while Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan and the young Jaddua were alive. Josephus makes Jaddua high priest under Darius III and Alexander; Cowley calls 12:22–23 a later addition.[1, 2, 3]

Kingdoms: Achaemenid Persian Empire, Kingdom of Judah

Date and chronology derivation

Ranges are computed by the project's deterministic chronology engine from the biblical statements and each model's reign anchors. They are reconstructions, not independent dates.

446 BC – ?

Model-independent (applies under every chronology model) · precision: undated

How this range was derived

Earliest bound

  1. “from the twentieth year even to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes” — Nehemiah's first governorship: twelve years, 20th–32nd year of Artaxerxes (445–433 BC) in regnal year reign of Artaxerxes I (Longimanus) (year 20) [reckoned accession, nisan new year] (Nehemiah 5:14)[4]Assumption: Dated by its start (year 20 = 445/444); the governorship lasted to year 32 (433/432; Neh 13:6).
  2. “in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest and scribe” — The priestly and Levitical registers to the days of Jaddua (Neh 12:1–26) after Nehemiah's first governorship: twelve years, 20th–32nd year of Artaxerxes (445–433 BC) (Nehemiah 12:26)Assumption: The registers run from the first return to the days of Johanan/Jaddua; anchored here by the reference to Nehemiah's days.

Latest bound

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    What else was happening? (model-independent)

    • Daniel's refusal of the king's food and the ten-day test (Dan 1:8–16): 606 BC – ?
    • Nebuchadnezzar's golden image on the plain of Dura (Dan 3:1–7): 603 BC – ?
    • Nebuchadnezzar's decree honouring the God of the three Judeans (Dan 3:28–30): 603 BC – ?
    • The refusal of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and the fiery furnace (Dan 3:8–27): 603 BC – ?
    • The thirty-day decree and Daniel in the lions' den (Dan 6:4–23): 539 BC – ?
    • Darius appoints 120 satraps and three chief officials (Dan 6:1–3, 28): 539 BC – ?
    • The accusers punished; Darius's decree honouring the God of Daniel (Dan 6:24–27): 539 BC – ?
    • Artaxerxes sends Nehemiah to rebuild Jerusalem, Nisan of his twentieth year (Neh 2:1–8): 446 BC – 444 BC
    • Artaxerxes I (Longimanus) (reign): 465 BC – 423 BC
    • Hanani's report at Susa and Nehemiah's prayer (Chislev, Artaxerxes's 20th year): 447 BC – 445 BC
    • Desecration of the Temple: the "abomination of desolation" (15 Chislev 145 SE, 168/167 BC): 168 BC – 166 BC
    • Popillius Laenas orders Antiochus IV out of Egypt at Eleusis (168 BC): 168 BC
    • Rededication of the Temple by Judas Maccabaeus (25 Chislev 148 SE, 165/164 BC): 165 BC – 163 BC
    • Gedaliah governs from Mizpah and is assassinated (2 Kgs 25:22–26): 589 BC – ?
    • Accusations to Ahasuerus and the Rehum–Shimshai letter to Artaxerxes; the city's rebuilding stopped (Ezra 4:6–23): 537 BC – ?
    • Nehemiah arrives, inspects the walls by night and calls for rebuilding (Neh 2:9–20): 446 BC – 444 BC
    • The rebuilding of Jerusalem's wall and gates, section by section (Neh 3): 446 BC – 444 BC
    • Mockery, threats and the armed builders (Neh 4): 446 BC – 444 BC
    • The debt crisis and the remission of pledges (Neh 5:1–13): 446 BC – 423 BC
    • Plots against Nehemiah: Ono, the open letter, Shemaiah (Neh 6:1–14): 446 BC – 444 BC
    • The wall completed on 25 Elul after fifty-two days (Neh 6:15–19): 446 BC – 444 BC
    • Nehemiah's first governorship: twelve years, 20th–32nd year of Artaxerxes (445–433 BC): 446 BC – 444 BC
    • Jerusalem guarded under Hanani and Hananiah; the registry of the first returnees found (Neh 7:1–5): 446 BC – ?
    • Ezra reads the Law on the first day of the seventh month (Neh 7:73b–8:12): 446 BC – 444 BC
    • The Feast of Booths kept "as it is written" (Neh 8:13–18): 446 BC – 444 BC
    • The sealed covenant to keep the law and support the temple (Neh 9:38–10:39): 446 BC – 444 BC
    • The fast of the twenty-fourth day and the Levites' confession (Neh 9): 446 BC – 444 BC
    • Nehemiah's return and second-term reforms (Neh 13:4–31): 434 BC – 423 BC
    • Jerusalem repopulated: one in ten by lot (Neh 11): 446 BC – ?
    • The dedication of the wall of Jerusalem (Neh 12:27–13:3): 446 BC – 423 BC
    • The first "burden" of Zechariah 9–11 (undated oracle collection): 518 BC – ?
    • The second "burden" of Zechariah 12–14 (undated oracle collection): 518 BC – ?
    • Malachi's disputations with priests and people (Mal 1–4; undated, mid-fifth century BC): 465 BC – 423 BC
    • The institution of Purim; Mordecai second to the king (Esth 9:20–10:3): 474 BC – ?
    • Antiochus IV Epiphanes (reign): 175 BC – 164 BC
    • Battle of Raphia: Ptolemy IV defeats Antiochus III (217 BC): 217 BC
    • Battle of Panium: Antiochus III defeats Scopas (c. 200–198 BC): 200 BC – 198 BC
    • Battle of Magnesia: Rome defeats Antiochus III (190 BC): 190 BC
    • Assassination of Seleucus IV and accession of Antiochus IV (175 BC): 175 BC
    • Death of Antiochus IV at Tabae in Persia (164 BC): 164 BC

    Ancient and modern geography

    Location confidence assumes the event as described. Whether it occurred is assessed in the claims below.

    PlaceConnection to this eventLocation identification
    JerusalemJerusalem (Old City / City of David)JerusalemLocation confidence: certainPleiades representative point: certain[5]

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    Claims, evidence and classifications

    Each claim is classified on its own. A classification describes the evidence for that specific claim, not for the event as a whole.

    Johanan of the high-priestly line (Neh 12:22–23) was high priest in 408/407 BC.

    Strongly supportedMachine-proposedExternal evidence

    The Elephantine petition (Cowley 30, read directly in the Neh 1–2 unit) names Johanan the high priest in Jerusalem in the 17th year of Darius II; Josephus independently names John son of Judas (Joiada) son of Eliashib as high priest.

    Supporting

    • Johanan the high priest in 408/407.[2]Strength: direct·no. 30, l. 18 and p. 109·Claim checked
    • John, son of Judas, son of Eliashib, high priest.[3]Strength: indirect·Ant. 11.7.1·Claim checked

    Research date 2026-10-13

    "Darius the Persian" in Neh 12:22 is Darius II (424–404 BC), and the list does not reach the time of Alexander.

    DisputedOwner review pendingHistorical reconstructionIn owner review queue

    Keil argues for Darius II: 12:22 records one enrolment while Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan and the young Jaddua lived, and 12:11 names Jaddua only as a member of the line. Josephus makes Jaddua high priest when Alexander came (Ant. 11.8.5) and his father John contemporary with a Bagoses of "another Artaxerxes", which would put Jaddua's tenure under Darius III. Cowley calls 12:22–23 a later addition to the book. No direct evidence for Jaddua's dates was read.

    Supporting

    • Darius Nothus is meant; the Codomannus view rests on a mistake about 12:11.[1]Strength: indirect·Introduction to Nehemiah, pp. 146–148·Claim checked

    Challenging

    • Jaddua high priest when Alexander came to Jerusalem.[6]Strength: indirect·Ant. 11.8.5·Claim checked

    Context

    • Neh 12:22–23 a later addition, hardly by Nehemiah.[2]Strength: indirect·p. 109·Claim checked

    Limitations of this classification: Samaria papyri and modern succession studies not read.

    Research date 2026-10-13

    Evidence by type

    The same evidence regrouped by kind of source. Each item names the claims it bears on.

    Archaeological evidence

    None recorded for this event.

    Scientific findings

    None recorded for this event.

    Ancient documents

    Modern news and announcements

    None recorded for this event.

    Reference works and summaries

    Related passages and events

    FromRelationshipToBasis
    Eliashib the high priestGenealogical connectionhigh · Biblical textJoiada the high priestEliashib begot Joiada (12:10).
    Joiada the high priestGenealogical connectionhigh · Biblical textJohanan the high priestJoiada begot Jonathan/Johanan (12:11, 22).
    Johanan the high priestGenealogical connectionhigh · Biblical textJaddua the high priestJonathan/Johanan begot Jaddua (12:11).
    Jaddua the high priestThematic parallellow · Historical reconstructionAlexander the GreatJosephus (Ant. 11.8.5) makes Jaddua the high priest who met Alexander; disputed.[6]
    this eventThematic parallelhigh · Biblical textEzra 2:36–42Priests and Levites of the first return.

    Prophetic relationships

    No prophecy or proposed-fulfillment relationships have been recorded for this event.

    Commentary references

    Layer: Interpretation. This is commentary, not historical evidence.

    Guzik presents the lists without discussing the date of Jaddua or Darius.[7]

    Unanswered questions and research gaps

    • Samaria (Wadi Daliyeh) papyri and modern studies of the high-priestly succession not consulted.
    • The Samaria (Wadi Daliyeh) papyri and modern studies of the high-priestly succession were not consulted.

    Research process

    3 logged searches
    DateQueryWhereUseful
    2026-10-13Keil 1873, introduction to Nehemiah (local OCR)local text1
    2026-10-13Cowley 1923 on no. 30 (local OCR)local text1
    2026-10-13Josephus Ant. 11.7–8 (Gutenberg, local)local text1

    Sources

    1. 1.
      Keil, C. F., Taylor, Sophia (trans.). Biblical Commentary on the Books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther (Clark's Foreign Theological Library). T. & T. Clark, Edinburgh, 1873. archive.orgClaim checkedScholarly commentaryRead through the Internet Archive OCR text.Verification log
    2. 2.
      Cowley, A. E.. Aramaic Papyri of the Fifth Century B.C.. Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1923. archive.orgClaim checkedAcademic monographRead through the Internet Archive OCR text (No. 30 and its introduction; No. 21 introduction).Verification log
    3. 3.
      Josephus, Whiston, William (trans.). Josephus, Antiquities 11.7.1–11.8.4 (trans. W. Whiston). Project Gutenberg #2848. www.gutenberg.orgClaim checkedAncient primary textVerification log
    4. 4.
      Parker, Richard A., Dubberstein, Waldo H.. Babylonian Chronology 626 B.C.–A.D. 45 (SAOC 24). University of Chicago Press (Oriental Institute). archive.orgClaim checkedAcademic monographRead through the Internet Archive OCR text of the Oriental Institute PDF; OCR has digit errors (e.g. "589" for 539) checked against context. The 1956 revised edition was not consulted.Verification log
    5. 5.
      Pleiades contributors. Ierusalem/Hierosolyma — Pleiades place 687928. Pleiades (pleiades.stoa.org). pleiades.stoa.orgClaim checkedInstitutional databaseRepresentative point read from the Pleiades JSON record: lon 35.234978, lat 31.7771895.Verification log
    6. 6.
      Josephus, Whiston, William (trans.). Josephus, Antiquities 11.8.5 (trans. W. Whiston). Project Gutenberg #2848. www.gutenberg.orgClaim checkedAncient primary textVerification log
    7. 7.
      Guzik, David. Nehemiah 12 — Enduring Word Bible Commentary. Enduring Word. enduringword.comClaim checkedTheological commentaryInterpretive resource — not historical corroboration.Verification log