2:63 Tirshatha. The “Tirshatha” was the governor appointed by Cyrus, presumably Zerubbabel (Ezra 2:2).

2:63 Thummim. Evidently, since certain of the returning priests could not verify their right to the office through the remaining genealogies (Ezra 2:61,62), they were not allowed to function as such until they could demonstrate their divine calling spiritually, through the prophetic gifts associated with the Urim and Thummim. See note on Exodus 28:30.