Ezra 2:61

“And of the children of the priests, etc.] Who could not make out their pedigree, for those that could are mentioned before: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai; how the latter came by this name follows: which took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name; this man married a woman that descended from the famous Barzillai the Gileadite, in the times of David; and the priesthood being in disuse, and mean and despicable, in Babylon, he chose to take the name of his wife’s family, and pass for a descendant from that, and perhaps destroyed, or at least neglected, to take care of the genealogy of his own family.”

“the children of Barzillai--He preferred that name to that of his own family, deeming it a greater distinction to be connected with so noble a family, than to be of the house of Levi. But by this worldly ambition he forfeited the dignity and advantages of the priesthood.”

“2:61-63 were not found: The lack of a genealogy was problematic for three families (2:61-62). They were excluded from priestly privileges or responsibilities until the high priest received divine direction through the use of the Urim and Thummim to determine the will of God (see Exod 28:30; Num 27:21). Although using the Urim and Thummim resembled throwing dice or drawing straws, when done by the priest, the result was a divine decision rather than blind chance.”

“the children: Neh 7:63, Neh 7:64 Barzillai: Sa2 17:27, Sa2 19:31-39; Kg1 2:7 Ezra 2:62”

“Priests who could not prove themselves members of the priesthood. Comp. Neh 7:63-65. \- Three such families are named: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of Barzillai. These could not discover their family registers, and were excluded from the exercise of priestly functions. Of these three names, that of Hakkoz occurs as the seventh order of priests; but the names alone did not suffice to prove their priesthood, this being also borne by other persons. Comp. Neh 3:4. The sons of Barzillai were the descendants of a priest who had married a daughter, probably an heiress (Num), of Barzillai the Gileadite, so well known in the history of David ( Sa2 17:27; Sa2 19:32-39; Kg1 2:7),…”