Ezra 2:63

“And the Tirshatha said unto them, etc.] By whom Jarchi understands Nehemiah, and observes, that their rabbins say he was so called, because the wise men allowed him to drink the wine of the Gentiles, he being cupbearer to the king; but Aben Ezra, with greater probability, takes it to be a name of honour and grandeur in the Chaldee language, as a prince or governor; and no doubt Zerubbabel is meant, the prince of the Jews, the same with Sheshbazzar, (<150108>Ezra 1:8) according to Gussetius f21, this office was the same with that of the king’s commissary in a province, delegated to carry his orders, make them known, and see them put in execution; and that this name Tirshatha is the same with…”

“Tirshatha--a title borne by the Persian governors of Judea (see also Neh 7:65-70; Neh 8:9; Neh 10:1). It is derived from the Persian torsh ("severe"), and is equivalent to "your severity," "your awfulness."”

“The Tirshatha - i. e., Zerubbabel. See margin. The word is probably old Persian, though it does not occur in the cuneiform inscriptions. Some derive it from a root “to fear.” See the introduction to the Book of Ezra, first note. A priest with Urim and with Thummim - See Exodus 28:30 note. According to the rabbinical writers, the second temple permanently lacked this glory of the first. Zerubbabel, it would seem by the present passage (compare Nehemiah 7:65), expected that the loss would be only temporary. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Tirshatha - The governor, Zerubbabel. With Urim, &c. - That this point which could not be found out by human skill, might be determined by Divine direction. Hereby it appears that the Urim and Thummim were lost in the destruction of the city and temple, tho' the Jews fed themselves with hopes of recovering them, but in vain. And by the want of that oracle, they were taught to expect the great oracle, the Messiah. Ezra 2:64”

“Tirshatha: or, governor, The person who held this office at this time was probably Zerubbabel. The word Tirshatha is supposed to be Persian; and if, as Castel supposes, it signifies austerity, or that fear which is impressed by the authority of a governor, it may be derived from tars, "ear," or tursh, "acid, austere." Neh 7:65, Neh 8:9, Neh 10:1 should not: Lev 2:3, Lev 2:10, Lev 6:17, Lev 6:29, Lev 7:16, Lev 10:17, Lev 10:18, Lev 22:2, Lev 22:3, Lev 22:10, Lev 22:14-16; Num 18:9-11, Num 18:19; Num 18:32 Urim: Exo 28:30; Lev 8:8; Num 27:21; Deu 33:8; Sa1 28:6 Ezra 2:64”

“The Tirshatha, the secular governor of the community, i.e., as is obvious from a comparison of Neh 7:65 with Neh 7:70, Zerubbabel, called Hag 1:1 יהוּדה פּחת. תּרשׁתא, always used with the article, is undoubtedly the Persian designation of the governor or viceroy. Nehemiah is also so called in Neh 8:9 and Neh 10:2, and likewise הפּחה, Neh 12:26. The meaning of the word is still matter of dispute. Some derive it from the Persian trsı̂dn, to fear, and trs, fear = the feared or respected one (Meier, Wurzelb. p. 714); others from Persian trš, acer, auster, the strict ruler; others, again (with Benfey, die Monatsnamen, p. 196), from the Zend. thvôrestar (nom. thvôresta), i.e., praefectus,…”