And some of the chief of the fathers gave unto the work. The Tirshatha gave to the treasure a thousand drams of gold, fifty basons, five hundred and thirty priests' garments.
Some of the chief of the fathers .... With Nehemiah 7:69 the register ends, and the thread of Nehemiah's history is
resumed. He was the Tirshatha or governor, and the liberality displayed by him and some of the leading men, for the suitable equipment of the ministers of religion, forms the subject of the remaining portion of the chapter. Their donations consisted principally in garments. This would appear a singular description of gifts to be made by any one among us; but, in the East, a present of garments, or of any article of use, is conformable to the prevailing sentiments and customs of society.
Drams of gold - i:e., darics. A daric was a gold coin of ancient Persia, worth 1 British pound, 5 shillings.