The "province" referred to was probably Judah, [1] rather than Babylonia, [2] in view of the context. Zerubbabel was the grandson of King Jehoiachin and the nephew of Sheshbazzar, the leader of this return ( 1 Chronicles 3:17-19). Zerubbabel assumed leadership later in Judah. Evidently Sheshbazzar was the official Persian governor and Zerubbabel the popular leader (cf. Ezra 3:8-11). [3] Sheshbazzar may have been about55 to60 years old at this time and Zerubbabel about40. [4] Jeshua was the high priest ( Zechariah 3:1) who later led in the Revelation -establishment of temple worship. This Nehemiah must have been a different person from the Nehemiah in the book that bears that name. The second Nehemiah did not return to Judah until almost100 years later, in444 B.C. ( Nehemiah 2:9). Likewise, this Mordecai was not Esther"s cousin ( Esther 2:5), since the latter Mordecai remained in Susa, one of the capitals of the Persian Empire, and lived about50 years later than this Mordecai. [source][source][source]