Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the chiefs of the priests and of their brothers in the days of Jeshua.
We have here the names, and little more than the names, of a great many priests and Levites, that were eminent in their day among the returned Jews. Why this register should be here inserted by Nehemiah does not appear, perhaps to keep in remembrance those good men, that posterity might know to whom they were beholden, under God, for the happy revival and re-establishment of their religion among them.
Commenting on Nehemiah 12:1-26
Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These [were] the chief of the priests and of their brethren in the days of Jeshua. (b) Next in dignity to the high priests and who were of the stock of Aaron.
The chief of the priests - They were twenty-four orders or courses in number, all subordinate to each other; as established by David, Ch1 24:18. And these orders or courses were continued till the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans. See Calmet.