Ezra 2:70 - Exposition

In their cities. Not in Jerusalem only, but in the neighboring towns also, e.g. Bethlehem, Anathoth, Ramah, Gaba, Michmash, Bethel, Ai, Nebo, and Jericho (see above, comment on Ezra 2:1 ). All Israel. Ezra very determinately puts forward this aspect of the return—that it was participated in by all the tribes (see Ezra 2:2 ; Ezra 3:1 ; Ezra 6:16 , Ezra 6:17 ; Ezra 7:13 ; Ezra 8:29 , Ezra 8:35 , etc.). He does not, however, exclude the other aspect, that it was especially a return of Judah, or "Judah and Benjamin" (see Ezra 5:1 ; Ezra 10:9 ).