2 Nov. Zerubbabel and Jeshua return with a second group of exiles
“These are the people of the area who returned from captivity, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken away to Babylon. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each going back to his own town. These people returned with Zurubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bishan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum and Baanah.”
“These are the people from Israel: the descendants of Parosh – 2,172; the descendants of Shephatiah – 372 …”
“These are the people from the towns: of Bethlehem – 123; of Netophah – 56; of Anathoth – 128…”
“These are the priests: the descendants of Jedaiah (through the family of Jeshua) – 973; the descendants of Immer – 1,052…”
“These are the Levites: the descendants of Jeshua and Kadmiel (through the family of Hodaviah) – 74.”
“These are the singers: the descendants of Asaph – 128.”
“These are the gatekeepers of the Temple: the descendants of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita and Shobai – 139.”
“These are the Temple servants: the descendants of Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth…”
“These are the descendants of the servants of Solomon: the descendants of Sotai, Hassophereth, Peruda…”
“The total number of those who returned was 42,360. This is not counting their 7,337 male and female servants and the 200 male and female singers they had with them. They had 736 horses, 245 mules, 435 camels and 6,720 donkeys.”
“When they arrived at the Temple of the LORD in Jerusalem, some of the leaders of families gave offerings to rebuild the Temple of God on the same site as before. They gave as much as they could to the treasury to rebuild the Temple – about 500 kilogrammes of gold, about 2,800 kilogrammes of silver and 100 pieces of clothing for the priests.”
“All the Israelites settled in their home towns. The priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers and Temple servants, along with some of the other people, settled in their own towns as well.”
(Ezra 2:1-70)
King Cyrus died in 530BC and was succeeded by his son Cambyses. He gave permission for Zerubbabel (the grandson of King Jehoiachin) and Jeshua (‘Yeshua’ or ‘Joshua’), a Jewish priest, to lead a second group of exiles home in 525BC.
The Book of Ezra gives a detailed list of all the exiles who returned, together with their various roles. Those who served in the Temple are listed separately as priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers and Temple servants.
While some of the exiles returned to live in Jerusalem, many went to live in the other towns of Judah. The list includes residents who returned to Bethlehem, Anathoth, Kiriath Jearim, Ramah, Bethel and Jericho.
The photo (by Jastrow) shows a pacing lion from the Ishtar Gate of Babylon.
You can read more about the return of the exiles @ https://www.thebiblejourney.org/biblejourney2/35-the-exiles-return-to-judah/the-later-years-of-exile-amp-the-return-to-judah-538428bc/