Ezra 1:3

Who is there among you of all his people?

The language implies that the Jews were scattered in various parts of the empire. There were no less than four transportations, including that of the people of the northern kingdom by the Assyrians; 1st. That of the Ten Tribes; 2d. That after the first defeat of king Jehoiakim in which Daniel was carried away; 3d. That of king Jehoiachin, his court and others embracing 10,023 men; 4th. That of. great mass of people after the fall of Jerusalem, estimated to reach from 300,000 to 400,000 souls. There was one large settlement on the river Chebar, not far from Babylon, and others probably had lands assigned wherever Nebuchadnezzar could find vacancies. Hence it was needful that the heralds should proclaim the news of the return in various parts of the empire. To many of these exiles, longing for Jerusalem, praying daily with their faces toward Jerusalem, it came like the gospel of the Lord to hear the royal proclamation: "Go up to Jerusalem,. *. build the house of the Lord."