The people's response 1:5-6

Judah and Benjamin were the only tribes the writer mentioned because these were the tribes that made up the Southern Kingdom that had suffered exile in Babylon. Those who gave to the reconstruction project evidently included Jews who decided to remain in Babylon as well as Babylonian Gentiles. Many Jews chose not to return because they did not want to leave their possessions.²⁶This was contrary to the will of God (Isa. 48:20; Jer. 50:8; 51:6; cf. Jer. 29:10; Deut. 30:1-5). They should have returned.