The exiles who were returning from the captivity offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel – twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven male lambs, along with twelve male goats as a sin offering. All this was a burnt offering to the Lord.

the descendants of Shephatiah: 372;

the descendants of Arah: 775;

the descendants of Parosh: 2,172;

from the descendants of Elam, Jeshaiah son of Athaliah, and with him 70 men;

from the descendants of Bigvai, Uthai, and Zaccur, and with them 70 men.

The priests: the descendants of Jedaiah (through the family of Jeshua): 973;

The Levites: the descendants of Jeshua and Kadmiel (through the line of Hodaviah): 74.

In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, in order to fulfill the Lord’s message spoken through Jeremiah, the Lord stirred the mind of King Cyrus of Persia. He disseminated a proclamation throughout his entire kingdom, announcing in a written edict the following: