Under the favor shown them by Cyrus, nearly fifty thousand of the children of the captivity had taken advantage of the decree permitting their return. These, however, in comparison with the hundreds of thousands scattered throughout the provinces of Medo-Persia, were but a mere remnant. The great majority of the Israelites had chosen to remain in the land of their exile rather than undergo the hardships of the return journey and the re-establishment of their desolated cities and homes.

Henved halvtreds tusind af de israelitiske fanger havde benyttet sig af den tilladelse, som Kyros gav dem til at vende hjem. Dette var dog kun et fåtal i sammenligning med de hundredtusinder, der var spredt i Medo-Persiens provinser. Det store flertal af israelitterne valgte at blive boende i det land, hvor de havde levet i udlændighed, frem for at foretage den besværlige hjemrejse for at genopbygge deres ødelagte byer og huse.