עזרא, פרק ב׳, פסוק ע׳

Upon returning from the Babylonian exile, the people face the practical reality of renewing their presence in the land and rebuilding their communities. Rather than settling immediately in Jerusalem, which they lacked permission to fortify with a wall, the returnees prioritize basic survival. Their first actions focus on working the earth, sowing fields, and planting vineyards to secure a reliable food supply and prevent starvation [מלבי״ם].

To establish themselves, the returnees spread out across the region. The primary approach among commentators is that each family journeys back to the historical, ancestral cities where their forefathers lived before the exile [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. As part of this national reorganization, the priests and Levites return to reside in their traditional forty-eight designated cities [מלבי״ם].

The newly established community is composed of several distinct groups. The core of the general populace consists specifically of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin [מצודת דוד]. They are joined by the gatekeepers, who serve both as guards and as individuals dedicated to praising God [אבן עזרא]. Another dedicated group is the Nethinim, identified as the Gibeonites. Their title stems from the era of Joshua, who originally gave them the task of serving as woodchoppers and water drawers for the Temple [רב סעדיה גאון]. Finally, the broader gathering includes members of the remaining tribes of Israel, who similarly return to settle in their original ancestral hometowns [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].