This verse is the conclusion to the list of those who had returned to Judah from Babylonia. With the first verse of the chapter, it forms a frame around the main content of the chapter.

The verse is interpreted in several ways (compare Neh 7.73). Revised Standard Version interprets it to mean that there were two groups of people, those who lived in Jerusalem and its vicinity and those who lived in their towns, and then there is a final summary statement confirming that all Israel [lived] in their towns. Good News Translation recognizes three distinct groups of people: those who “settled in or near Jerusalem,” those who “settled in nearby towns,” and those who “settled in the towns where their ancestors had lived.” Other translations interpret the verse in two parts: the first groups cited in the verse settled in Jerusalem, and the second set of groups plus all the rest of the Israelites settled in their towns (New English Bible, Osty-Trinquet). Still other translations interpret the meaning to be that some of the groups of people settled in towns that were assigned to them, and the other Israelites settled in the towns of their ancestors (Bible en français courant; see also Nouvelle version Segond révisée). Some translations take the last clause to be a separate closing summary statement that everyone who returned from exile settled in their ancestral towns (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Segond).

Part of the explanation for the varied interpretations comes from whether or not one includes the phrase lived in Jerusalem and its vicinity which is not in the Hebrew text of this verse but is taken from the Greek text of the parallel account in 1 Esdras 5.46. Perhaps because of the similarity of this verse to the first verse in the chapter and because of its structural relationship to that verse, it seems appropriate to include this phrase here. The Hebrew text without the phrase is supported by Hebrew Old Testament Text Project with a B rating. But it is suggested that translators include the phrase and indicate in a footnote that this is not in the Hebrew text but taken from 1 Esdras 5.46. This Handbook therefore recommends the interpretation of three groups of people as in Good News Translation (also New Jerusalem Bible).

Of the nine categories of people who were listed earlier in this chapter, six are repeated here. Some of the people is a reference to lay people (verses 3-35).

All Israel refers to “the rest of the Israelites” (Good News Translation) or “all the other Israelites” (New Jerusalem Bible).

Quoted with permission from Noss, Philip A. and Thomas, Kenneth J. A Handbook on Ezra. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2005. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .