How many Jews returned from Babylon to the land of Israel?
Only 44,000 Jews returned from Babylon to the land of Israel, according to the historical account. The vast majority—several million—remained in Babylon rather than making the journey back. This return followed Cyrus's decree permitting the Jews to go home and rebuild the Temple.
Les explains that after Nebuchadnezzar came in 606 B.C. and the Babylonian Empire destroyed the Temple, Jerusalem, and Israel went into captivity. The conquering empires commonly emptied the land of most Jews and took them east to Babylon. Then 70 years later, under the Medes and Persians, King Cyrus decreed that the Jews could return to their homeland and rebuild the Temple. However, Les points out that most Jews in Babylon did not return to Palestine, Jerusalem, or the land of Israel. Only 44,000 out of several million went back, which Les says is a fact of history many overlook. He notes this background matters when entering the New Testament, and he asks what happened to the rest.