This term denotes the Jewish population living in and around Jerusalem. Some of these people were descendants of the poorest whom Nebuchadnezzar had left in the land (2 Kings 25:12), others were descendants of those who returned from exile with Sheshbazzar (Ezra 2:1–70) or with Ezra (Ezra 7:7; Ezra 8:1–14). The implication of the term is that there were also non-Jewish people living in the area (Ezra 3:3; Nehemiah 4:1–5).
16 And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, and I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, and the rest who were to do the work.