All those who were around them strengthened their hands with articles of silver, with gold, with goods, and with animals, and with valuable things, besides everything that was willingly offered.
“All those who were around them.” We learn from history that more of the Judeans who had been carried captive to Babylon stayed in Babylon than returned to Judah. The Judeans had lived for some two generations in Babylon, and many had made it their home. But they helped the Judeans who did return to Judah by giving them things they needed.
REV Bible
