Albert Barnes Commentary Nehemiah 7:4

"Now the city was wide and large; but the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded." — Nehemiah 7:4 (ASV)

The people were few - The number of those who returned with Zerubbabel was no more than 42,360 (Nehemiah 7:66). Less than 2,000 people had come with Ezra (Ezra 8:1–20).