Commentators view this list, which includes the family of Azgad, not as a mere census but as a significant document. Matthew Henry points out that it serves a dual purpose. On one hand, it's a record of God's grace in preserving a remnant and bringing them home. On the other, the very need for such a list of returnees is a sobering reminder of how national sin led to captivity, a state that contrasts with the exaltation that comes from righteousness.