In their answer, the messengers from Judah echo the very word Nehemiah had used in his question (rendered in the ESV as survived
). Given the remnant theology as mentioned by the pre-exilic prophets (Isaiah 11:11; Isaiah 37:32; Isaiah 46:3; Micah 4:7; Micah 5:7–8; Micah 7:18; Zephaniah 2:7; Zephaniah 3:12–13; Ezekiel 11:16–21), the term is loaded with glorious expectation, specifically of God fulfilling his gracious promises (Deuteronomy 4:29–31). It should further be noted that the respondents repeat the identical words Nehemiah had used in his question, who had survived the exile.
The key word in that phrase is again the word remnant.
The repetition functions as bold print to focus our attention on this key word.
3 And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.”