1. Ezra 1:11 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

What does it mean that the exiles were brought up?

Ezra 1:11 (ESV)

11 all the vessels of gold and of silver were 5,400. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up, when the exiles were brought up from Babylonia to Jerusalem.

Israel was passively brought up. They did not actively bring themselves up, but were brought up by the Lord.1 This is the same language that is used in the Bible to describe the exodus from Egypt (Exodus 32:11; Deuteronomy 20:1).