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.
Related Commentaries of Nehemiah 7:4
Nehemiah 7:4
4 Now the city was largea and great: but the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded.