Jeremiah 52:30 - Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

In the three and twentieth year of Nebuchadrezzar... — There is no record of this final deportation, five years after the capture of the city, in the historical books. It probably followed on the conquest of Egypt predicted in Jeremiah 44:11; Jeremiah 44:28, and included some of those who had emigrated to that country; perhaps also on that of the Moabites and Edomites, among whom many Jews had probably taken refuge. The total number, including the 10,000 who are not mentioned here (see Note on Jeremiah 52:28), mounts up to 14,600. In Ezra 2:64-65 the number of those who returned from Babylon is given at 42,360, besides 7,337 male and female slaves, and this, as many remained behind in Babylon, is more than can be accounted for by the natural increase of population. Assuming the correctness of the numbers, we are led to the conclusion that after the exiles were settled in Babylon, and found themselves in a more favourable position than was at first anticipated (Jeremiah 29:5-6), they were joined by friends and kindred, who hoped to be better off there than in the desolation and disorders of their own country.