Hanani. Shortened form of Hananiah. Compare Nehemiah 7:2. See note above, and compare Daniel 1:3; Daniel 1:6.
I asked. Not about Ezra, and the 42,360 who are supposed to have been already in the Province of Judah: this Nehemiah would surely have done if they had really been there.
the Jews. Mentioned eleven times in this book (Nehemiah 1:2; Nehemiah 2:16; Nehemiah 4:1; Nehemiah 4:2; Nehemiah 4:12; Nehemiah 5:1; Nehemiah 5:8; Nehemiah 5:17; Nehemiah 6:6; Nehemiah 13:23; Nehemiah 13:24).
escaped: i.e. from the lands of their captivity. See Jeremiah 44:13; Jeremiah 44:14. Why escape if already set free (Ezra 1:3)?