Also the children of those that had been carried away, which were come out of the captivity,.... Namely, those that now came along with Ezra:
offered burnt offerings unto the God of Israel; by way of thankfulness for their deliverance from captivity, and for their safe journey:
twelve bullocks for all Israel: according to the number of the tribes; and there might be some of every tribe that now came up:
ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs; these and the bullocks were burnt offerings:
twelve he goats for a sin offering; according to the number of the twelve tribes, also to make atonement for sins they had been guilty of:
all this was a burnt offering unto the Lord; excepting the twelve he goats, which were a sin offering.