A type of these events previously occurred in Zerubbabel and Ezra, when the people returned and the city was begun to be built on its heights and religion observed in the temple, all of which are contained in Ezra‘s own book. But this was more fully and more perfectly completed in the Lord and Savior and his apostles, when the city was built on its heights—about which it is written, ―A city set on a hill cannot be hidden‖—and the temple was founded in accordance with its order and ceremony, so that whatever was done carnally by the people in the past would be completed spiritually in the church. [SIX BOOKS ON JEREMIAH 6.9.3-6]
3:2
Theodoret of Cyrus:
“And Josue the son of Josedec rose up, and his brethren the priests, and Zorobabel the son of Salathiel,” Now this is the man who after the return was in charge of the people. From them Christ the Lord was descended according to flesh. [Commentary on Ezekiel 17:23]
Many think that this (Jer. 32:37-41) was fulfilled in the time of Zerubbabel the son of Shealthiel and Jeshua the son of Josadek the high priest, when Haggai and Zechariah prophesied under Ezra the priest, when the temple was rebuilt and when the walls surrounding the city were repaired under Nehemiah. According to this view, the people who formerly were driven out of Jerusalem in God's anger, wrath and great indignation, being dispersed into the whole world, were afterwards to be brought back and made to dwell securely, so that they would be God's people and the Lord would be their God, as Scripture describes. [Commentary on Jeremiah, 32:37-41]
The number of men of the people of Israel, sons of Phares, two, etc. After the catalog of leaders, consequently the number of the people; after the sum of the people has been counted, the ranks dedicated to God follow in order. However, he speaks of the people of Israel, the tribe of Judah and Benjamin, and whoever had escaped from the hands of the Assyrians of other tribes once; but, captured by the Babylonians with these, they had nonetheless been led into captivity. Finally, it must be noted that within the very series of the catalog, and especially where the same catalog is repeated in the second part of the book, that is, in the words of Nehemiah, nearly fifteen names of cities are listed, which, unless I am mistaken, are all found only in the tribe of Judah and Benjamin. Hence it is likely that the people of Israel should be understood here, primarily from these very tribes, together with the priests and Levites who had their lot among them. However, the Nethinim, who are described in order after the priests, Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, were themselves then those who are now called subdeacons in the Church, obedient to the duties of the Levites, and receiving offerings in the temple from the people. Furthermore, the sons of Solomon's servants were called the builders of the temple, who were responsible for repairing the sacred structures, or whatever had been damaged, and restoring them again from the sacred money. What we said above about the vessels must now be said about the people; that Scripture so diligently distinguishes how many from each generation of the captives returned to their homeland; in order that we might be reminded with how much certainty the Lord inscribes the sum of His elect in the book of life and, as it were, records them in the register of heaven, how many souls each of the faithful, either by preaching or showing the examples of good works, have converted from error; for each of whom He rewards those who converted them with a certain recompense.
[AD 420] Jerome on Ezra 2:3
3:2
Theodoret of Cyrus:
“And Josue the son of Josedec rose up, and his brethren the priests, and Zorobabel the son of Salathiel,” Now this is the man who after the return was in charge of the people. From them Christ the Lord was descended according to flesh. [Commentary on Ezekiel 17:23]