companions or acquaintance: he and certain men of Judah; who came from thence to Shushan on some account or another: and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity; who were returned from it to their own land; he inquired of their health and prosperity, in what circumstances they were, whether prosperous or adverse, whether they flourished, or were in distress: and concerning Jerusalem; whether it was rebuilt, the houses and walls of it, and in what condition it was.