For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together; all of them were clean. So they slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the returned exiles, for their fellow priests, and for themselves.
Here we have, I. The Jews' enemies made their friends. When they received this order from the king they came with as much haste to encourage and assist the work as their predecessors had done to put a stop to it, Ezr 4:23. What the king ordered they did, and, because they would not be thought to do it with reluctance, they did it speedily, Ezr 6:13.
Commenting on Ezra 6:13-22
And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy,.... Which immediately followed upon the passover, Exo 12:18, for the Lord had made them joyful; the building of the temple being finished, and the service of it restored to its original purity: and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of...
The Levites were purified together - They were all ready at one time to observe the proper rites and ceremonies, and had no need of having a second passover, which was appointed by the law for those who had been accidentally defiled, or were at a distance from the tabernacle. See Ch2 30:3.