THEOSISBeda Venerabilis
It is important to recognize that while historians refer to Caspian, Ezra refers to it as Casiphier in this context. The Jewish people, lacking the letter 'p,' substitute it with 'f' in Greek and foreign names, such as 'Phetre' or 'Philate.' Consequently, the accounts demonstrate that the Israelites emerged from the Assyrian or Chaldean exile to the vicinity of Kashiphyeh, where Ezra summoned the officials of the Lord’s house, specifically the Levites and Nethinim, whom Josephus identifies as ‘the sacred servants.’ The accounts indicate that the Israelites made their way from captivity to Kashiphyeh.
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Regarding these nations, it is noteworthy that they lived in relative freedom and harmony, even amidst foreign peoples, which is why, at Ezra’s directive, they were capable of quickly gathering a considerable force. The list provided reveals that 258 individuals were specifically selected for this mission, leading to a total assembly of about 1,700 men under Ezra’s command.