Ezra and his group planned to leave Babylon on April 8 but actually departed on April 19, 458 BC (Ezra 8:31). During those eleven days, he organized the group, gathered at the Ahava Canal, searched for more Levites, and declared a fast.
To cover the 800-mile journey in four months, Ezra's group walked about ten miles per day, five days a week. Ezra knew his success was due to the gracious hand of his God (see also Ezra 7:6, 28; 8:22, 31).