I assembled them at the canal that flows toward Ahava, and we camped there three days. When I checked among the people and the priests, I found no Levites there.  Ezra 8:15

            The whole reason they traveled to Jerusalem was to build the temple.  According to Moses’ law, without priests and Levites, the temple could not function.  The people were as important as the building.  Zerubbabel built the temple and Ezra supplied the people to work the temple.