Ezra3
English Standard Version
1When the , and the of were in the , the as to .
2Then the of , with his , and the of with his , and they the of the of , to it, as it is in the of the of .
3They the its , was them of the of the , and they it to the Lord, and .
4And they the of , as it is , and offered the by according to the , as ,
5and that the , the offerings at the and at the of the Lord, and the offerings of who a to the Lord.
6 the of the they to to the Lord. But the of the of the Lord was yet .
7So they to the and the , and , , and to the and the to to the , to , according to the that they from of .
8Now in the after their to the of at , in the , the of and the of made a , together with the of their , the and the and who had to the . They the , and , to the of the of the Lord.
9And with his and his , and and his , the of , the in the of , along with the of and the , their and .
10And when the of the of the Lord, the in their with , and the , the of , with , to the Lord, according to the of of .
11And they , and giving to the Lord, he is , for his endures . And the with a when they the Lord, the of the of the Lord was .
12But of the and and of ’ houses, had the , with a when they the of this being , though for ,
13so that the could the of the from the of the , the with a , and the was .
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Ezra 3.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The altar and festivals. (1–7). The foundations of the temple laid. (8–13).
vv1-7
From the proceedings of the Jews on their arrival, let us learn to begin with God, and to do what we can in the worship of God, when we cannot do what we would. They could not at once have a temple, but they would not be without an altar. Fear of danger should stir us to our duty. Have we many enemies? Then it is good to have God our Friend, and to keep up communion with him. Our fears should drive us to our knees. The sacrifices for all these solemnities were a heavy expense for so poor a company; yet besides those expressly appointed, many brought free-will offerings to the Lord. And they made preparation for the building of the temple without delay: whatever God calls us to do, we may depend upon his providence to furnish us with the needful means.
vv8-13
There was a remarkable mixture of affections upon laying the foundation of the temple. Those that only knew the misery of having no temple at all, praised the Lord with shouts of joy. To them, even this foundation seemed great. We ought to be thankful for the beginnings of mercy, though it be not yet perfect. But those who remembered the glory of the first temple, and considered how far inferior this was likely to be, wept with a loud voice. There was reason for it, and if they bewailed the sin that was the cause of this melancholy change, they did well. Yet it was wrong to cast a damp upon the common joys. They despised the day of small things, and were unthankful for the good they enjoyed. Let not the remembrance of former afflictions drown the sense of present mercies.
Key Words
שְׁבִיעִי: seventh
חֹדֶשׁ: the new moon; by implication, a month
נָגַע: properly, to touch, i.e. lay the hand upon (for any purpose; euphemistically, to lie with a woman); by implication, to reach (figuratively, to arrive, acquire); violently, to strike (punish, defeat, destroy, etc.)
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
עִיר: a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
עַם: a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
אָסַף: to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e. remove (destroy, leave behind, put up, restore, etc.)
אֶחָד: properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first
אִישׁ: a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
Cross References
Ezra 3Direct historical parallel describing ancient men weeping over the lesser glory of the second temple foundation.
Supported by JFB, Matthew Henry
Parallels Solomon's hiring of Sidonians and Tyrians for cedar trees from Lebanon to build the temple.
Supported by JFB
Specifies transporting Lebanon cedars by sea to Joppa, mirroring the logistical pattern of Solomon's temple.
Supported by JFB
Warns against despising the day of small things when the foundation of the house is laid.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Identifies the contemporaries Haggai the prophet, Jeshua (Joshua) the high priest, and Zerubbabel.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Genealogical link identifying Zerubbabel as the son/descendant of Shealtiel (Salathiel) in the messianic line.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Davidic ordinance setting Levites from twenty years old and upward to oversee the house of God.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Prescribes the continual morning and evening burnt offerings of lambs upon the altar.
Supported by JFB
The Mosaic law commanding the observance of the Feast of Tabernacles in the seventh month.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Identifies Jeshua (the Levite, not the high priest) and Kadmiel as heads of Levite families.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Davidic choral ordinance using the specific praise phrase: 'because his mercy endureth for ever.'
Supported by Matthew Poole
Prophetic fulfillment of the voice of joy and praise returning to the desolated house of God.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Specifies the offerings for the numerous seventh-month feasts, including Trumpets and Tabernacles.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Prophesies that the glory of this latter house will surpass the former due to Christ's presence.
Supported by JFB