Ezra3
New American Standard
1Now when the seventh month came, and the sons of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered together as one person to Jerusalem.
2Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brothers the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his brothers, rose up and built the altar of the God of Israel to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses, the man of God.
3So they set up the altar on its foundation, because they were terrified of the peoples of the lands; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord, burnt offerings morning and evening.
4They also celebrated the Feast of Booths, as it is written, and offered the prescribed number of burnt offerings daily, according to the ordinance, as each day required;
5and afterward there was a continual burnt offering, also for the new moons and for all the appointed festivals of the Lord that were consecrated, and from everyone who offered a voluntary offering to the Lord.
6From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord, but the foundation of the temple of the Lord had not been laid.
7Then they gave money to the masons and carpenters, and food, drink, and oil to the Sidonians and the Tyrians to bring cedar wood from Lebanon to the sea at Joppa, according to the permission they had from Cyrus king of Persia.
8Now in the second year of their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and all who came from the captivity to Jerusalem, began the work and appointed the Levites who were twenty years old and upward to oversee the work of the house of the Lord.
9Then Jeshua with his sons and brothers stood united with Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah and the sons of Henadad with their sons and brothers the Levites, to oversee the workmen in the temple of God.
10Now when the builders had laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests stood in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the Lord according to the directions of King David of Israel.
11And they sang, praising and giving thanks to the Lord, saying, “For He is good, for His favor is upon Israel forever.” And all the people shouted with a great shout of joy when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.
12Yet many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ households, the old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, while many shouted aloud for joy,
13so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the shout of joy from the sound of the weeping of the people, because the people were shouting with a loud shout, and the sound was heard far away.
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