Ezra
Ezra 3
Chapter III · Vol. II, pp. 894–896
1 The altar is set up. 4 Offerings frequented. 7 Workmen prepared. 8 The foundations of the temple are laid in great joy and mourning.
1 And when the aseventh month1 was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together bas one man to Jerusalem.
a Le.23.24,34-41. Ex.23.14-17; 34.23. De.16.16. Nu.xxix.
1 Tisri or Ethanim, the first month of the civil year.—C.
2 Then stood up cJeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and dZerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt-offerings thereon, as it is ewritten in the law of Moses the man of God.2
c Or, Joshua, Zec.6.11. Hag.1.1,12,14; 2.2,4. 1 Ch.6.15.
d Or Zorobabel, son of Salathiel, Mat.1.12. Lu.3.27. 1 Ch.3.17,19. Hag.2.21,23. Zec.4.6-10.
e De.12.5-7. 2 Ch.6.6. Ps.48.1,2; 78.68,69; 132.13,14.
2 It is interesting to observe that 'the law of Moses,' i.e. the Pentateuch, was in the hands of the Jews on their return from exile. The priests had no doubt carried away with them the temple copy, had preserved it with religious care during the captivity, and had now brought it back with them to Jerusalem.—P.
3 And they set the altar upon his 3bases; (for4 fear was upon them because of the people of those countries;) and they offered fburnt-offerings thereon unto the LORD, even gburnt-offerings morning and evening.
3 This was an altar of stones, for it was builded (ver. 2), and unhewn (Ex. 20. 25). These formed the bases, being surmounted by the altar overlaid with brass, Ex.27.1,2.—C.
4 Not for, but though fear was upon them, lest the Samaritans and others should be jealous of their religious assembly, or take offence at their peculiar and exclusive worship.—C.
f Ex.29.38-42. Nu.28.2-8.
4 They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt-offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required;
5 And afterward offered the continual burnt-offering, both of the new-moons, and of all the set feasts of the LORD that were consecrated, and of every one that hwillingly offered a free-will-offering unto the LORD.
6 From ithe first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt-offerings unto the LORD. But the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not yet laid.
i Le.23.24,25. Nu.29.1-6.
7 They kgave money also unto the masons, and to the carpenters; and meat, and drink, and oil,4 unto them of Zidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar-trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa,5 according to the lgrant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.
k 2 Ch.2.8-16. 1 Ki.5.1-9. 2 Ki.12.11,12; 22.5,6.
A.M. 3468. B.C. 536.
4 God has wisely and mercifully diversified the productions of different countries, so that what one country wants another possesses, and they are thus rendered mutually dependent, and through common interest constrained to peace and good offices.—C.
5 The Phœnicians of Tyre and Sidon had rendered important service to Solomon in the building and decoration of the first temple; and here we find them again aiding in the erection of the second. They were accustomed to the felling of timber in Lebanon for the supply of their dock-yards; they were also skilful mariners, and could thus convey timber from the ports of Phœnicia at the base of Lebanon to Joppa the port of Jerusalem.—P.
l ch.6.3-5.
8 Now, in the second year6 of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began mZerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem; and appointed the Levites, from ntwenty years old and upward, to set forward the work of the house of the LORD.
9 Then stood oJeshua, with his sons and his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah,p 7together,8 to set forward the workmen in the house of God: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brethren the Levites.
o ch.2.40;ver.2.
p Or, Hodaviah, ch.2.40.
7 Heb. as one.
8 As one, a beautiful illustration of that 'unity of the spirit in the bond of peace,' by which the church of Christ should ever be distinguished, Ac. 4. 32.—C.
10 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they qset the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel.
11 And they rsang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.
r 2 Ch.7.3. Ex.15.21. Ne.12.24. 1 Ch.16.34,41. Je.33.11. Lu.2.10-14. Zec.9.9. Ps.cxxxv. cxxxvi. cxlv.-cl. xlvii.
12 But many of the priests and Levites, and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house,9 when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wepts with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:
9 The temple was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar (2 Ch. 36. 17, 21, A.M. 3416), and the rebuilding commenced in the second year of Cyrus (Ezr. 1. 1; 3. 8, A.M. 3470), a period of about 53 years inclusive. But this does not give the date of the captivity nor the commencement of the 70 years, 2 Ch.36.21. They are to be computed from the first captivity in the time of Jehoiakim, 2 Ki. 24. 1, 2. 2 Ch.36. 6, 7, A.M. 3398, which gives the full period of the prophetic denunciation.—C.
s Hag.2.3. Zec.4.10. Job 8.7. Mat.13.31,32. Is.41.10,14-16;60.22.
Notes
Reflections.—Let us learn to prefer the business of religion to our most pressing temporal affairs; and in the worship of God do what we can when we cannot do what we would. And let leaders in church and state be peculiarly active and zealous. Never should the fear of men hinder us from, but hasten us to, fellowship with God. The more enemies we have, the more need have we that God should befriend us. If we have been long secluded from the public or solemn ordinances of God, more readily should we improve opportunities when put into our hands; and by no means neglect the daily sacrifices of the closet and family. If God bring us out of the furnace of affliction our hearts should burn with love to him; and never should we grudge to spare from ourselves that we may have wherewith to honour him or to relieve his poor saints; always taking care to dispose of it to the best advantage. If a good work is to be done, let us set about it with all our might and without delay, be the difficulties ever so great. Never should we despise the day of small things, but encourage ourselves in the everlasting power and mercy of God; praising him for the beginnings of his returning mercy; assured that they will issue in perfection at last. And while we are in this world, where shouts of joy can scarcely be discerned from the groans of weeping, let us rejoice with them that rejoice, and weep with them that weep.