Ezra · Chapter 3

V. 1. Seventh month-This was a sacred kind of month wherein there were divers festivals, for which the people had been preparing themselves, and now came to Jerusalem to the celebration of them.

Verse 1. When the seventh month was come] The month Tisri, which answers to the latter part of our September, and beginning of October. It seems that the Israelites had left Babylon about the spring of the year; that on their arrival at Jerusalem they constructed themselves huts and sheds to lodge in among the ruins, in which they must have spent some months. After this they rebuilt the altar of burnt-offerings, and kept the feast of tabernacles, which happened about this time, and continued to offer sacrifices regularly, as if the temple were standing.

Verse 1. When the seventh month was come — We may suppose they left Babylon in the spring, and were four months on their journey; for so long Ezra and his company were in coming, Ezra 7:9. The seventh month therefore commenced soon after their arrival in Judea, when, as many of the feasts of the Lord were then to be solemnized, the people gathered themselves together — By agreement among themselves, rather than by the command of authority; to Jerusalem — Though they were newly come to their cities, and had their hands full of business there, to provide necessaries for themselves and their families, which might have excused them from attending on God’s worship in public, till the hurry was a little over, as many with us foolishly put off their coming to the communion till they are settled in the world; yet, such was their zeal for religion, now they were newly come from under correction for their irreligion, that they left all their business in the country to attend God’s altar; and in this pious zeal they were all of a mind, they came as one man.

Verse 1. The seventh month, and the tenth day was the great and holy day of atonement, as explained in Leviticus 16. They had left Babylon in the spring; and being four months on their journey, the priests hasted the erection of the altar.

THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES KEPT IN THE SEVENTH MONTH, 1-7.

1. The seventh month — Of the first year of the return from exile. The seventh month was called Ethanim, sometimes Tisri, and was fixed upon by Solomon for the dedication of his temple. See notes on 1 Kings 8:2. As this month fell in our October, it is commonly thought that these Israelites left Babylon in the preceding spring, in March or April. Were in the cities — That is, had become numbered and settled in their homes in the various towns and cities round about Jerusalem. As one man — So promptly and with such accord did the entire new community assemble, that it was like the coming of a single individual.

V. 2. Altar-Which was of more present necessity than the temple, both to make atonement to God for all their sins, and to obtain God’s assistance for the building of the temple, and to strengthen their own hearts and hands in that great work.

Verse 2. Jeshua the son of Jozadak] He was grandson of Seraiah the high priest, who was put to death by Nebuchadnezzar, 2 Kings 25:18,

21. This Jeshua or Joshua was the first high priest after the captivity.

Verse 2. Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak — He was the high-priest, called Joshua, Haggai 1:1. And Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel — That is, his grandson; for, properly speaking, he was the son of Pedaiah. And builded the altar of the God of Israel — Which was of more present necessity than the temple, both to make atonement to God for all their sins, and to obtain God’s assistance for the building of the temple, and to strengthen their own hearts and hands in that great work.

Ver. 2. Jeshua—and Zerubbabel. Ezra puts the highpriest first, for all ancient highpriests were princes; but Zechariah the prophet puts Zerubbabel first. Ezra was the uncle of Jeshua.

2. Then stood up — To lead and direct the people in the work and worship for which they had come together. Jeshua… Zerubbabel — See note on Ezra 2:2. Here priestly work is the main subject of the context, and Jeshua, the priest, is named first; in other passages where the government of the people, or building matters, form the chief topic, Zerubbabel is named first. Compare verse 8, Ezra 2:2; 4:3, etc. Builded the altar — This was their first care. Before the temple is commenced they provided for the proper offering of the daily and special sacrifices. The law of Moses — This had been sacredly preserved, and existed in book form; but during the exile the masses of the people had so far lost the use of their ancient language that they needed to have the law not only read, but expounded in their hearing. Nehemiah 8:1-8.

V. 3. For fear-So they made the more haste, lest they should be hindered. Apprehension of dangers should quicken us in our duty. Have we many enemies? We have the more need to have God for our friend and to keep up our correspondence with him.

Verse 3. They set the altar upon his bases] Rebuilt it on the same spot on which it had formerly stood. As it was necessary to keep up the Divine worship during the time they should be employed in re-edifying the temple, they first reared this altar of burnt-offerings; and all this they did, “though fear was upon them,” because of the unfriendly disposition of their surrounding neighbours.

Verse 3. They set the altar upon his bases — That is, in the place where it anciently stood; for fear was upon them, because of the people of those countries — And therefore they made the more haste, lest they should be hindered. Apprehension of dangers should quicken us in our duty. Have we many enemies? We have the more need to have God for our friend, and to keep up our correspondence with him. Some translate the clause, Although fear was upon them; that is, although they were in great fear of their evil neighbours, yet, notwithstanding, they would not desist from restoring the worship of God.

3. Upon his bases — Rather, upon its foundation. tnwkm is here to be understood, as in Ezra 2:68, where it is rendered place, of foundations lain upon its ancient site. For — This particle introduces the first prominent reason for their speedy erection of the altar. Fear was upon them — Literally, in fear upon them. Because of the people of those countries — The surrounding population, whose hostile attitude towards the returned exiles began already to show itself, and soon after caused great troubles, and caused the rebuilding of the temple for a long time to cease. Chap. 4. They hoped by sacrifice and offering to secure the help of Jehovah against their foes.

V. 4. Tabernacles-This seems to be mentioned for all the solemnities of this month, whereof this was the most eminent, otherwise it is not probable, that they would neglect the day of atonement which was so severely enjoined, Leviticus 23:27-29, and was so exceeding suitable to their present condition.

Verse 4. They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written] This began on the fifteenth day of the seventh month; but they had begun the regular offerings from the first day of this month, Ezra 3:6. And these were religiously continued all the time they were building the temple.

Verse 4. They kept also the feast of tabernacles — This seems to be mentioned for all the solemnities of the month, whereof this was the most eminent; otherwise it is not probable that they would neglect the day of atonement, which was so solemnly enjoined, (Leviticus 23:27-29,) and was so exceeding suitable to their present condition.

4. Kept… feast of tabernacles — Called also the feast of ingathering, because it was celebrated in autumn, when the fruits of the field had been gathered in. It is mentioned and described in Exodus 23:16; Leviticus 23:34-36; 39:43; Numbers 29:12-38; Deuteronomy 16:13-15; 31:10-13 — where see notes. Offered the daily burnt offerings by number — Literally, the burnt offering of day by day by number, according to precept, the matter of a day in its day; that is, a strict observance of the order prescribed in Numbers 29:12-38.

V. 5. Offering-The morning and evening, sacrifice. The law required much; but they offered more; for tho’ thy had little wealth, they had much zeal. Happy they that bring with them out of the furnace of affliction, such a holy heat as this!

Verse 5. And afterward offered the continual burnt-offering — The morning and evening sacrifice. The law required much, but they offered more; for though they had little wealth, they had much zeal. Happy they that bring with them out of the furnace of affliction such a holy heat as this!

5. The continual burnt offering — Described in Exodus 29:38-42; Numbers 28:3-8. New moons — See at Numbers 10:10; 28:11. All the set feasts — Enumerated in Numbers 28 and 29. A freewill offering — That is, one willingly offered over and above what was prescribed in the law.

V. 6. Burnt-offerings-And the other sacrifices which were to be offered with them upon that day, being the feast of trumpets. Burnt-offerings are often put for all sacrifices.

Verse 6. To offer burnt-offerings — And the other sacrifices which were to be offered with them upon that first day of the seventh month, which was the feast of trumpets. Burnt-offerings are often put for all sacrifices, and the meaning of these two verses is, that the holy rites of sacrificing were restored, and continued ever after, in their several seasons, on the new moons, and other festival solemnities.

THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES KEPT IN THE SEVENTH MONTH, 1-7.

1. The seventh month — Of the first year of the return from exile. The seventh month was called Ethanim, sometimes Tisri, and was fixed upon by Solomon for the dedication of his temple. See notes on 1 Kings 8:2. As this month fell in our October, it is commonly thought that these Israelites left Babylon in the preceding spring, in March or April. Were in the cities — That is, had become numbered and settled in their homes in the various towns and cities round about Jerusalem. As one man — So promptly and with such accord did the entire new community assemble, that it was like the coming of a single individual.

Verse 7. They gave money also] They copied the conduct of Solomon while he was building his temple; see 1 Kings 5:11. He employed the Tyrians, gave them meat and drink, &c.; and this permission they now had from Cyrus.

Verse 7. Meat, and drink, and oil, unto them of Zidon and Tyre — The inhabitants of those towns wanted provisions more than money, as appears by the history of Solomon’s building, 1 Kings 5:10. To bring cedar-trees from Lebanon — Tyre and Zidon now, as of old, furnished them with workmen, and Lebanon with timber, orders for both which they had from Cyrus. What God calls us to we may depend upon his providence to furnish us with.

7. They gave money also — The feast of tabernacles was made also an occasion of contributing to the fund necessary to rebuild the temple. Cedar trees from Lebanon — The same kind of wood, from the same place Solomon had used in the first temple. 1 Kings 5:6, 9. To the sea of Joppa — Or, to the sea at Joppa. The transportation was to be done as in the time of Solomon. See note on 1 Kings 5:9. According to the grant… of Cyrus — All Syria and Phoenicia was subject to Cyrus, and this grant had doubtless been given to gratify the Jews in their desire to have the second temple built as nearly as possible after the manner of the first one.

Verse 8. In the second year] The previous time had been employed in clearing the ground, felling timber, hewing stones, and transporting them to the place, and making other necessary preparations for the commencement of the building.

Verse 8. In the second month began Zerubbabel, &c. — The building of the temple was begun as soon as ever the season of the year would permit, and as soon as they had ended the solemnities of the passover. They took little more than half a year for preparing the ground and materials; so much were their hearts upon the work. And Jeshua, and their brethren the priests and Levites, &c. — Then the work of God is likely to go on well when magistrates, ministers, and people are zealously affected toward it, and agree in their places to promote it. It was God that gave them one heart for this service, and it promised a happy issue.

THE FOUNDATION OF THE SECOND TEMPLE LAID, 8-13.

8. The second year — More than a year elapsed before the new community began… to set forward the work of the house of the Lord — Other things first required attention. The people were to be numbered, classified, and settled in new homes, and many had to build them houses. Much time also was necessary to arrange for the feasts and offerings, and also for bringing material from Lebanon.

V. 9. Joshua-Not the high-priest so called, but a Levite, of whom see Ezra 2:40. To set forward-To encourage them to a vigorous prosecution of the work.

Verse 9. Then stood Jeshua with his sons — This person was not the high-priest, so called, but a Levite, of whom see Ezra 2:40. To set forward the workmen — To encourage them to a cheerful and vigorous prosecution of the work.

9. Jeshua… Kadmiel — Levites mentioned in the list of the returned, Ezra 2:40. This Jeshua is not to be confounded with the high priest, the son of Jozadak, of the same name. Sons of Judah — Instead of Judah, we should probably read Hodevah (Nehemiah 7:43) or Hodaviah, who is also mentioned in Ezra 2:40.

Verse 10. After the ordinance of David] With psalms which he composed, acting in the manner which he directed.

Verse 10. To praise the Lord — The priests, with the trumpets appointed by Moses, and the Levites, with cymbals appointed by David, made up a concert of praise at the laying of the foundation of the temple, to assist the singing of that everlasting hymn which will never be out of date, and for which our tongues should never be out of tune, the burden of Psalm 136. Whatever our condition is, let it be owned that God is good; and whatever fails, that his mercy fails not.

10. To praise the Lord — Not only in evidence of their joy and gratitude, but also to thrill the builders and all the people with inspiration and enthusiasm. After the ordinance of David — Literally, at the hands of David; that is, according to his direction or example in providing for appropriate temple services. See 1 Chronicles 6:31; 16:4; 25:1.

V. 11. Sung-That everlasting hymn, which will never be out of date, and to which our tongue should never be out of tune, the burden of Psalm 136:1-26. Whatever our condition is, let it be owned, that God is good, and whatever fails, that his mercy fails not.

Verses 11, 12. And they sang together by course — That is, answered one another alternately. And all the people shouted with a great shout — The people were very differently affected upon this occasion. Those that had only known the misery of having no temple at all, praised the Lord with shouts of joy when they saw the foundation of this laid, for to them this was as life from the dead. But many that had seen the first house — Which divers of them had, because it had not been destroyed quite sixty years ago, and who remembered the glory of that temple, wept with a loud voice — “Not only because this temple was likely to prove far inferior to that of Solomon, as to its outward structure, but because it was to want those extraordinary marks of the divine favour wherewith the other temple was honoured. Both the temples, without all doubt, were of the same dimensions; but here was the sad difference which drew tears from the eyes of the elders, that in all appearance there were no hopes that the poor beginnings of the latter temple would ever be raised to the grandeur and magnificence of the former, since the one had been built by the wisest and richest king, and constantly adorned by some one or other of his posterity; the other now begun by a small company of exiles just returned from their captivity: the one in a time of profound peace and the greatest opulence; the other in a time of common calamity and distress: the one finished with the most costly stones and timber, wrought with exquisite art, and overlaid with vast quantities of gold; the other to be raised out of no better materials than what could be dug from the ruinous foundation of the old one. But the occasion of their grief was not only this, that the materials and ornaments of the second temple were even as nothing in comparison with the first, (Haggai 2:3,) but that the ark of the covenant, and the mercy-seat which was upon it, the holy fire upon the altar, the Urim and Thummim, the spirit of prophecy, the Shechinah or divine presence, the five great things for which the former temple was so renowned, were lost and gone, and never to be recovered to this other. This was a just matter of lamentation to those who had seen these singular tokens of the divine favour in the former temple, and a discouragement of their proceeding with the building of the present; and therefore the Prophet Haggai was sent to inform them that all these wants and defects should be abundantly repaired by the coming of the Messiah, the true Shechinah of the Divine Majesty, in the time of the second temple: (Ezra 2:7-9:) I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come; and I will fill this house with glory: the glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts.” — Dodd.

11. Sang together by course — All this is expressed by the single Hebrew word hn[, which means literally to answer. The sense is, as often where the word is used, that they sang antiphonally, one party saying, The Lord… is good, and the other responding, For his mercy endureth for ever. Comp. Exodus 15:21; 1 Samuel 18:6. A great shout — Of triumph, hope, and joy.

V. 12. Had seen-Which divers of them might well do; because it was destroyed not sixty years ago. Wept-Because of the poor preparations made for this, in comparison of what was made for the other temple: because this was destitute of those things which were the principal glory of the former temple, namely, the ark, and the Urim and Thummim; because these foundation-stones were far inferior to the former, both for quantity and price, 1 Kings 7:9,10, and because these foundations were of a far narrower compass than the former: for although the foundations of this house of the Lord, strictly so called, were of equal largeness with those of the former, yet the foundations of the whole building belonging to the first temple, were far larger than these.

Verse 12. Wept with a loud voice] They saw that the glory had departed from Israel; in their circumstances it was impossible to build such a house as the first temple was; and had this been even possible, still it would have been greatly inferior, because it wanted the ark of the covenant, the heavenly fire, the mercy-seat, the heavenly manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, the Divine shechinah, the spirit of prophecy, and most probably the Urim and Thummim.

Many shouted for joy] Finding they were now restored to their own land, and to the worship of their God in his own peculiar city: these, in general, had not seen the original temple; and therefore could not feel affected in that way which the elderly people did.

The sight must have been very affecting: a whole people, one part crying aloud with sorrow; the other shouting aloud for joy; and on the same occasion too, in which both sides felt an equal interest! The prophet Haggai comforted them on this occasion by assuring them that the glory of this latter house should exceed that of the former, because the Lord (Jesus Christ) was to come to this temple, and fill it with his glory. See Haggai, Haggai 2:1-9.

EZRA

Verses 11, 12. And they sang together by course — That is, answered one another alternately. And all the people shouted with a great shout — The people were very differently affected upon this occasion. Those that had only known the misery of having no temple at all, praised the Lord with shouts of joy when they saw the foundation of this laid, for to them this was as life from the dead. But many that had seen the first house — Which divers of them had, because it had not been destroyed quite sixty years ago, and who remembered the glory of that temple, wept with a loud voice — “Not only because this temple was likely to prove far inferior to that of Solomon, as to its outward structure, but because it was to want those extraordinary marks of the divine favour wherewith the other temple was honoured. Both the temples, without all doubt, were of the same dimensions; but here was the sad difference which drew tears from the eyes of the elders, that in all appearance there were no hopes that the poor beginnings of the latter temple would ever be raised to the grandeur and magnificence of the former, since the one had been built by the wisest and richest king, and constantly adorned by some one or other of his posterity; the other now begun by a small company of exiles just returned from their captivity: the one in a time of profound peace and the greatest opulence; the other in a time of common calamity and distress: the one finished with the most costly stones and timber, wrought with exquisite art, and overlaid with vast quantities of gold; the other to be raised out of no better materials than what could be dug from the ruinous foundation of the old one. But the occasion of their grief was not only this, that the materials and ornaments of the second temple were even as nothing in comparison with the first, (Haggai 2:3,) but that the ark of the covenant, and the mercy-seat which was upon it, the holy fire upon the altar, the Urim and Thummim, the spirit of prophecy, the Shechinah or divine presence, the five great things for which the former temple was so renowned, were lost and gone, and never to be recovered to this other. This was a just matter of lamentation to those who had seen these singular tokens of the divine favour in the former temple, and a discouragement of their proceeding with the building of the present; and therefore the Prophet Haggai was sent to inform them that all these wants and defects should be abundantly repaired by the coming of the Messiah, the true Shechinah of the Divine Majesty, in the time of the second temple: (Ezra 2:7-9:) I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come; and I will fill this house with glory: the glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts.” — Dodd.

12. Ancient men, that had seen the first house — So not a few of the returned exiles were the same persons whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried captive more than half a century before. When the foundation of this house was laid — The Masoretic accent, and most natural grammatical construction of the Hebrew text, would require us to render thus — Had seen the first house when its foundation was laid. But none of these ancient men could have been so old as to have witnessed the laying of the foundation of the first temple nearly five hundred years before, and hence some take dsy here in the sense of standing upon its foundation. The word, however, has nowhere else such a meaning, and it seems therefore better to disregard the accent, and construe wdsyb with what follows, as is done in our common version. Literally, then, the Hebrew reads: In its being founded — this house before their eyes. Maurer refers the Hebrew suffix to Zerubbabel — when he (Zerubbabel) laid the foundation of this house; but as he is not mentioned in the context, it is better to translate the passage impersonally, and the common version can hardly be improved. When the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes — When they witnessed the founding of this second temple the old men wept with a loud voice at the remembrance of the desolation of former glory, while others shouted aloud for joy in the strong hope and prospect of the restoration or former glory. Here, says Wordsworth, “is an apt emblem of every thing, however joyous, which is done in the Church militant on earth. Her march of victory is through a vale of tears; her restorations are memorials of sins which have caused the destruction of that which had been dissolved. Even when she celebrates the glories of the incarnation of Christ, who made our nature to be a temple of the Godhead, she may not forget to weep for the ruin into which the temple of that nature fell by sin.”

V. 13. Could not discern-The mixture of sorrow and joy here, is a representation of this world. In heaven all are singing and none sighing; in hell all are wailing, and none rejoicing: but here on earth we can scarce discern the shouts of joy from the noise of the weeping, let us learn to rejoice with them that rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Meantime let us ourselves rejoice as though we rejoiced not, and weep as though we wept not.

Verse 13. So that the people could not discern, &c. — The mixture of sorrow and joy here is a representation of this world. In heaven all are singing and none sighing; in hell all are wailing and none rejoicing: but here on earth we can scarce discern the shouts of joy from the noise of the weeping; let us learn to rejoice with them that rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Meantime, let us ourselves rejoice as though we rejoiced not, and weep as though we wept not.

THE FOUNDATION OF THE SECOND TEMPLE LAID, 8-13.

8. The second year — More than a year elapsed before the new community began… to set forward the work of the house of the Lord — Other things first required attention. The people were to be numbered, classified, and settled in new homes, and many had to build them houses. Much time also was necessary to arrange for the feasts and offerings, and also for bringing material from Lebanon.