Ezra3

Upon their return to Jerusalem in the seventh month, the children of Israel, led by Jeshua and Zerubbabel, first rebuilt the altar and resumed burnt offerings according to the Law of Moses. Despite fear of surrounding peoples, they diligently observed the Feast of Tabernacles and other sacrifices. In the second year, the foundation of the Lord's temple was laid, marked by a great celebration with music and praise, though some elders who remembered the first temple wept.
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The Altar Rebuilt and Worship Restored

1
By the seventh month, the Israelites had settled in their towns, and the people assembled as one man in Jerusalem. ​
2
Then Jeshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests, along with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his associates, began to build the altar of the God of Israel to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God. ​
3
They set up the altar on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the LORD—both the morning and evening burnt offerings—even though they feared the people of the land. ​
4
They also celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles in accordance with what is written, and they offered burnt offerings daily based on the number prescribed for each day. ​
5
After that, they presented the regular burnt offerings and those for New Moons and for all the appointed sacred feasts of the LORD, as well as all the freewill offerings brought to the LORD.
6
On the first day of the seventh month, the Israelites began to offer burnt offerings to the LORD, although the foundation of the temple of the LORD had not been laid.
7
They gave money to the masons and carpenters, and food and drink and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre to bring cedar logs from Lebanon to Joppa by sea, as authorized by Cyrus king of Persia. ​

Laying the Temple Foundation

8
In the second month of the second year after they had arrived at the house of God in Jerusalem, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Jeshua son of Jozadak, and the rest of their associates including the priests, the Levites, and all who had returned to Jerusalem from the captivity, began the work. They appointed Levites twenty years of age or older to supervise the construction of the house of the LORD. ​
9
So Jeshua and his sons and brothers, Kadmiel and his sons (descendants of Yehudah), and the sons of Henadad and their sons and brothers—all Levites—joined together to supervise those working on the house of God.
10
When the builders had laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their positions to praise the LORD, as David king of Israel had prescribed. ​
11
And they sang responsively with praise and thanksgiving to the LORD: “For He is good; for His loving devotion to Israel endures forever.” Then all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD had been laid. ​

Joy and Sorrow Mixed

12
But many of the older priests, Levites, and family heads who had seen the first temple wept loudly when they saw the foundation of this temple. Still, many others shouted joyfully. ​
13
The people could not distinguish the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people were making so much noise. And the sound was heard from afar.

Study Notes for Ezra 3

Verse 1

The gathering 'as one man' emphasizes the unity and commitment of the returnees to restoring corporate worship immediately. The seventh month (Tishri) was highly significant, containing the major fall festivals, including the Day of Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles.

Verse 2

The leaders, Jeshua (priestly authority) and Zerubbabel (civil/Davidic authority), prioritized rebuilding the altar first. This demonstrated the theological principle that atonement and sacrifice must precede the construction of the permanent Temple structure.

Verse 3

The urgency of setting up the altar was driven partly by 'fear' of the hostile surrounding populations. Resuming sacrifices was an act seeking immediate divine protection and covenant renewal before confronting external threats.

Verse 4

They immediately observed the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot), a required festival celebrating God's provision and faithfulness during the wilderness wandering, making it highly appropriate for the newly returned exiles.

Verse 7

The procurement of materials mirrored that of Solomon’s original temple (1 Kings 5), utilizing Phoenician labor (Tyre and Sidon) and Lebanon cedar, highlighting the continuity of the building project and the support granted by Cyrus.

Verse 8

The official construction began two years after the initial return. The appointment of Levites twenty years old and upward reflects the organizational structure for temple service established by King David.

Verse 10

The ceremony followed the organized liturgical standards set by David, utilizing priests with trumpets and Levites with cymbals, marking a deliberate restoration of traditional, authorized Israelite worship practice.

Verse 11

The singing of the refrain 'for his mercy endureth for ever' (from Psalm 136) was a central element of temple liturgy. It emphasized the theological conviction that God's enduring covenant faithfulness had been demonstrated by their return from exile.

Verse 12

This verse captures the dramatic tension of the restoration. The older generation, having seen the magnificence of Solomon’s Temple (the 'first house'), wept with sorrow, contrasting sharply with the unrestrained joy of the younger generations.

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