13 So that the people H5971 could not discern H5234 the noise H6963 of the shout H8643 of joy H8057 from the noise H6963 of the weeping H1065 of the people: H5971 for the people H5971 shouted H7321 with a loud H1419 shout, H8643 and the noise H6963 was heard H8085 afar off. H7350
And when Joshua H3091 heard H8085 the noise H6963 of the people H5971 as they shouted, H7452 he said H559 unto Moses, H4872 There is a noise H6963 of war H4421 in the camp. H4264 And he said, H559 It is not the voice H6963 of them that shout H6030 for mastery, H1369 neither is it the voice H6963 of them that cry H6030 for being overcome: H2476 but the noise H6963 of them that sing H6031 do I hear. H8085
[[A Psalm H4210 of praise.]] H8426 Make a joyful noise H7321 unto the LORD, H3068 all ye lands. H776 Serve H5647 the LORD H3068 with gladness: H8057 come H935 before his presence H6440 with singing. H7445
And when he G846 was come nigh, G1448 even G1161 now G2235 at G4314 the descent G2600 of the mount G3735 of Olives, G1636 the whole G537 multitude G4128 of the disciples G3101 began G756 to rejoice G5463 and praise G134 God G2316 with a loud G3173 voice G5456 for G4012 all G3956 the mighty works G1411 that G3739 they had seen; G1492 Saying, G3004 Blessed G2127 be the King G935 that cometh G2064 in G1722 the name G3686 of the Lord: G2962 peace G1515 in G1722 heaven, G3772 and G2532 glory G1391 in G1722 the highest. G5310 And G2532 some G5100 of the Pharisees G5330 from G575 among the multitude G3793 said G2036 unto G4314 him, G846 Master, G1320 rebuke G2008 thy G4675 disciples. G3101 And G2532 he answered G611 and said G2036 unto them, G846 I tell G3004 you G5213 that, G3754 if G1437 these G3778 should hold their peace, G4623 the stones G3037 would immediately cry out. G2896
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Ezra 3
Commentary on Ezra 3 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 3
Ezr 3:1-13. The Altar Set Up.
1. when the seventh month was come—The departure of the returning exiles from Babylon took place in the spring. For some time after their arrival they were occupied in the necessary work of rearing habitations to themselves amid the ruins of Jerusalem and its neighborhood. This preliminary work being completed, they addressed themselves to rebuild the altar of burnt offering. As the seventh month of the sacred year was at hand—corresponding to the latter end of our September—when the feast of tabernacles (Le 23:34) fell to be observed, they resolved to celebrate that religious festival, just as if the temple had been fully restored.
2. Jeshua—the grandson of Seraiah, the high priest, put to death by Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah (2Ki 25:18-21). His father, Josedech, had been carried captive to Babylon, and died there, some time before this.
Zerubbabel—was, according to the order of nature, son of Pedaiah (1Ch 3:17-19); but having been brought up by Salathiel, he was called his son.
builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon—This was of urgent and immediate necessity, in order, first, to make atonement for their sins; secondly, to obtain the divine blessing on their preparations for the temple, as well as animate their feelings of piety and patriotism for the prosecution of that national work.
3. they set the altar upon his bases—They reared it upon its old foundation, so that it occupied as nearly as possible the site on which it had formerly stood.
they offered burnt offerings … morning and evening—Deeming it their duty to perform the public rites of religion, they did not wait till the temple should be rebuilt and dedicated; but, at the outset, they resumed the daily service prescribed by the law (Ex 29:38, 39; Le 6:9, 11), as well as observed the annual seasons of solemn observance.
Ezr 3:4-7. Offerings Renewed.
4, 6. They kept also the feast of tabernacles … From the first day of the seventh month—They revived at that time the daily oblation, and it was on the fifteenth day of that month the feast of tabernacles was held.
7. They gave … meat … drink, and oil, unto them of Zidon—They opened negotiations with the Tyrians for workmen, as well as for timber, on the same terms and with the same views as Solomon had done (1Ki 5:11; 2Ch 2:15, 16).
Ezr 3:8-13. The Foundation of the Temple Laid.
8. appointed the Levites … to set forward the work—that is, to act as overseers of the workmen, and to direct and animate the laborers in the various departments.
9. Jeshua with his sons—not the high priest, but a Levite (Ezr 2:40). To these, as probably distinguished for their mechanical skill and taste, the duty of acting as overseers was particularly committed.
12. But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers … wept with a loud voice—Those painful emotions were excited by the sad contrast between the prosperous circumstances in which the foundations of the first temple had been laid and the desolate, reduced state of the country and city when the second was begun; between the inferior size and less costliness of the stones used in the foundations of the second (1Ki 7:9, 10), and the much smaller extent of the foundation itself, including all the appurtenances of the building (Hag 2:3); between the comparative smallness of their present means and the immense resources of David and Solomon. Perhaps, however, the chief cause of grief was that the second temple would be destitute of those things which formed the great and distinguishing glory of the first; namely, the ark, the shekinah, the Urim and Thummim, &c. Not that this second temple was not a very grand and beautiful structure. But no matter how great its material splendor was, it was inferior in this respect to that of Solomon. Yet the glory of the second far outshone that of the first temple in another and more important point of view, namely, the receiving within its walls the incarnate Saviour (Hag 2:9).
13. the people could not discern the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people—Among Eastern people, expressions of sorrow are always very loud and vehement. It is indicated by wailing, the howl of which is sometimes not easily distinguishable from joyful acclamations.