2 Then stood up H6965 Jeshua H3442 the son H1121 of Jozadak, H3136 and his brethren H251 the priests, H3548 and Zerubbabel H2216 the son H1121 of Shealtiel, H7597 and his brethren, H251 and builded H1129 the altar H4196 of the God H430 of Israel, H3478 to offer H5927 burnt offerings H5930 thereon, as it is written H3789 in the law H8451 of Moses H4872 the man H376 of God. H430
And G1161 after G3326 they were brought G3350 to Babylon, G897 Jechonias G2423 begat G1080 Salathiel; G4528 and G1161 Salathiel G4528 begat G1080 Zorobabel; G2216 And G1161 Zorobabel G2216 begat G1080 Abiud; G10 and G1161 Abiud G10 begat G1080 Eliakim; G1662 and G1161 Eliakim G1662 begat G1080 Azor; G107
Then he answered H6030 and spake H559 unto me, saying, H559 This is the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 unto Zerubbabel, H2216 saying, H559 Not by might, H2428 nor by power, H3581 but by my spirit, H7307 saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts. H6635 Who art thou, O great H1419 mountain? H2022 before H6440 Zerubbabel H2216 thou shalt become a plain: H4334 and he shall bring forth H3318 the headstone H68 H7222 thereof with shoutings, H8663 crying, Grace, H2580 grace H2580 unto it. Moreover the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 came unto me, saying, H559 The hands H3027 of Zerubbabel H2216 have laid the foundation H3245 of this house; H1004 his hands H3027 shall also finish H1214 it; and thou shalt know H3045 that the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 hath sent H7971 me unto you. For who hath despised H936 the day H3117 of small things? H6996 for they shall rejoice, H8055 and shall see H7200 the plummet H68 H913 in the hand H3027 of Zerubbabel H2216 with those seven; H7651 they are the eyes H5869 of the LORD, H3068 which run to and fro H7751 through the whole earth. H776
An altar H4196 of earth H127 thou shalt make H6213 unto me, and shalt sacrifice H2076 thereon thy burnt offerings, H5930 and thy peace offerings, H8002 thy sheep, H6629 and thine oxen: H1241 in all places H4725 where I record H2142 my name H8034 I will come H935 unto thee, and I will bless H1288 thee. And if thou wilt make H6213 me an altar H4196 of stone, H68 thou shalt not build H1129 it of hewn stone: H1496 for if thou lift up H5130 thy tool H2719 upon it, thou hast polluted H2490 it.
Speak H559 now to Zerubbabel H2216 the son H1121 of Shealtiel, H7597 governor H6346 of Judah, H3063 and to Joshua H3091 the son H1121 of Josedech, H3087 the high H1419 priest, H3548 and to the residue H7611 of the people, H5971 saying, H559 Who is left H7604 among you that saw H7200 this house H1004 in her first H7223 glory? H3519 and how do ye see H7200 it now? is it not in your eyes H5869 in comparison H3644 of it as nothing? Yet now be strong, H2388 O Zerubbabel, H2216 saith H5002 the LORD; H3068 and be strong, H2388 O Joshua, H3091 son H1121 of Josedech, H3087 the high H1419 priest; H3548 and be strong, H2388 all ye people H5971 of the land, H776 saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 and work: H6213 for I am with you, saith H5002 the LORD H3068 of hosts: H6635
But unto the place H4725 which the LORD H3068 your God H430 shall choose H977 out of all your tribes H7626 to put H7760 his name H8034 there, even unto his habitation H7933 shall ye seek, H1875 and thither thou shalt come: H935 And thither ye shall bring H935 your burnt offerings, H5930 and your sacrifices, H2077 and your tithes, H4643 and heave offerings H8641 of your hand, H3027 and your vows, H5088 and your freewill offerings, H5071 and the firstlings H1062 of your herds H1241 and of your flocks: H6629 And there ye shall eat H398 before H6440 the LORD H3068 your God, H430 and ye shall rejoice H8055 in all that ye put H4916 your hand H3027 unto, ye and your households, H1004 wherein the LORD H3068 thy God H430 hath blessed H1288 thee.
And thou shalt say H559 unto them, This is the offering made by fire H801 which ye shall offer H7126 unto the LORD; H3068 two H8147 lambs H3532 of the first H1121 year H8141 without spot H8549 day by day, H3117 for a continual H8548 burnt offering. H5930 The one H259 lamb H3532 shalt thou offer H6213 in the morning, H1242 and the other H8145 lamb H3532 shalt thou offer H6213 at even; H6153 And a tenth H6224 part of an ephah H374 of flour H5560 for a meat offering, H4503 mingled H1101 with the fourth H7243 part of an hin H1969 of beaten H3795 oil. H8081 It is a continual H8548 burnt offering, H5930 which was ordained H6213 in mount H2022 Sinai H5514 for a sweet H5207 savour, H7381 a sacrifice made by fire H801 unto the LORD. H3068 And the drink offering H5262 thereof shall be the fourth H7243 part of an hin H1969 for the one H259 lamb: H3532 in the holy H6944 place shalt thou cause the strong wine H7941 to be poured H5258 unto the LORD H3068 for a drink offering. H5262 And the other H8145 lamb H3532 shalt thou offer H6213 at even: H6153 as the meat offering H4503 of the morning, H1242 and as the drink offering H5262 thereof, thou shalt offer H6213 it, a sacrifice made by fire, H801 of a sweet H5207 savour H7381 unto the LORD. H3068 And on the sabbath H7676 day H3117 two H8147 lambs H3532 of the first H1121 year H8141 without spot, H8549 and two H8147 tenth H6241 deals of flour H5560 for a meat offering, H4503 mingled H1101 with oil, H8081 and the drink offering H5262 thereof: This is the burnt offering H5930 of every sabbath, H7676 beside the continual H8548 burnt offering, H5930 and his drink offering. H5262 And in the beginnings H7218 of your months H2320 ye shall offer H7126 a burnt offering H5930 unto the LORD; H3068 two H8147 young H1241 bullocks, H6499 and one H259 ram, H352 seven H7651 lambs H3532 of the first H1121 year H8141 without spot; H8549 And three H7969 tenth deals H6241 of flour H5560 for a meat offering, H4503 mingled H1101 with oil, H8081 for one H259 bullock; H6499 and two H8147 tenth H6241 deals of flour H5560 for a meat offering, H4503 mingled H1101 with oil, H8081 for one H259 ram; H352 And a several tenth deal H6241 of flour H5560 mingled H1101 with oil H8081 for a meat offering H4503 unto one H259 lamb; H3532 for a burnt offering H5930 of a sweet H5207 savour, H7381 a sacrifice made by fire H801 unto the LORD. H3068 And their drink offerings H5262 shall be half H2677 an hin H1969 of wine H3196 unto a bullock, H6499 and the third H7992 part of an hin H1969 unto a ram, H352 and a fourth H7243 part of an hin H1969 unto a lamb: H3532 this is the burnt offering H5930 of every month H2320 throughout the months H2320 of the year. H8141 And one H259 kid H8163 of the goats H5795 for a sin offering H2403 unto the LORD H3068 shall be offered, H6213 beside the continual H8548 burnt offering, H5930 and his drink offering. H5262 And in the fourteenth H702 H6240 day H3117 of the first H7223 month H2320 is the passover H6453 of the LORD. H3068 And in the fifteenth H2568 H6240 day H3117 of this month H2320 is the feast: H2282 seven H7651 days H3117 shall unleavened bread H4682 be eaten. H398 In the first H7223 day H3117 shall be an holy H6944 convocation; H4744 ye shall do H6213 no manner of servile H5656 work H4399 therein: But ye shall offer H7126 a sacrifice made by fire H801 for a burnt offering H5930 unto the LORD; H3068 two H8147 young H1241 bullocks, H6499 and one H259 ram, H352 and seven H7651 lambs H3532 of the first H1121 year: H8141 they shall be unto you without blemish: H8549 And their meat offering H4503 shall be of flour H5560 mingled H1101 with oil: H8081 three H7969 tenth deals H6241 shall ye offer H6213 for a bullock, H6499 and two H8147 tenth deals H6241 for a ram; H352 A several tenth deal H6241 shalt thou offer H6213 for every H259 lamb, H3532 throughout the seven H7651 lambs: H3532 And one H259 goat H8163 for a sin offering, H2403 to make an atonement H3722 for you. Ye shall offer H6213 these beside the burnt offering H5930 in the morning, H1242 which is for a continual H8548 burnt offering. H5930 After this manner ye shall offer H6213 daily, H3117 throughout the seven H7651 days, H3117 the meat H3899 of the sacrifice made by fire, H801 of a sweet H5207 savour H7381 unto the LORD: H3068 it shall be offered H6213 beside the continual H8548 burnt offering, H5930 and his drink offering. H5262 And on the seventh H7637 day H3117 ye shall have an holy H6944 convocation; H4744 ye shall do H6213 no servile H5656 work. H4399 Also in the day H3117 of the firstfruits, H1061 when ye bring H7126 a new H2319 meat offering H4503 unto the LORD, H3068 after your weeks H7620 be out, ye shall have an holy H6944 convocation; H4744 ye shall do H6213 no servile H5656 work: H4399 But ye shall offer H7126 the burnt offering H5930 for a sweet H5207 savour H7381 unto the LORD; H3068 two H8147 young H1241 bullocks, H6499 one H259 ram, H352 seven H7651 lambs H3532 of the first H1121 year; H8141 And their meat offering H4503 of flour H5560 mingled H1101 with oil, H8081 three H7969 tenth deals H6241 unto one H259 bullock, H6499 two H8147 tenth deals H6241 unto one H259 ram, H352 A several tenth deal H6241 unto one H259 lamb, H3532 throughout the seven H7651 lambs; H3532 And one H259 kid H8163 of the goats, H5795 to make an atonement H3722 for you. Ye shall offer H6213 them beside the continual H8548 burnt offering, H5930 and his meat offering, H4503 (they shall be unto you without blemish) H8549 and their drink offerings. H5262
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.