Ezra 3

Jesua the Priest, and Zerubbabel the Prince, building the altar of the Lord, and offer the first offerings thereon, vers.1, etc. They also keep the feast of Leaf-huts, 4. They appoint all things, that are necessary for the further service of God, and for the building, 5. The foundation of the Temple is laid, with great joy, and thanksgiving to God, 8. Albeit also with great weeping of many, that had seen the former Temple, 12.

1. Now when the seventh month [Agreeing partly with our September, and partly with our October. In this month was the feast of the Leaf-huts kept, Lev.23.24. Numb.29.12.] came [Hebr. touched] and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together, as one man, [see Judges 24.on v.1. to Jerusalem.

2. And Jesua, [See above chap.2. on vers.2.] the son of Josadak, gat him up; and his brethren [that is, kinsmen of near kin, that were of the same kindred: and so in the following words] the Priests, and Zerubbabel, the son of Sealthiel, [that is, his grand-child: for he was the son of Pedaja, [that is, his grand-child: for he was the son of Pedja, who was the son of Sealthiel, 1 Chron.3.17, 18, 19. In Matth.1.12. he is called Salathiel] and his brethren, and they built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt-offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moseh, the man of God. [See Judges 13.on v.6.]

3. And they fixed the altar upon his basis, but with terror, (which) was upon them, because of the nations of the lands: [Meaning, the countrys round about, wherein their enemies dwelt. See below chapter 4.7,8,9,10, etc. They omitted not the service of God, although they were afraid, etc. Others, for fear was upon them, because of, etc. That is, they endeavoured by the exercise of the Religion to secure and safeguard themselves against their enemies] and they offered burnt-offerings thereon, burnt-offerings morning and evening. [See Numb.28.3,4, etc. With the Annotations.]

4. And they kept the feast of the Leaf-huts, as it is written: and (they offered) burnt-offerings day by day in number, according to the ordinance, [See Numb.29.12, etc.] every day on its day. [Hebr. the word, or, thing of a day on its day.]

5. After that also the continual burnt-offering, [See Numb.28.on vers.6.] and of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of the LORD, that were consecrated; [see Lev.8.on vers.10.] also of every one that willingly offered a free-will-offering unto the Lord.

6. From the 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 laid.

7. So they gave money to the hewers, [Hewers of wood, and hewers of stone, that hewed wood out of the forests, and stones out of the rocks: the Hebrew word comprehendeth both, and both were necessary for the building of the Temple] and crafts-men; also meat, and drink, and oyl unto the Zidonians, and unto the Tyrians, [according to the example of Salomon, 1 Kings 5:6.9,11.] to bring cedar-wood from Lebanon [see 1 Kings 4.on vers.33.] to Japho on the sea, [otherwise called Joppe, Acts 9:36. See 2 Chron.2.on vers.16.] according to the grant of Cores, king of Bersia unto them.

8. Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, i the second (month,) [Called Jiar, answering partly to April, and partly to May] began Zerubbabel, the son of Sealthiel, and Jesua, the son of Josadak, and the rest of their brethren, the Priests, and the Levites, and all that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem: and they appointed the Levites, from twenty years old [Hebr. a son of twenty years] and upward, to have the oversight over the work of the house of the LORD.

9. Then stood Jesua, his sons, and his brethren, (and) Kadmiel with his sons, children of Juda, [Above chap.2.40. called Hodavja, and Nehem.7.43. Hodeva] as one (man,) to have the oversight over them, that did the work at the house of God: with the sons of Henadad, their sons, and their brethren, the Levites.

10. Now when the builders laid the foundation of the Temple of the LORD, then they set the Priests, being apparelled, [To wit, with their priestly garments] with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD, according to the institution of David, [Hebr. according to the hands; that is, (as some conceive) with Psalms, which David had made and ordained for that purpose. See 2 Chron.5.13. and 29.27. and compare 1 Chron.16.7, etc.] king of Israel.

11. And they sang by turns, in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD, (for) that he is good, (for) that his loving kindness is for ever towards Israel: and all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised God, for laying the foundation of the house of the LORD.

12. But many of the Priests, and the Levites, and heads of the fathers that were ancient, that had seen the first house, this house in laying the foundation thereof being before their eyes, wept with a loud voice: [Some thus; those that had seen the first house laid upon its foundation, this house being (now) before their eyes, etc. The meaning is, that they now beholding with their eyes the laying of the foundation of this Temple and comparing the same with the foundation of the first Temple, might easily gather from thence, how much this building differed from the former. See Hag.2,3.] but many lifted up (their) voice with shouting, (and) with joy.

13. So that the people discerned not the voice of the shout of joy from the voice of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a great shout, (so) that the voice was heard a far off.