Ezra 3
PATVer. L jCjlND tvhen the seventh month was come, and the cJiildren of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem. We are no where told in what month they began their journey from Babylon. But from chap. vii. 9. we understand it was a journey of four months from thence to Jerusalem; so that w r e may safely conclude they came out in the spring-time in the first or second month, and having spent a short time in settling themselves in their several cities, the seventh approached, or dreio nigh (so it must be understood, and should be rendered), in which was the first feast that fell out after they came into Judea; which they assembled themselves unanimously to celebrate at Jerusalem. Jews. For Zerubbabel was not a king, but a governor of thepTOvince of Judea, under the king of Persia, as Nehemiah was; (chap. v. 14, 15.) under whom there were princes and rulers, that is, the heads of families; (chap. ix. 2.) and below them there were captains of thousands, &c. and other subaltern officers; (chap. x. 8. 14.) and after all,in the fourth, place, the great congregation: which Bertram makes account was the government of the Jews, after their return from the captivity. (See him, de Repub. Jud. cap. 13. where he undertakes to make out the four orders from Nehein. v. 7, &c ) And appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to set forward the work of the house of the Lord.] For since the time of David, they were thought fit at twenty years of age to attend the service of God in his house.
Ezra 3:2
Then stood up Jeshua the son ofJozadak, and his brethren the priests. He was the high-priest, called Joshua in Haggai i. 1. And Zeriibbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren.] He is called there the governor of Judah, being appointed by the king of Persia to that office. And he is there put before Joshua, as here he is put after: the viceroy and the high-priest being " Pares dignitate aut suppares," as Bochartus speaks. (See below, ver. 8. chap. iv. 3. v. 2.) And builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burntofferings thereon.] Which were the most ancient offerings of all others. As it is written in the law of Moses, the man of God.] Where, in the very beginning of the book of Leviticus, there is an order for the burnt-sacrifices before any other.
Ezra 3:3
And they set the altar. Before they began to lay the foundation of the temple; for they would not have sacrifices wanting while it was building. Upon his bases.] That is, in the place, some think, where it #Qciently stood. Which was done, Maimonides saith, by the authority of the prophets, who were then among them. Here the reader must remember what I have observed upon 1 Chron. ix. 11. 21. 23. that till the temple could be built, they erected a tabernacle wherein the service of God was performed, as it was before Solomon’s temple was built. But I noted there, ver. 18. that it did not stand on Mount Moriah, but on Mount Zion; and therefore the altar was also there, and not in the place where it anciently stood, till the temple was finished. (For fear was upon them, because of the people of those countries).] The particle Jci, which we translate/or, signifies although: and so it had been better rendered here, Although they were in great fear of their evil neighbours, yet notwithstanding they would not desist from restoring the worship of God. But if we take it as wc translate it, the meaning is plain that they were the more zealous to restore the worship of God, that they might upon all occasions flee to him for succour against their enemies, of whom they wero in dread. And they offered burnt-offerings thereon unto the Lord, even burnt-offerings morning and evening.] Which is called in the law of Moses the continual burnt-offering, Exod. xxix. 38—42. Numb, xxviii. 3. G.
Ezra 3:4
TJiey kept also the Jeast of tabernacles, as it is xvritten. See Exod.xxiii. 1G. The seventh month was so remarkable for many solemnities appointed to be held in it, that I cannot think they kept only the feast of tabernacles. For on the very first day of the month there was ^ to bo a holy convocation, (Numb. xxix. 1, &c.) on which they began to offer sacrifice, as it is said here, ver. G.: and on the tenth day was another holy convocation, which was the most solemn in all tho year, being the great day of atonemcnt,*(Nurab. xxix. 7.) With these, I suppose, they began; and especially on the tenth day begged pardon of God for their sins, which had cast them out of their land; and then proceeded on the fifteenth day to thank God for their restoration, by keeping the feast of tabernacles. And offered the daily burnt-offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required.] On every day of the feast, which lasted seven days, there were special sacrifices appointed by the law, and in great numbers; as may be seen Numb. xxix. 13. 17, &c. which put this poor people to great expenses; but their piety now w r as such, that they valued nothing so much as the service of God.
Ezra 3:5
And afterward offered the continual burnt-offerings, both of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of the Lord that were consecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a free-will-offering unto the Lord.
Ezra 3:6
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 yet laid. The meaning of these two verses is, that holy rites of sacrificing were restored, and so were kept and continued ever after in their several seasons, on the new moons, and other festival solemnities. And they began with the morning and evening burnt-offering, which was never to be omitted, but in cvefy solemnity was to have the precedence, and be offered in the first place. (See Numb, xxviii. 3, 4, &c.) Vcrl 7. They gave money also unto the masons, and to the carpenters.] To prepare materials for the building. And meat, and drink, and oil, unto them of Zidon, and to them of Tyre.] Who wanted these things more than money, as appears by the history of Solomon’s building, (1 Kings v. 10.) To bring cedar-trees from Lebanon to the sea ofJoppa.] As they had done in the days of Solomon, (1 Kings v. D.) According to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.] Who commanded, I suppose, those of Tyre and Zidon to assist them.
Ezra 3:8
Noiv, in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem. ’ That is, to the place where the house of God formerly stood. In the second month.] All the time before this, in the latter end of the last year, was spent, it is probable, in removing the rubbish, and preparing the ground for laying the foundation, as much as the winter would permit: which was not a season to begin the work, but after the Passover, I presume, they entered upon it. Began Zeriibbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son ofJozadak, and the remnant of their brethren, the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity tinto Jerusalem.] Here Zerubbabcl is put before Jeshua, as ver. 2. Jeshua was put before hira: whereby we learn they were of equal dignity, in the account of the
Ezra 3:9
Tlien stood Jeshua with his sons and his brethren.) Not Jeshua the high-priest beforementioned, but another Jeshua, who was a Levite, mentioned chap. ii. 40. Kadmieland his sous, the sons ofJudah, together.’] Who is called there Hodaviah.,. To setfonvard the workmen in the house of God.] They being made overseers of the work. The sons of Henadad, with their sons, and their brethren the Levites.] These were afterward added to the forenamed, as their assistants….
Ezra 3:10
And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the Lord.] While the sacrifices,! suppose, at the same time were offered, they sung praise to God with such instruments as they had; which were only cymbals, for it is like they had not yet got harps and lutes. The apocryphal Esdras saith, they laid the foundation in*the new moon; but Calvisius thinks it more probable to have been laid the day’after, the new moon being a festival. After the ordinance of David king of Israel.] See 1 Chron. xvi.7. xxv. 1.
Ezra 3:11
And they sang together by course. That is, answered one to another; for from hence was derived the manner of praying and praising God in the Christian service alternatively, as Mr. Mede observes, book i. discourse xvi. where he notes how the seraphims cried one to another, saying, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts/’ &c. Isa. vi. 3. In praising and giving thanks unto the Lord; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever towards Israel.] Thus many of the Psalms of David begin, cvii. exxviii. and cxxxYi. which last psalm, it is probable, was now sung entirely, in every verse of which these words are repeated, his mercy endureth for ever. And all the people shouted ivith a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.] That is, every one expressed their thankfulness and Joy, in such manner as they w r ere able; the priests and Levites with singing and music, and the people with shouting, which is a natural expression of joy, and as acceptable as the most artificial composures.
Ezra 3:12
But many of the priests and Levites, and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house. As many of them might have done, it not being above threescore (or, as some compute, sixty-one) years since it was burnt. And some of them lived long after this,, vox,. n f which was the first year of Cyrus: for some prolonged their days (as Huetius observes) till the second year of Darius. Hystaspes, which was eighteen years after the first of Cyrus, When the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept tvith a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy.] The younger sort shouted, but many of the ancient people disturbed their acclamations with bowlings. For though the temple was intended to be built as large as the. former, upon the same foundation; yet there were not such goodly stones to lay for the foundation, as there were for Solomon’s,. (1 Kings vii.9, 10.) nor could they hope to build it so magnificently as he had done, nor was there any appearance of the Divine glory, or of a. priest with urim and thummim, and such-like things: which indeed were sad, but ought not to have made them weep so loud, and interrupt the public joy. Thankfulness for ^ni^ll beginnings would better have become them, than complaints that their condition was no better. iff v f,
Ezra 3:13
So that the people could noitlkcern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people. t There was a great confusiQn among them by these contrary passions, which was very lamentable when God had been so very good to. them all. For, the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noisq teas heard afar off.] Notwithstanding which, the young people continued to shout as loud as they could, and made the noise of their joy be heard farther off than the othersweeping was,.