Ezra 3 KJV: The Restoration of Sacrifice and the Foundation of the Temple
Ezra 3 documents the reconstruction of the Altar and the laying of the second Temple's foundation under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Jeshua. It illustrates that spiritual life must begin with sacrifice (the Altar) before it moves to structure (the Temple), prioritizing worship over architecture.
v1-3: Rebuilding the Altar: Worship Before Construction
v4-6: The Resumption of the Feast of Tabernacles and Daily Sacrifices
v7-9: Hiring the Builders and the Oversight of the Levites
v10-13: The Foundation Ceremony: Shouts of Joy and Wailing of the Elders
Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.
And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD, even burnt offerings morning and evening.
They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required;
And afterward offered the continual burnt offering, 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 freewill offering unto the LORD.
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.
They gave money also unto the masons, and to the carpenters; and meat, and drink, and oil, unto them of Zidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.
Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem; and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to set forward the work of the house of the LORD.
Then stood Jeshua with his sons and his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to set forward the workmen in the house of God: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brethren the Levites.
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, after the ordinance of David king of Israel.
And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.
But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:
So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.
See the smoke of sacrifice rise again in Jerusalem as a community finds its voice in praise and its heart in the rubble. Begin your study with ezra 3 summary.
The elders wept because they remembered the glory of Solomon's Temple, while the young shouted for joy, creating a 'mingled' sound that could be heard far off. The 'Word Secret' is Yasad, meaning 'to found' or 'establish,' which is where we get the concept of a solid basis for a new life. Discover the riches with ezra 3 commentary, containing expert led word study (original greek/hebrew) and passage level analysis.
Unlock the hidden ezra 3 1 meaning and summary by exploring context, analyzing original greek and hebrew words, and studying cross references of each verse.
Have a question about this chapter or a revelation to share? Connect with the Body of Christ to express your heart and find biblical answers within the Ezra 3 fellowship.