---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Ezra 3"
description: "CHAPTER 3   :-. 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"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/ezra/3"
---

CHAPTER 3

. 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 ([Leviticus 23:34](../../../kjv/leviticus/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
([2 Kings 25:18-21](../../../kjv/2-kings/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 ([2 Kings 25:18-12](../../../kjv/2-kings/25/18-12)); 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 ([Exodus 29:38](../../../kjv/exodus/29/38);
[Exodus 29:39](../../../kjv/exodus/29/39); [Leviticus 6:9](../../../kjv/leviticus/6/9);
[Leviticus 6:11](../../../kjv/leviticus/6/11)), as well as observed the
annual seasons of solemn observance.
[Leviticus 6:11](../../../kjv/leviticus/6/11). 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.

**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 ([1 Kings 5:11](../../../kjv/1-kings/5/11);
[2 Chronicles 2:15](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/2/15); [2 Chronicles 2:16](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/2/16)).
[2 Chronicles 2:16](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/2/16). 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 (). 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
([1 Kings 7:9](../../../kjv/1-kings/7/9); [1 Kings 7:10](../../../kjv/1-kings/7/10)),
and the much smaller extent of the foundation itself, including all
the appurtenances of the building ([1 Kings 7:10](../../../kjv/1-kings/7/10)); 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 ([Haggai 2:9](../../../kjv/haggai/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.

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