Ezra 6:16

16 The children of Yisra'el, the Kohanim, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy.

Ezra 6:16 Meaning and Commentary

Ezra 6:16

And the children of Israel
Those of the ten tribes that remained after the body of the people were carried captive, or came with the Jews at their return:

the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the
captivity;
those of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin:

kept the dedication of this house of God with joy;
they set it apart for sacred use and service, with feasting and other expressions of joy and gladness, as follows.

Ezra 6:16 In-Context

14 The Zakenim of the Yehudim built and prospered, through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zekharyah the son of `Iddo. They built and finished it, according to the mitzvah of the God of Yisra'el, and according to the decree of Koresh, and Daryavesh, and Artachshasta king of Paras.

15 This house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Daryavesh the king.

16 The children of Yisra'el, the Kohanim, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy.

17 They offered at the dedication of this house of God one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin-offering for all Yisra'el, twelve male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Yisra'el.

18 They set the Kohanim in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Yerushalayim; as it is written in the book of Moshe.