Ezra 3:3

3 They set up the altar on its foundation, because they were in dread of the neighboring peoples, and they offered burnt offerings upon it to the Lord, morning and evening.

Ezra 3:3 Meaning and Commentary

Ezra 3:3

And they set the altar upon his bases
Which might remain of the old altar; or the meaning is, that it was fixed and settled on the same spot where it stood before:

for fear was upon them, because of the people of those countries;
and therefore they hastened to erect an altar, and offer sacrifices to the Lord, in hope that he would appear for them, and help them against their enemies; or rather, as some render the words ^F17 "though fear was upon them" yet they were not deterred from the work, worship, and service of God:

and they offered burnt offerings unto the Lord, even burnt offerings,
morning and evening;
the daily sacrifice, as directed to ( Exodus 29:38 Exodus 29:39 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 (yk) "quamvis", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Patrick.

Ezra 3:3 In-Context

1 When the seventh month came, and the Israelites were in the towns, the people gathered together in Jerusalem.

2 Then Jeshua son of Jozadak, with his fellow priests, and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel with his kin set out to build the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as prescribed in the law of Moses the man of God.

3 They set up the altar on its foundation, because they were in dread of the neighboring peoples, and they offered burnt offerings upon it to the Lord, morning and evening.

4 And they kept the festival of booths, as prescribed, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number according to the ordinance, as required for each day,

5 and after that the regular burnt offerings, the offerings at the new moon and at all the sacred festivals of the Lord, and the offerings of everyone who made a freewill offering to the Lord.