Ezra 3:3

3 And they setted the altar upon his foundaments, while the peoples of (the) lands by compass made them afeared; and they offered upon that altar burnt sacrifices to the Lord in the morrowtide and eventide. (And they put the altar on its foundation, or on its base, for the peoples of the lands all about had made them afraid; and they offered on that altar burnt sacrifices to the Lord in the morning and in the 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 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

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

Ezra 3:3 In-Context

1 And when the seventh month was come, and the sons of Israel were in their cities. And the people was gathered as one man into Jerusalem. (And when the seventh month had come, with all the Israelites in their cities, then the people gathered together as one person in Jerusalem.)
2 And Joshua, the son of Jozadak, rose up, and his brethren, (the) priests, and Zerubbabel, the son of Salathiel, and his brethren, and they builded the altar of God of Israel for to offer thereupon burnt sacrifices, as it is written in the law of Moses, the man of God. (And Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, rose up, and his fellow priests, and Zerubbabel, the son of Salathiel, and his kinsmen, and they rebuilt the altar of the God of Israel to offer burnt sacrifices upon, as it is written in the Law of Moses, the man of God.)
3 And they setted the altar upon his foundaments, while the peoples of (the) lands by compass made them afeared; and they offered upon that altar burnt sacrifices to the Lord in the morrowtide and eventide. (And they put the altar on its foundation, or on its base, for the peoples of the lands all about had made them afraid; and they offered on that altar burnt sacrifices to the Lord in the morning and in the evening.)
4 And they made the solemnity of tabernacles, as it is written, and they offered burnt sacrifice(s) each day by order, by the work of the day commanded in his day. (And they kept the Feast of Tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt sacrifices in order, as the custom of each day required.)
5 And after this they offered the continual burnt sacrifice, both in calends and in all solemnities of the Lord, that were hallowed, and in all, in which (a) gift was offered to the Lord by free will. (And in addition to this, they offered the continual burnt sacrifices that were ordained, and the sacrifices, or the offerings, on calends, that is, on the first day of the month, and at all the Feasts to honour the Lord, as well as all the freewill offerings, or gifts, that were given to the Lord.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.