45
The priests, the Levites, and some of the people took up residence in Jerusalem and the surrounding area. The temple singers, the gatekeepers, and the rest of Israel settled in the villages.
46
When the seventh month came and the Israelites were all in their own homes, they gathered together in the square near the first gate on the eastern side.
47
Then Jeshua, Jozadak's son with his fellow priests, and Zerubbabel, Shealtiel's son with his group, took their positions and prepared the altar of the God of Israel
48
to offer up entirely burned offerings, according to the stipulations in the scroll from Moses, the man of God.
49
Some from the other neighboring peoples gathered with them. They erected the altar in its proper place (even though all the other neighboring peoples were hostile to them and were stronger than they were). They offered sacrifices and entirely burned offerings to the Lord at the proper morning and evening times.