Ezra 3
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CHAPTER 3
Rebuilding the Altar (3:1–6)
1–2 The first public project the returned exiles undertook was the rebuilding of the altar of burnt offering (Exodus 27:1–8); they built it on its own foundation, right where it had stood in Solomon’s temple (verse 3). The leaders of the work were Jeshua the high priest and Zerubbabel the governor (verse 2); Zerubbabel had presumably succeeded the original governor, Sheshbazzar (Ezra 1:8). It is significant that Zerubbabel was a descendant of David and also a direct ancestor of Christ (1 Chronicles 3:17–19;Matthew1:12–13). However, in the building of the altar and temple, Jeshua the priest took precedence over Zerubbabel the civil leader—even though Zerubbabel represented the line of David.
In building the altar before anything else, the people had acted correctly: in establishing any community one needs to begin with the worship of God.14 After that, God’s house can be built; and only after that should the city be built. As we shall see, the returned exiles rebuilt their community in that order.
3–6 When the altar was completed, the people began to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, both the morning and evening sacrifices (see Exodus 29:38–41; Leviticus 1:1–17). Then they celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles (see Exodus 23:16; Leviticus 23:33–43). After that they resumed the schedule of sacrifices established by MOSES, including the New Moon sacrifices at the beginning of each month (see Numbers 28:11–15) and the sacrifices for all the other appointed sacred feasts (verse 5) that the Israelites were commanded to observe each year (Leviticus Chapter 23).
Rebuilding the Temple (3:7–13)
7–9 Here Ezra describes the laying of the temple’s foundation. As in the days of David and Solomon, the people obtained cedar logs from Sidon and Tyre, two cities of Lebanon just north of Israel (2 Samuel 5:11; 1 Kings 5:10).
10–13 When the foundation was laid, the people rejoiced and praised God. But a few people old enough to have seen Solomon’s temple while it was still standing wept when they realized they would never be able to duplicate the glory of that former temple.