Ezra 3:1-3

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.)

Ezra 3:1-3 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZRA 3

This chapter relates how that the people of Israel returned from captivity, gathered to Jerusalem, and set up the altar, where sacrifices were offered, Ezr 3:1-3, and kept the feast of tabernacles, and offered the sacrifices of that, besides the daily sacrifice, and of other festivals; and contributed to the workmen that prepared for the building of the temple, Ezr 3:4-7 and began it by laying the foundation of it; which to some was matter of joy, to others of grief, on different accounts, Ezr 3:8-13.