Ezra 3: The Altar and the Foundation
The returned exiles restore the altar and lay the temple's foundation amid mingled shouts of joy and the weeping of the old.
Ezra 3 (WEB)
1 When the seventh month had come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem.
2 Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak stood up with his brothers the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his brothers, and built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.
3 In spite of their fear because of the peoples of the surrounding lands, they set the altar on its base; and they offered burnt offerings on it to Yahweh, even burnt offerings morning and evening.
4 They kept the feast of tents, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the ordinance, as the duty of every day required;
5 and afterward the continual burnt offering, the offerings of the new moons, of all the set feasts of Yahweh that were consecrated, and of everyone who willingly offered a freewill offering to Yahweh.
6 From the first day of the seventh month, they began to offer burnt offerings to Yahweh; but the foundation of Yahweh’s temple was not yet laid.
7 They also gave money to the masons, and to the carpenters. They also gave food, drink, and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, according to the grant that they had from Cyrus King of Persia.
8 Now in the second year of their coming to God’s house at Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and all those who had come out of the captivity to Jerusalem, began the work and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to have the oversight of the work of Yahweh’s house.
9 Then Jeshua stood with his sons and his brothers, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to have the oversight of the workmen in God’s house: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brothers the Levites.
10 When the builders laid the foundation of Yahweh’s temple, they set the priests in their clothing with trumpets, with the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise Yahweh, according to the directions of David king of Israel.
11 They sang to one another in praising and giving thanks to Yahweh, “For he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever toward Israel.” All the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised Yahweh, because the foundation of Yahweh’s house had been laid.
12 But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ households, the old men who had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice. Many also shouted aloud for joy,
13 so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people; for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard far away.
Ezra 3 (KJV)
1 And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem.
2 Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.
3 And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the Lord, even burnt offerings morning and evening.
4 They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required;
5 And afterward offered the continual burnt offering, both of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of the Lord that were consecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a freewill offering unto the Lord.
6 From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt offerings unto the Lord. But the foundation of the temple of the Lord was not yet laid.
7 They gave money also unto the masons, and to the carpenters; and meat, and drink, and oil, unto them of Zidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.
8 Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem; and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to set forward the work of the house of the Lord.
9 Then stood Jeshua with his sons and his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to set forward the workmen in the house of God: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brethren the Levites.
10 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the Lord, after the ordinance of David king of Israel.
11 And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the Lord; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.
12 But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:
13 So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.
Ezra 3 (ASV)
1 And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem.
2 Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt-offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.
3 And they set the altar upon its base; for fear was upon them because of the peoples of the countries: and they offered burnt-offerings thereon unto Jehovah, even burnt-offerings morning and evening.
4 And they kept the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt-offerings by number, according to the ordinance, as the duty of every day required;
5 and afterward the continual burnt-offering, and the offerings of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of Jehovah that were consecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a freewill-offering unto Jehovah.
6 From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt-offerings unto Jehovah: but the foundation of the temple of Jehovah was not yet laid.
7 They gave money also unto the masons, and to the carpenters; and food, and drink, and oil, unto them of Sidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar-trees from Lebanon to the sea, unto Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.
8 Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem, and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to have the oversight of the work of the house of Jehovah.
9 Then stood Jeshua with his sons and his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to have the oversight of the workmen in the house of God: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brethren the Levites.
10 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of Jehovah, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise Jehovah, after the order of David king of Israel.
11 And they sang one to another in praising and giving thanks unto Jehovah, saying, For he is good, for his lovingkindness endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised Jehovah, because the foundation of the house of Jehovah was laid.
12 But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ houses, the old men that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:
13 so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people; for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.
Summary
When the seventh month arrives, the people gather as one to Jerusalem. Jeshua the priest and Zerubbabel, with their fellow priests and leaders, rebuild the altar of the God of Israel to offer burnt offerings as the Law of Moses commands. In spite of their fear of the surrounding peoples, they set the altar on its base and resume the morning and evening sacrifices, keeping the Feast of Tents and the regular offerings of the calendar, even before the temple foundation is laid. They give money to masons and carpenters and food and drink to the people of Sidon and Tyre to bring cedar from Lebanon, as Cyrus had granted. In the second year, Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the others begin the building and appoint Levites to oversee the work. When the builders lay the foundation, the priests in their robes sound trumpets and the Levites clash cymbals, praising the Lord with the ancient refrain that he is good and his loving kindness toward Israel endures forever. The people shout with a great shout, but the old men who had seen the first temple weep aloud, so that the sound of joy and the sound of weeping cannot be told apart, and the noise is heard far away.
Main Characters
- Jeshua — The high priest who, with his fellow priests, rebuilds the altar and restores the burnt offerings according to the Law of Moses.
- Zerubbabel — The leader of the returned exiles who oversees the laying of the temple foundation and the appointment of Levites for the work.
- The Levites and priests — Those who lead the worship at the foundation-laying, sounding trumpets and cymbals and praising the Lord according to David's directions.
- The older generation — The aged who had seen the first temple and weep aloud at the new foundation, even as others shout for joy.
Key Verse
Ezra 3:11 (WEB)
They sang to one another in praising and giving thanks to Yahweh, “For he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever toward Israel.” All the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised Yahweh, because the foundation of Yahweh’s house had been laid.
Lessons Learned
- Restored worship comes first; the altar is rebuilt before the temple and the city.
- Obedience often moves forward in spite of fear, not the absence of it.
- God's goodness and enduring loving kindness are the timeless ground of his people's praise.
- Honest worship can hold joy and grief together at the same moment.
- Put the altar first. "They set the altar on its base" and offered sacrifices before the foundation was laid (Ezra 3:3, WEB). Worship is the heart of rebuilding a life or a people.
- Obey even while afraid. They built the altar "in spite of their fear because of the peoples of the surrounding lands" (Ezra 3:3, WEB). Faithfulness does not wait for fear to disappear.
- Praise rests on God's unchanging character. They sang, "For he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever toward Israel" (Ezra 3:11, WEB). His steadfast love is the constant theme of true worship.
- Joy and sorrow can mingle in God's work. The people could not "discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping" (Ezra 3:13, WEB). God receives both our gladness and our grief.
- Why do the people rebuild the altar and resume sacrifices before the temple itself is finished?
- What does it mean that they built "in spite of their fear" of their neighbors?
- The song of praise echoes a refrain used across Israel's worship. Why anchor their praise in God's goodness and steadfast love?
- Why might the older men weep while the rest shout for joy at the same event?
- What helps you keep worshiping God in a season of fear, when the work before you feels small or fragile?
- The altar restores fellowship with God and obedience to his Law (3:2-3) before any walls rise. Worship is not the capstone of restoration but its foundation; getting right with God comes before getting everything else in order. Encourage the group to consider what comes first in their own seasons of rebuilding.
- Surrounded by hostile peoples, the exiles still set up the altar and worshiped (3:3). Courage is not the absence of fear but obedience in its presence. Help the group name a fear that need not stop them from doing what God asks.
- Their praise rests not on their circumstances, which were precarious, but on who God is: good, and faithful in love forever (3:11). When everything is uncertain, God's unchanging character gives us solid ground to sing. Invite members to recall God's steadfast love amid their own uncertainties.
- The old men remembered Solomon's glorious temple and grieved how modest this new beginning seemed; the others rejoiced simply that God was at work again (3:12-13). Both feelings were sincere. God's people can mourn what is lost while celebrating his fresh mercy.
- This is a personal-application question. The exiles kept worshiping though afraid and though the work seemed humble. As leader, gently invite members to share what sustains their worship in hard or discouraging seasons, and point them to God's enduring goodness as their anchor.