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James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Ezra 3:11

CELEBRATING THE OCCASION"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. 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... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Ezra 3:12

Ver. 12. But many—wept with a loud voice— Not only because this temple was likely to prove far inferior to that of Solomon as to its outward structure; but because it was also to want those extraordinary marks of the divine favour wherewith the other temple was honoured. Both the temples, without doubt, were of the same dimensions; but here was the sad difference which drew tears from the eyes of the elders, that to all appearance there were no hopes that the poor beginnings of the latter... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Ezra 3:12

12. But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers . . . wept with a loud voice—Those painful emotions were excited by the sad contrast between the prosperous circumstances in which the foundations of the first temple had been laid and the desolate, reduced state of the country and city when the second was begun; between the inferior size and less costliness of the stones used in the foundations of the second (1 Kings 7:9; 1 Kings 7:10), and the much smaller extent of the... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Ezra 3:13

13. the people could not discern the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people—Among Eastern people, expressions of sorrow are always very loud and vehement. It is indicated by wailing, the howl of which is sometimes not easily distinguishable from joyful acclamations. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ezra 3:10-13

The completion of the temple foundation 3:10-13The people celebrated God’s faithfulness when they had completed phase one of the temple reconstruction: its foundation."Principles of praise to be gleaned from these verses include the following: (1) Praise is the act of publicly exalting God’s person and work. (2) Praise can be enhanced through the use of music and songs. (3) Praise is a participating activity, not a spectator sport; it is worship people join in, not a program people watch.... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Ezra 3:1-13

The Refounding of the Temple1. The seventh month] i.e. Sept.-Oct. of (probably) 537 b.c.2. Jeshua] called in Haggai 1:1; ’Joshua.’ His father Jozadak had been carried into exile by Nebuchadnezzar (1 Chronicles 6:15). Son of Shealtiel] In 1 Chronicles 3:19; Zerubbabel is called the son of Pedaiah, the brother of Shealtiel (Salathiel). The discrepancy may be explained by the suppositions (a) that he was the real son of Pedaiah and the legal son of Shealtiel (Pedaiah having married Shealtiel’s... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Ezra 3:11

(11) They sang together.—They answered each other in chorus, or antiphonally.Shouted.—As afterwards in religious acclamation. read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Ezra 3:12

(12) But many of the priests and Levites . . . wept with a loud voice.—This most affecting scene requires the comment of Haggai 2:0 and Zeeh. 4. The first house was destroyed in B.C. 588, fifty years before. The weeping of the ancients was not occasioned by any comparison as to size and grandeur, unless indeed they marked the smallness of their foundation stones. They thought chiefly of the great desolation as measured by the past; the younger peoplc thought of the new future. read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Ezra 3:13

(13) The noise was heard afar off.—The people also mingled in the weeping, which was with shrill cries. The rejoicing and the sorrow were blended, and the common sound was heard from far. All here has the stamp of truth. read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Ezra 3:1-13

The Altar and the Temple Ezra 3:2 ; Ezra 3:6 In the opening chapters of this book of Ezra we are among the Jews who have come back from Babylon. God has restored the exiles to their country; and their feet stand in Jerusalem again. But the ravages of war and the silent attacks of time have played strange havoc with the beloved city. It was then that they set to work to restore Jerusalem. God breathed an enthusiasm upon the people. And it was then that they built the altar of the Lord, for the... read more

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