Esdras 3:12 NVT

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezra 3:8-13

There was no dispute among the returned Jews whether they should build the temple or no; that was immediately resolved on, and that it should be done with all speed; what comfort could they take in their own land if they had not that token of God's presence with them and the record of his name among them? We have here therefore an account of the beginning of that good work. Observe, I. When it was begun-in the second month of the second year, as soon as ever the season of the year would permit... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 3:12

But many of the priests and Levites, and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men ,.... Seventy or eighty years of age: that had seen the first house ; the temple built by Solomon, as they very well might, since then it had been destroyed but fifty two years; for the seventy years captivity are to be reckoned from the fourth of Jehoiakim, when it began, and which was eighteen years before the destruction of the temple; the beginning of the next clause: when in the foundation ,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezra 3:12

Wept with a loud voice - They saw that the glory had departed from Israel; in their circumstances it was impossible to build such a house as the first temple was; and had this been even possible, still it would have been greatly inferior, because it wanted the ark of the covenant, the heavenly fire, the mercy-seat, the heavenly manna, Aaron's rod that budded, the Divine shechinah, the spirit of prophecy, and most probably the Urim and Thummim. Many shouted for joy - Finding... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 3:7-13

Thought, work, and feeling. We have in this passage— I. A TRUE THOUGHT ( Ezra 3:8 ). "Now in the second year of their coming," etc. We can easily imagine any orator among the company of the returned Jews making out a strong case for leaving the building of the temple till better days should dawn. The sufficiency of the altar already reared for the practical purposes of devotion; the readiness of God to accept any offering that came from the heart, however mean the outward... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 3:7-13

The founding of the temple. The worship of Israel during the first year of the restoration from Babylon was such as could be conducted around an altar in the open. The people naturally felt how imperfectly they could fulfil the law of Moses without a temple, with its courts, its veil, and its sacred furniture. They did not let discouragement paralyse them, but taxed their energies and resources. These words bring under our notice I. THE PREPARATORY WORK . 1. What was... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 3:8-13

§ 3. REBUILDING OF THE TEMPLE AND OPPOSITION MADE TO IT . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 3:8-13

The first stone. We now come in this story to a very critical time. The great work of the restoration of the house, for the sake of which the partial restoration of Israel to Canaan had been brought about and was to continue, at last is before us. We read, on the one hand, of the very last step in the way of prelude and preparation. We read, on the other, of the very first step in the way of actual construction. In both we shall find how much importance is attached to the juncture. I. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 3:8-13

The joyful and sorrowful in religious worship. Here we have illustrated the power of a right leadership, the wisdom of devout co-operation, and the progress of a great enterprise ( Ezra 3:8-10 ). I. The. JOYFUL . in religious WORSHIP . "They sang together" ( Ezra 3:11 ). 1. That God will deign to consecrate by his Presence the temple erected. God will dwell in the temple made with hands; what a condescension and benediction is this toward man; hence the joy. 2. What God... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 3:11-13

The foundation laid. The weeping of these old men was the first check on the enthusiasm of the builders of the temple. The books of Ezra and Nehemiah, and the prophecies of Zechariah and Haggai, which illustrate them, are a very troubled history: sorrow, disappointment, and indignation again and again break out; but until now there had been no consciousness of hindrances, or the consciousness had been suppressed. The time of preparation, which is pre-eminently the time of hope, was over;... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 3:12

Many … who were ancient men, that had seen the first house. The old temple had not been destroyed so much as fifty years. Consequently, there would be many who could remember its grandeur and glory. These persons, when the foundation of the (new) house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice. It was "the day of small things" ( Zechariah 4:10 ). The new house, in comparison with the old one, was "as nothing" ( Haggai 2:3 ). The difference was perhaps not so much in the... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezra 3:8-13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 3:12

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezra 3:12

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 3:7-13

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 3:7-13

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 3:8-13

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 3:8-13

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 3:8-13

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 3:11-13

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 3:12

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