Ezra 3:9-13

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 3:9

Then stood Jeshua, with his sons ,.... Not Jeshua the high priest before mentioned, but Jeshua the Levite, Ezra 2:40 , and his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together ; the same with Hodaviah, Ezra 2:40 to set forward the workmen in the house of God ; to give them orders to begin and lay the foundation, and hasten and animate them to it: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brethren the Levites : two of this man's sons are mentioned in Nehemiah... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 3:10

And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord ,.... The masons, whose work it was, Ezra 3:7 they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets ; these were set in a proper place by the prince and the high priest, in their priestly garments, with trumpets in their hands to blow with, as the foundation was laying: and the Levites the sons of Asaph, with cymbals to praise the Lord, after the ordinance of David king of Israel ; these were instruments of brass,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 3:11

And they sang together by course ,.... They sang by turns in responses, and answered one another, as the word signifies; when one company had performed their part, another took theirs: in praising and giving thanks to the Lord ; for returning them to their own land, and giving them opportunity, ability, and will, to set about the rebuilding of the temple of the Lord, and restoring the pure worship of God: because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever towards Israel ; which... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 3:13

So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people ,.... That is, not clearly and distinctly, they were so mixed and confounded together, and made such a jarring and discord: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off ; the shouting being of young people, whose voice was strongest, and they the most numerous, the noise of shouting prevailed over the noise of weeping; and it was heard further, and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezra 3:10

After the ordinance of David - With psalms which he composed, acting in the manner which he directed. 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

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