Ezra 3:7-9

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezra 3:1-7

Here is, I. A general assembly of the returned Israelites at Jerusalem, in the seventh month, Ezra 3:1. We may suppose that they came from Babylon in the spring, and must allow at least four months for the journey, for so long Ezra and his company were in coming, Ezra 7:9. The seventh month therefore soon came, in which many of the feasts of the Lord were to be solemnized; and then they gathered themselves together by agreement among themselves, rather than by the command of authority, to... read more

Matthew Henry

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 3:7

They gave money also to the masons, and to the carpenters ,.... To buy stone and timber with for the building of the temple: and meat and drink and oil unto them of Zidon, and to them of Tyre ; which were more agreeable to them than money, because there was not plenty of such things in their country, as in the land of Israel: to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa ; as they did at the first building of the temple by Solomon; they cut down cedars at Lebanon, which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 3:8

Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem ,.... The place where it formerly stood; the Jews seem to have set out from Babylon, in the spring of the preceding year, as it was now of this; which to Jerusalem was a journey of about four months, as Ezra performed it, Ezra 7:9 , but might take up longer time for such a body of people to do it in, being larger than that with him; wherefore, after they had visited their respective cities, and settled their affairs... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezra 3:7

They gave money also - They copied the conduct of Solomon while he was building his temple; see 1 Kings 5:11 . He employed the Tyrians, gave them meat and drink, etc.; and this permission they now had from Cyrus. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezra 3:8

In the second year - The previous time had been employed in clearing the ground, felling timber, hewing stones, and transporting them to the place, and making other necessary preparations for the commencement of the building. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 3:1-7

§ 2. RESTORATION OF THE ALTAR OF BURNT SACRIFICE , AND CELEBRATION OF THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 3:1-7

Acceptable service. When the 42,000 Israelites arrived in the land whither they went forth, they took peaceable and glad possession of their old homes; many, if not most, of them returning to the very fields and homesteads from which their fathers had been led away. They then showed a piety which was partly the fruit of the long discipline they had passed through in Persia. Their service of Jehovah, on this their return, was characterised by— I. SPONTANEITY ( Ezra 3:1 , Ezra 3:5 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 3:1-7

Aspects of worship. I. The HUMAN in WORSHIP . "Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak," etc. ( Ezra 3:2 ). These men were the leaders in this movement of worship; they gathered the people thereto. There is a human side to Divine worship; the altar looks toward earth as well as toward heaven; man builds, if God consecrates it; man appoints the time of worship, arranges its method, gathers the people, stimulates the conscience by faithful words, and enforces the law. A few good men... read more

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