Ezra 3:2 - Exposition

Jeshua the son of Jozadak. The position of Jeshua, both here and in Ezra 3:8 , Ezra 3:9 , sufficiently marks him as the high priest, though Ezra does not give him the title. Haggai, however ( Ezra 1:1 , 14; Ezra 2:2 ), and Zechariah ( Ezra 3:1 , Ezra 3:8 ; Ezra 6:11 ) distinctly assign him the office. His father, Jozadak, or Josedech, was the son of Seraiah, high priest at the destruction of Jerusalem ( 1 Chronicles 6:14 ). The name Jeshua is a mere variant of Joshua, and so corresponds to Jesus, of whom Jeshua may be regarded as a type. His brethren the priests. As being all of them equally descended from Aaron, the priests were "brethren . " Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel . See note on Ezra 2:2 , where Zerubbabel's actual descent is given. And his brethren . Such other members of the royal house as had returned with him. As it is written in the law. See Le 17:2-6; Deuteronomy 12:5-11 . It was an express command of God to the Israelites that sacrifice should be offered only at Jerusalem in the place which he should appoint. Moses the man of God. That is, "the Prophet;" but the phrase is emphatic, and characteristic of Ezra.