Ezra 6:16-18 - Exposition

DEDICATION OF THE SECOND TEMPLE ( Ezra 6:16-18 ). Following the example of Solomon, who had solemnly "dedicated" the first temple ( 1 Kings 8:63 ), and had offered on the occasion a sacrifice unexampled for its magnitude in the whole of Jewish history ( ibid. ), Zerubbabel now, under the advice of two prophets, inaugurated the new building with a similar ceremony. In "the day of small things" it was not possible for him to emulate Solomon's magnificence in respect of the number of victims. Solomon had sacrificed 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. Zerubbabel's means only enabled him to make an offering of 712 animals, more than half of them lambs. He did, however, according to his ability; and God, who accepts all our endeavours according to that we have, and not according to that we have not, was content to receive graciously the humble offering made to him, and to bless the building thus inaugurated with a glory unknown to the first temple. The Lord himself, the Messenger of the covenant, so long sought by his people, suddenly came to this temple ( Malachi 3:1 )—came to it, and frequented it, and taught in it, and gave it a dignity and a majesty far beyond the first temple, which possessed indeed the Shechinah, but was once, and once only, vouchsafed a brief manifestation of the actual Divine presence ( 2 Chronicles 7:1 ).