1
When the seventh month had come, after the Israelites had settled in their towns, all the people gathered together as one in Jerusalem.
2
Then Jeshua son of Jozadak and his brothers, the priests, and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his brothers began to build the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God.
3
They set up the altar on its former site, though they were afraid of the peoples of the land; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, morning burnt offerings and evening burnt offerings.
4
They also kept the Feast of Booths, as it is written, and offered burnt offerings day by day in the number required by the ordinance, each day according to what was appointed for that day.
5
Afterward, the regular burnt offerings were offered, as well as those for the new moons and for all the appointed holy feasts of the LORD, and for every freewill offering brought to the LORD.
6
From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the LORD, but the foundation of the temple of the LORD had not yet been laid.
7
Then they gave money to the masons and carpenters, and food and drink and oil to the Sidonians and the Tyrians, so that they would bring cedar logs from Lebanon by sea to Joppa, according to the permission granted them by Cyrus king of Persia.
8
In the second year after they came to the house of God in Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak, together with the rest of their brothers, the priests and the Levites, and all who had returned to Jerusalem from captivity, began the work. They appointed the Levites twenty years old and upward to oversee the work of building the house of the LORD.
9
Then Jeshua with his sons and brothers, and Kadmiel with his sons, the sons of Judah, together took charge of the workers in the house of God, along with the sons of Henadad, their sons and brothers, the Levites.
10
When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests stood in their vestments with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD according to the instruction of David king of Israel.
11
And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the LORD: “For He is good, for His steadfast love toward Israel endures forever!” And all the people shouted with a great shout, praising the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD had been laid.
12
But many of the priests, the Levites, and the heads of fathers’ houses, the old men who had seen the former house, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, while many shouted aloud for joy.
13
So the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shouting from the sound of the people’s weeping, for the people shouted with a loud voice, and the sound was heard far away.
🕊️🔥🏛️ Summary of Ezra 3 – The Altar Is Built and the Foundation of the Temple Is Laid
Ezra 3 describes the beginning of the spiritual awakening of the nation of Israel after they returned from exile. In this chapter, God’s people rebuild the altar to offer sacrifices to the LORD, and then lay the foundation of the new Temple in Jerusalem. Although the situation was still unsettled and enemies were still watching, they made worship their priority, and when the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid, there was great joy mixed with tears from those who remembered the splendor of the former house of the LORD.
📌 1. The Altar Is Built, Worship Begins (verses 1–6)
➡️ In the seventh month, the people gathered as one in Jerusalem
➡️ Jeshua (the high priest) and Zerubbabel led the building of the altar of the God of Israel
➡️ They offered burnt offerings daily, according to the law of Moses
➡️ Although they still feared the surrounding nations, they continued worshiping regularly
➡️ They also kept the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) and resumed the daily offering system
🎯 In a time of uncertainty, worship of the Lord became the highest priority.
📌 2. Preparations for Building the House of God (verse 7)
➡️ They paid the stonecutters and carpenters, and ordered cedar wood from Lebanon, as in the days of Solomon
➡️ All this was done by permission of Cyrus, king of Persia
➡️ This shows that they were not only building spiritually, but also preparing in practical and structural ways
🎯 God’s work requires genuine faith and organized action.
📌 3. The Foundation of the Temple Is Laid (verses 8–9)
➡️ In the second year after their arrival, they began to build the house of God
➡️ Levites twenty years old and above were appointed to oversee the building work
➡️ There was cooperation between the older and younger generations in this holy project
🎯 Spiritual service involves intergenerational cooperation, and the involvement of all the people.
📌 4. Praise and Weeping as the Foundation Is Laid (verses 10–13)
➡️ When the foundation of the house of the LORD had been laid, the priests blew the trumpets and the Levites sang praises to the LORD
➡️ They sang:
“For He is good! Surely His steadfast love endures forever over Israel.”
➡️ Many shouted with a very loud voice, but there were also those who wept aloud — especially the older people who had seen the splendor of Solomon’s Temple
➡️ The sound of shouting and weeping was heard mingled together and echoed far away
🎯 Restoration often brings joy and sorrow at the same time — remembering the past while looking toward the future.
📖 Main Teaching
- Worship is the first step in spiritual restoration, even before physical building
- Even though there are threats and fear, the people must remain faithful in worship
- Planning, cooperation, and obedience to the word are needed in spiritual building
- Sometimes the tears of the past and the hope of the future meet in the same place
- God is present in a simple altar and sincere praise, not only in grand buildings
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
“Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice…”
➡️ The altar in Ezra’s time points to our lives now becoming an offering to God
“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
➡️ The foundation of the temple symbolizes Jesus as the foundation of true faith
“We are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone.”
➡️ God’s people today are a spiritual building, not only a physical structure
“Let us offer the sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that glorify His name.”
➡️ Our sacrifice today is praise and worship in spirit
🕊️ “They rebuilt the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it…” – Ezra 3:2
🕊️ “They offered the daily burnt offerings according to the number required…” – Ezra 3:4
🕊️ “They laid the foundation of the house of the LORD…” – Ezra 3:10
🕊️ “Many shouted aloud for joy, and many wept with a loud voice…” – Ezra 3:12
