Ezra 3

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 3 of 10

1 ¶ And when the seventh month had come, and the sons of Israel were in the cities, the people assembled as one man to Jerusalem.

2 Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak stood up, and his brothers the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brothers, and built the altar of the God of Israel in order to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God.

3 And they set the altar on its bases, for fear was on them because of the people of those lands. And he offered burnt offerings on it to Jehovah, burnt offerings morning and evening.

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Chapter Summary

1 The altar is set up. 4 Offerings frequent. 7 Workmen repaired. 8 The foundations of the temple are laid in great joy and mourning.

Key Hebrew Words

מִזְבֵּחַ altar H4196 · TWOT 525b
עֹלָה burnt offering H5930 · TWOT 1624d
יָסַד lay a foundation H3245 · TWOT 875
בַּ֫יִת house (temple) H1004 · TWOT 241
הָלַל praise H1984 · TWOT 500
תְּרוּעָה shout (of joy) H8643 · TWOT 2135b

People & Context

Jeshua

Son of Jozadak; priestly leader who rose up to build the altar and oversee the temple work

Zerubbabel

Son of Shealtiel; leader who with Jeshua built the altar and began laying the temple foundation

Kadmiel

Levite who with Jeshua and his sons stood to oversee the workmen in the house of God

Moses

The man of God whose written Law governed how the burnt offerings were to be offered

David

King of Israel whose ordinance directed the priests and Levites in praising Jehovah at the foundation

Asaph

Ancestor of the Levitical singers who stood with cymbals to praise Jehovah

Timeline

The Altar is Rebuilt

In the seventh month, Jeshua, Zerubbabel, and their brothers build the altar of the God of Israel on its bases to offer morning and evening burnt offerings, despite their fear of the surrounding peoples.

Ezra 3:1-3
Feast of Booths and Regular Sacrifices

The returned exiles celebrate the Feast of Booths and formally reinstate the continual burnt offerings, new moon offerings, and the set feasts of Jehovah.

Ezra 3:4-6
Preparations for the Temple Building

Silver is given to masons and carpenters, and food, drink, and oil are given to Sidonians and Tyrians to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to Joppa by sea, authorized by Cyrus's grant.

Ezra 3:7

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