Ezra 3:10

_AND WHEN THE BUILDERS LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD, THEY SET THE PRIESTS IN THEIR APPAREL WITH TRUMPETS, AND THE LEVITES THE SONS OF ASAPH WITH CYMBALS, TO PRAISE THE LORD, AFTER THE ORDINANCE OF DAVID KING OF ISRAEL._ And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord ... The foundation of the new temple was laid with all due honour as a sacred ceremonial, by the officials of the Lord's house. Ezra 3:11 contains a quotation of Psalms 118:1, whence it is reasonably concluded that this sacred song was sung on the occasion. It was composed for public use, and in name of the congregation of Israel, who is the ideal speaker throughout. It was sung in a solemn procession to the temple, and by the Levitical band, in responsive chorus....

8-13 There was a remarkable mixture of affections upon laying the foundation of the temple. Those that only knew the misery of having no temple at all, praised the Lord with shouts of joy. To them, even this foundation seemed great. We ought to be thankful for the beginnings of mercy, though it be not yet perfect. But those who remembered the glory of the first temple, and considered how far inferior this was likely to be, wept with a loud voice. There was reason for it, and if they bewailed the sin that was the cause of this melancholy change, they did well. Yet it was wrong to cast a damp upon the common joys. They despised the day of small things, and were unthankful for the good they enjoyed. Let not the remembrance of former afflictions drown the sense of present mercies....

Verse Ezra 3:10. _AFTER THE ORDINANCE OF DAVID_] With _psalms_ which he composed, acting in the _manner_ which he directed....

THEY SET THE PRIESTS - Or, according to another reading, “The priests stood.” THE LEVITES THE SONS OF ASAPH - i. e., “such of the Levites as were descendants of Asaph.” It would seem as if no descendants of Heman or Jeduthun had returned....

§ 3. REBUILDING OF THE TEMPLE AND OPPOSITION MADE TO IT. EXPOSITION LAYING OF THE FOUNDATION OF THE TEMPLE AND CEREMONIAL ON THE OCCASION (Ezra 3:8). Seven months were occupied with preparations. The winter was past, and the spring had arrived. It was the second month, Zif, the month of "blossom,'' corresponding to our May—the same month in which Solomon had laid the foundation of the first temple (1 Kings 6:1)—when Zerubbabel ju

AND WHEN THE BUILDERS LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD,.... The masons, whose work it was, Ezra 3:7 THEY SET THE PRIESTS IN THEIR APPAREL WITH TRUMPETS; these were set in a proper place by the prince and the high priest, in their priestly garments, with trumpets in their hands to blow with, as the foundation was laying: AND THE LEVITES THE SONS OF ASAPH, WITH CYMBALS TO PRAISE THE LORD, AFTER THE ORDINANCE OF DAVID KING OF ISRAEL; these were instruments of brass, and made a tinkling sound, and were by the order of David; and the persons that made use of them; and the songs of praise they were played upon unto; all by his appointment, as well as harps and psalteries, which might now be used, though not expressed; see 1 Chronicles 15:16. So the Messenians

CHAPTER 3 _ 1. The altar set up (Ezra 3:1)_ 2. The feast of tabernacles celebrated (Ezra 3:4) 3. The sacrifices brought (Ezra 3:5) 4. The foundation of the temple laid (Ezra 3:8) Ezra 3:1. How long the journey lasted is not stated. The previous chapter in its close states that all dwelt in their cities--”and all Israel in their cities.” The significant seventh month (Tishri) with its holy convocation (feast of trumpets, day of atonement and feast of tabernacles) having come, the remnant gathered “as one man to Jerusalem.” It was the time for such a general

THE LAYING OF THE TEMPLE FOUNDATION AND THE JOY OF THE PEOPLE. Ezra 3:7. masons. carpenters: those referred to were the men who hewed the stone from the quarries and those who prepared the rough stone thus obtained. THEM OF ZIDON. THEM OF TYRE: as in the case of the first Temple, see 1 Kings 5:6. according. Persia: see Ezra 1:2; the Lebanon range belonged now to the kings of Persia. Ezra 3:8. in the second year. in the second month: _i.e._ as the text stands, the second year of the return, 536 B.C., which was also the second month of the year (according to the Chronicler's mode of reckoning); the second month was lyar (= approximately May

WHEN THE BUILDERS LAID THE FOUNDATION. Zerubbabel and Jeshua, the high priest, who presided over the work. "So important seemed the step thus taken that the day was celebrated with the finest display of the old pomp on which they had yet ventured. The priests, in the rich dresses that Zerubbabel had, out of the princely munificence, furnished, blew their silver trumpets; the sons of Asaph once more clashed their brazen cymbals. Many of the Psalms were doubtless composed and used upon this occasion. One strain especially rang above all--that runs through the 106th, 107th, 118th and 136th Psalms. 'O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is and his mercy endureth forever.'"--_ Dean Stanley._...

THEY SET THE PRIESTS: or, the priests took their stand. CYMBALS. Hebrew mziltayim. Dual form, meaning two metal discs struck together, making. clashing sound. Not _zilzilim,_ which. timbrels, but is translated cymbals in 2 Samuel 6:5 and Psalms 150:5, from the rustling sound. See note on 1 Chronicles 13:8....