Ezra 3:13

_SO THAT THE PEOPLE COULD NOT DISCERN THE NOISE OF THE SHOUT OF JOY FROM THE NOISE OF THE WEEPING OF THE PEOPLE: FOR THE PEOPLE SHOUTED WITH A LOUD SHOUT, AND THE NOISE WAS HEARD AFAR OFF._ Could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping. Among Eastern people, expressions of sorrow are always very loud and vehement. It is indicated by wailing, the howl of which is sometimes not easily distinguishable from joyful acclamations....

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....

§ 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

SO THAT THE PEOPLE COULD NOT DISCERN THE NOISE OF THE SHOUT OF JOY FROM THE NOISE OF THE WEEPING OF THE PEOPLE,.... That is, not clearly and distinctly, they were so mixed and confounded together, and made such a jarring and discord: FOR THE PEOPLE SHOUTED WITH A LOUD SHOUT, AND THE NOISE WAS HEARD AFAR OFF; the shouting being of young people, whose voice was strongest, and they the most numerous, the noise of shouting prevailed over the noise of weeping; and it was heard further, and at a distance appeared more distinctly to be the noise of shouting, that of weeping not reaching so far; though Jarchi is of opinion that the noise of weeping was heard further than the noise of shouting, which is not likely....

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

SO THAT THE PEOPLE COULD NOT DISCERN THE NOISE OF THE SHOUT OF JOY FROM THE NOISE OF THE WEEPING OF THE PEOPLE. The two sounds were so mingled that they could not be distinguished from each other, but "the people shouted with. loud shout," and in this the sound of the wailing was absorbed. Haggai 2:3 and Zechariah 4:10, both prophets of this period, refer to this lamentation of the ancients. The former comforted the old men with the assurance that the glory of the second temple should be greater than that of the first, because the Desire of All Nations should come and his glory should fill the house, an assurance that it should be entered by Christ. PRACTICAL AND SUGGESTIVE. 1. The promises of the Lord are sure. In his own set time he will fulfill his word. Though his church may long m

_So that the people could not discern_ literally, -And the people &c." The people generally, not merely the leaders, were of two minds. The sounds were mingled together; the weeping near at hand was as loud as the shouting. And the confused sound was audible a long way off....

DISCOURSE: 433 THE REBUILDING OF THE TEMPLE Ezra 3:11. _All the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy: so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off_. TO put a fanciful interpretation on any part of God’s blessed word is highly inexpedient; and to found a doctrine upon any such interpretation would be injudicious in the extreme. But certain it is, that there are many explanations given us by the Apostles, which we should in no w

2. The foundation of the new temple is laid. TEXT, EZRA 3:8-13 8 Now in the second year of their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem in the second month, Zeruhbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak and the rest of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and all who came from the captivity to Jerusalem, began the work and appointed the Levites from twenty years and older to oversee the work of the house of the LORD. 9 Then Jeshua with his sons and brothers stood united with Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah and the sons of Henadad with their sons and brothers the Levites, to oversee the workmen in the temple of God. 10 Now when the builders had laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests stood in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD according to