Ezra 3:7

_THEY GAVE MONEY ALSO UNTO THE MASONS, AND TO THE CARPENTERS; AND MEAT, AND DRINK, AND OIL, UNTO THEM OF ZIDON, AND TO THEM OF TYRE, TO BRING CEDAR TREES FROM LEBANON TO THE SEA OF JOPPA, ACCORDING TO THE GRANT THAT THEY HAD OF CYRUS KING OF PERSIA._ They gave ... meat ... drink, and oil, unto them of Zidon. They opened negotiations with the Tyrians for workman, as well as for timber, on the same terms, and with the same views, as Solomon had done (1 Kings 5:11; 2 Chronicles 2:15). ACCORDING TO THE GRANT THAT THEY HAD OF CYRUS KING OF PERSIA. This grant does not refer to cedar wood, which Cyrus could not give-for the Phoenicians, taking advantage of the revolution at Babylonia, to which they had been tributary, had at this time asserted their national freedom-but to

1-7 From the proceedings of the Jews on their arrival, let us learn to begin with God, and to do what we can in the worship of God, when we cannot do what we would. They could not at once have a temple, but they would not be without an altar. Fear of danger should stir us to our duty. Have we many enemies? Then it is good to have God our Friend, and to keep up communion with him. Our fears should drive us to our knees. The sacrifices for all these solemnities were a heavy expense for so poor a company; yet besides those expressly appointed, many brought free-will offerings to the Lord. And they made preparation for the building of the temple without delay: whatever God calls us to do, we may depend upon his providence to furnish us with the needful means....

Verse Ezra 3:7. _THEY GAVE MONEY ALSO_] They copied the conduct of Solomon while he was building his temple; see 1 Kings 5:11. He employed the Tyrians, gave them meat and drink, c. and this permission they now had from Cyrus....

ACCORDING TO THE GRANT - i. e., in accordance with the permission granted them by Cyrus to rebuild their temple Ezra 1:1....

§ 2. RESTORATION OF THE ALTAR OF BURNT SACRIFICE, AND CELEBRATION OF THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES. EXPOSITION RESTORATION OF THE ALTAR (Ezra 3:1). On their arrival in their own land, the exiles, it would seem, proceeded first of all to their several cities, reconnoitring the ground, as it were, and at first taking no step that could arouse the hostility or jealousy of the previous inhabitants. After a while, however, "when the seventh month was come," they ventured with some misgivings to restore and rebuild the great altar of burnt sacrifice, which Solomon had formerly erected in

THEY GAVE MONEY ALSO TO THE MASONS, AND TO THE CARPENTERS,.... To buy stone and timber with for the building of the temple: AND MEAT AND DRINK AND OIL UNTO THEM OF ZIDON, AND TO THEM OF TYRE; which were more agreeable to them than money, because there was not plenty of such things in their country, as in the land of Israel: TO BRING CEDAR TREES FROM LEBANON TO THE SEA OF JOPPA; as they did at the first building of the temple by Solomon; they cut down cedars at Lebanon, which belonged to them, and sent them by sea to Joppa, the nearest seaport to Jerusalem, about forty miles from it: see 2 Chronicles 2:16, ACCORDING TO THE GRANT THAT THEY HAD OF CYRUS KING OF PERSIA; for Tyre and Zidon being under his dominion as well as Judea, he not only gave leave to the Jews to get cedar wood from Lebanon, but gave orders to the Zidonian

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

AND. Note the Figure of speech _Polysyndeton_ (App-6), to emphasize each detail. CARPENTERS. artificers. BRING CEDAR TREES. Compare 1 Kings 5:6. 2Ch 2:8, 2 Chronicles 2:10. JOPPA. Compare Joshua 19:46; Acts 9:35; 3 John 1:3; 3 John 1:3. GRANT. Occurs only here. OF. from. Genitive of Origin. See App-17....

First steps taken towards the Rebuilding of the Temple _the masons_ The stone for the Temple was excavated from the hill on which Jerusalem stood. It is possible that the word rendered -masons" may include the rougher workmen for both stone and wood, i.e. quarrymen and wood cutters, while the word rendered -carpenters" may mean the skilled artificers for working up the wood and stone. _meat_ The old English expression for -something to eat". Cf. Luke 24:41, -Have ye here any meat?" (R.V. -anything to eat?"). _oil_ One of the necessities of life for the inhabitants of a hot country, applied externally: classed here with meat and drink, and apparently also in Psalms 23:5; Psalms 104:15;...