Ezra 3:8

_NOW IN THE SECOND YEAR OF THEIR COMING UNTO THE HOUSE OF GOD AT JERUSALEM, IN THE SECOND MONTH, BEGAN ZERUBBABEL THE SON OF SHEALTIEL, AND JESHUA THE SON OF JOZADAK, AND THE REMNANT OF THEIR BRETHREN THE PRIESTS AND THE LEVITES, AND ALL THEY THAT WERE COME OUT OF THE CAPTIVITY UNTO JERUSALEM; AND APPOINTED THE LEVITES, FROM TWENTY YEARS OLD AND UPWARD, TO SET FORWARD THE WORK OF THE HOUSE OF THE LORD._ Appointed the Levites ... to set forward the work - i:e., to act as overseers of the workmen, and to direct and animate the labourers in the various departments....

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 3:8. _IN THE SECOND YEAR_] The previous time had been employed in clearing the ground, felling timber, hewing stones, and transporting them to the place, and making other necessary preparations for the commencement of the building....

UNTO THE HOUSE OF GOD - i. e., to the place where the house of God had been, and where God was believed still to have His special dwelling. AND APPOINTED THE LEVITES - This is the emphatic clause of the present verse. Though so small a number of Levites had returned from Babylon Ezra 2:40, yet they were especially singled out to be entrusted with the task of superintending and advancing the building of the temple....

§ 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

NOW IN THE SECOND YEAR OF THEIR COMING UNTO THE HOUSE OF GOD AT JERUSALEM,.... The place where it formerly stood; the Jews seem to have set out from Babylon, in the spring of the preceding year, as it was now of this; which to Jerusalem was a journey of about four months, as Ezra performed it, Ezra 7:9, but might take up longer time for such a body of people to do it in, being larger than that with him; wherefore, after they had visited their respective cities, and settled their affairs there, they came to Jerusalem on the seventh month, or September, and kept the feast of tabernacles, and then they returned to their cities again, the winter season being an improper time to begin the building of the temple; having given money to workmen to purchase materials with, and no doubt left a sufficient number to clear away the rubbish, and get things ready by the returning spring to set about th...

SECOND MONTH That is, May....

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

IN THE SECOND YEAR OF THEIR COMING... THE SECOND MONTH. They came in the spring and this was the second fall after. The old Jewish year had begun with the spring, but in the Captivity the custom had arisen of beginning the year in September, like the Babylonians. UNTO THE HOUSE OF GOD. Where it had stood and was to be built again. ZERUBBABEL. A prince of Judah and. descendant of the ancient kings chosen to be the leader of the return. JESHUA. The high priest. They were assisted in the solemn rites, corresponding to laying. corner stone, by the priests and Levites who had returned from the Captivity....