Ezra 3: Rebuilding the Altar and Foundation

Short answer: Ezra 3 recounts how the returned exiles gathered in Jerusalem, rebuilt the altar, and laid the foundation of the temple. It highlights their worship, fear of surrounding peoples, and the emotional response of old and young at the foundation laying.

What Ezra 3 says

The chapter opens with the people of Israel gathered as one in Jerusalem in the seventh month. Jeshua and Zerubbabel lead the rebuilding of the altar of the God of Israel to offer burnt offerings, as written in the law of Moses. Despite fear of surrounding peoples, they set the altar on its base and offer burnt offerings morning and evening. They keep the Feast of Booths and offer daily burnt offerings, new moon offerings, and freewill offerings. From the first day of the seventh month they begin offering burnt offerings, though the temple foundation is not yet laid. This shows priority of worship over construction.

Next, the people give money to masons and carpenters, and food, drink, and oil to Sidon and Tyre to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to Joppa, according to the grant from Cyrus king of Persia. In the second year of their coming to God's house, Zerubbabel, Jeshua, the priests, Levites, and all who returned begin the work. They appoint Levites from twenty years old and upward to oversee the work of Yahweh's house. Jeshua, his sons and brothers, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, and the sons of Henadad with their sons and brothers the Levites together supervise the workmen. This details organized labor and leadership.

When the builders lay the foundation of Yahweh's temple, they set priests in their clothing with trumpets and Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals to praise Yahweh, according to David's directions. They sing to one another, praising and giving thanks, declaring that he is good and his loving kindness endures forever toward Israel. All the people shout with a great shout because the foundation is laid. This is a moment of corporate worship and celebration, marking a significant step in restoration.

However, many of the priests, Levites, and heads of fathers' households, the old men who had seen the first house, weep with a loud voice when they see the foundation of this house laid. Many also shout aloud for joy. The noise of the shout of joy and the noise of weeping cannot be distinguished, for the people shout with a loud shout, and the noise is heard far away. This captures the mixed emotions of the moment: joy for new beginnings and grief for what was lost, both expressed loudly and together.

Verses that carry the chapter

• “When the seventh month had come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem.” (Ezra 3:1) — This verse shows the unity of the people as they gather as one man in Jerusalem, setting the stage for the rebuilding efforts. It highlights the importance of corporate assembly for worship and work.
• “In spite of their fear because of the peoples of the surrounding lands, they set the altar on its base; and they offered burnt offerings on it to Yahweh, even burnt offerings morning and evening.” (Ezra 3:3) — Despite fear of surrounding peoples, the people set the altar on its base and offer burnt offerings. This demonstrates courage and priority of worship over safety, trusting in God's command.
• “From the first day of the seventh month, they began to offer burnt offerings to Yahweh; but the foundation of Yahweh’s temple was not yet laid.” (Ezra 3:6) — From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings, even before the temple foundation was laid. This underscores that worship and obedience to God's law came before building projects.
• “They sang to one another in praising and giving thanks to Yahweh, “For he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever toward Israel.” (Ezra 3:11) All the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised Yahweh, because the foundation of Yahweh’s house had been laid.” (Ezra 3:11) — The people sang and praised, declaring God's goodness and enduring loving kindness. This verse captures the heart of their celebration at the foundation laying, focusing on God's character.

Gospel connection

Ezra 3 points forward to the greater restoration found in Christ. The altar and temple foundation were provisional, but they foreshadowed the true temple, Jesus, who would reconcile humanity to God. The mixed weeping and joy at the foundation reflects the tension of living between the already and the not yet, a tension resolved in the gospel where mourning turns to dancing. The people's worship and sacrifice anticipate the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ, and their gathering as one body prefigures the church, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ himself as the cornerstone.

Application

This chapter asks readers to prioritize worship and obedience to God even when circumstances are uncertain or frightening. It challenges us to gather with God's people, to give generously to his work, and to serve together with humility and order. It also invites us to hold joy and grief together, recognizing that new beginnings can stir both celebration and sorrow. We are called to trust God's promises, to work diligently, and to praise him for his enduring love, knowing that he is building something greater than we can see.

Biblical fidelity check

The chapter does not claim that the temple was completed in this passage, only that the foundation was laid. It does not name the specific fears of the people beyond the surrounding lands, nor does it describe the exact nature of the opposition. It does not record the words of the old men's weeping or the content of the joyful shout beyond the praise formula. It does not state that all the people were united in emotion, but rather that both weeping and shouting occurred. It does not mention any miraculous intervention or direct divine speech in this chapter.

Questions for study

1. Why do you think the people prioritized rebuilding the altar before the temple foundation, and what does that teach us about worship?
2. How did the people respond to fear of surrounding peoples, and what can we learn from their example?
3. What roles did different groups play in the rebuilding work, and how does that reflect the importance of order and cooperation in God's service?
4. Why did the old men weep while others shouted for joy, and how can we hold both grief and joy in our own faith journeys?
5. What does the people's generous giving and careful planning reveal about their commitment to God's house, and how might that challenge us today?

Keep reading

Related studies: Ezra 1 Bible Study, Ezra 10 Bible Study, Ezra 2 Bible Study, Ezra 4 Bible Study.

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FAQ

Why did the people rebuild the altar before the temple foundation?

They rebuilt the altar first to restore regular worship and sacrifice, as commanded in the law of Moses, showing that worship of God was their top priority even before constructing the temple building.

What caused the old men to weep at the foundation laying?

The old men who had seen the first temple wept because the new foundation seemed inferior to the former glory, expressing grief over what was lost, while others shouted for joy at the new beginning.

How did the people fund the rebuilding project?

They gave money to masons and carpenters and provided food, drink, and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre to bring cedar trees from Lebanon, according to the grant from Cyrus king of Persia.