Ezra Lesson 03
Ezra Chapter 3
Distributed by: KJV Bible Studies
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Introduction: The third chapter of Ezra records how the returning Jews immediately restored the prescribed Levitical offerings and observances. Plans were set in place for materials to be delivered and shortly thereafter, work began on rebuilding the Temple.
I. The Altar Is Rebuilt
(Ezr 3:1) And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem.
The seventh month referred to likely is according to the Jewish calendar which would make it about October. The Jews evidently had departed from Babylon in the spring of that year and arrived back in the vicinity of Jerusalem during the summer. They no doubt had need to secure housing and get settled.
The next major holy day on the Levitical calendar was the feast of Tabernacles which was around the first of October. They there “gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem.” The congregation was in one place and in one accord Acts 2:1).
(Ezr 3:2) Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.
(Ezr 3:3) And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD, even burnt offerings morning and evening.
The Alter of God was constructed first. Jeshua (also known as Joshua) was a priest and evidently the ranking (high) priest, “stood up” along with the other priests. Zerubbabel (the ranking descendant of the royal linage) stood along with his brethren.
These men “builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt-offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.” Ezra records how they “set the altar upon his bases.” What is implied is that they placed the new altar in the exact place where the former altar had been established by Solomon. It may even have been the actual base or pedestal of the former altar and they built the new altar thereupon.
Though trouble is not noted until chapter 4, the Jewish leadership already sensed opposition and apparently wanted to get the altar established before trouble arose. The “countries” noted likely is reference to the Samaritans as well as neighboring gentile lands, the historic enemies of Israel. They therefore began offering the regular Levitical offerings, including the morning and evening sacrifices.
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