Matthew Poole and continuators on Ezra 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.

Or rather, was coming, or drew near. For the Altar was set up after this time▪ v. 3. which yet was employed the first day of this month, v. 6. This was a sacred kind of month wherein there were divers Festivals, as appears from Lev. 23. for which the People had been preparing themselves, and now came to Ierusalem to the celebration of them.

2 Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak , and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and built 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.

The High-Priest.

i. e. The grandson: for he was the son of Pedaiah, 1 Chr. 3. 17, 18, 19.

Which was of more present and urgent necessity than the Temple, both to make atonement to God for all their sins, and to obtain Gods assistance for the building of the Temple, and to strengthen their own Hearts and Hands in that great work wherein they saw they should have many Enemies.

Marginal references: Or, Ioshua, Hag. 1. 1. Zech. 3. 1.; Called Zorobabil, Mat. 1. 12. Luk. 3. 27. called Salathiel.; Deut. 12. 5.; Deut. 12. 5.

4 They kept also the feast of tabernacles , as it is written, and offered the daily burnt-offerings , by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required;

This seems to be mentioned Synecdochically for all the Solemnities of this Month, whereof this was the most eminent and most lasting. Otherwise it is not probable, that they would neglect the day of Atonement which was so severely enjoined, Lev. 23. 27, 28, 29. and was so exceeding suitable to their present condition, See on v. 6.

Heb. burnt-offerings day by day, i. e. Every day of that Feast they offered as many Sacrifices as were prescribed; of which see Numb. 29. 13, &c.

Marginal references: Ex. 23. 16.; Num. 29. 12. &c.; Heb. the matter of the day in his day.

5 And afterward offered the continual burnt-offering , both of the new-moons, and of all the set-feasts of the LORD, that were consecrated , and of every one that willingly offered a free-will-offering unto the LORD.

The Morning and Evening-Sacrifice: of which see on Numb. 28. 6.

i. e. Set apart for the solemn and holy Service of God.

6 From the first day of the seventh month began they to ofter burnt-offerings unto the LORD: but the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not yet laid .

And the other Sacrifices which were to be offered with them upon that day, being the Feast of Trumpets, Numb. 29. 1, &c. Burnt-offerings are oft put for all Sacrifices, as hath been observed once and again.

Though it is probable they had done somthing towards the removing of the rubbish, and preparing the way for it.

Marginal references: Heb. the temple of the Lord was not yet founded.

9 Then stood Jeshua l with his sons, and his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah together, to set forward the workmen in the house of God: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brethren the Levites.

By their presence and favour to encourage them to a chearful and vigorous prosecution of the work.

Not the High-Priest so called, but a Levite, of whom see chap. 2. 40.

Marginal references: Or, Hodaviah. ch. 2. 40.; Heb. as one.

10 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the Priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph, with cymbals to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel.

Heb. By, or According to the hands of David, i. e. in such manner, and with such Psalms, or Songs, and Instruments as God had appointed by the Hands or Ministry of David.

Marginal references: Heb. [illegible: 1 word] hands.; 1 Chr. 6. 3[illegible: 1+ letters]. & 16. 7. & 25. 1.

12 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 for joy:

Which divers of them might very well do; because it was destroyed not quite Sixty years ago, as is manifest from 2 King. 25. 2 Chr. 36. & Ezek. 40. 1.

Partly because of the poor and small preparations made for this in comparison of what was made for the other Temple: partly because this Temple was divested and destitute of those things which were the principal Glory of the former Temple, to wit, the Ark▪ and the Urim and Thummim, & c. partly because these foundation-stones were far inferiour to the former, both for quantity and price, 1 King. 7. 9, 10. and partly because these foundations were of a far narrower compass than the former: for although the foundations of this House of the Lord, strictly so called, were at least of equal largeness with those of the former, by comparing 1 King. 6. 2. & Ezra 6. 1, 2, 3. yet the Foundations of the whole building belonging to the first Temple, and adjoining to it, or in the courts of it, were far larger than these.