First light on the old temple site of ruined Jerusalem: a plain square altar of rough fieldstones stands alone on a cleared stony platform among tumbled great stones and weeds, a thin column of smoke rising straight up, one priest in white linen small beside it, the broken city wall below, under a calm, empty dawn sky.

The Book of

Ezra 3

Before the walls, before the temple, they built an altar. And when the foundation was laid, the old men wept.

13 verses≈ 4 min2 peopleBSB

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In this chapter

Where we are

1–2The returnCyrus lets them go up
3The altarFoundations laidChapter 3
4OppositionThe work stopped
5–6The templeFinished and dedicated
7–8Ezra comesThe good hand of God
9–10RepentanceFaithless marriages confessed

Sacrifices Restored

By the seventh month, the Israelites had settled in their towns, and the people assembled as one man in Jerusalem.

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Morning on the old temple site of ruined Jerusalem: Jeshua the priest in white linen with a blue sash and his fellow priests, with Zerubbabel in a deep-blue robe and his men, set the last rough fieldstones of a plain square altar onto old foundation stones, a young ram tethered nearby, and far off on a ridge a few small figures watching.

Then Jeshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests, along with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his associates, began to build the altar of the God of Israel to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God. They set up the altar on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the LORD—both the morning and evening burnt offerings—even though they feared the people of the land.

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Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

They gave money to the masons and carpenters, and food and drink and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre to bring cedar logs from Lebanon to Joppa by sea, as authorized by Cyrus king of Persia.

Reflect

Worship first

They had no walls, no temple and plenty to fear, and the first thing they built was an altar. They worshiped “even though they feared the people of the land.” What would it look like to put worship first this week, before the projects and worries that feel more urgent?

Temple Restoration Begins

In the second month of the second year after they had arrived at the house of God in Jerusalem, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Jeshua son of Jozadak, and the rest of their associates including the priests, the Levites, and all who had returned to Jerusalem from the captivity, began the work. They appointed Levites twenty years of age or older to supervise the construction of the house of the LORD.

So Jeshua and his sons and brothers, Kadmiel and his sons (descendants of Yehudah), and the sons of Henadad and their sons and brothers—all Levites—joined together to supervise those working on the house of God.

When the builders had laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their positions to praise the LORD, as David king of Israel had prescribed.

Pray

On new foundations

They sang the old song on new foundations: “For He is good,” and His loving devotion endures. Thank God for one way He has been good to you this year, both in what He is rebuilding and in what you still grieve. Ask Him for a heart that can praise Him in both.

Ezra 3:11

Then all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD had been laid.

But many of the older priests, Levites, and family heads who had seen the first temple wept loudly when they saw the foundation of this temple. Still, many others shouted joyfully. The people could not distinguish the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people were making so much noise. And the sound was heard from afar.

Question

Quick question

In the seventh month, the returned exiles gathered in Jerusalem as one man.

What did the returned exiles build first?

You’ve experienced

Ezra 3

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A verse to carry with you

And they sang responsively with praise and thanksgiving to the LORD: “For He is good; for His loving devotion to Israel endures forever.” Then all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD had been laid.

Ezra 3:11

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