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.
On the 7th month the people of Israel gathered together as one in Jerusalem. This is the month in which Rosh Hashanah (the 1st day of the month designating the new year), Day of Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles was observed. It is during our September-October.
Ezra 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.
Ezra 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.
Jeshua or Joshua evidently served as high priest. He and his brethren the priests built an altar to God upon which they could offer burnt offerings in accordance with the law of Moses. They put the altar at the exact place upon which the one that had been destroyed had stood, and they offered burnt offerings in the morning and evening as commanded in the law. It is noted that the people were determined to obey the LORD in spite of their fear of the people in the surrounding countries.
I liked Guzik’s comment: “They built the altar first because they understood its spiritual significance. Fundamentally, the altar was where sin was dealt with and where the common man met with God (the temple was only for the priests to enter). They started with the altar because it was a wise spiritual priority, showing they understood their need to have atonement from sin and acts of dedication to God.”
Ezra 3:4 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;
Ezra 3:5 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 freewill offering unto the LORD.
Ezra 3:6 From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt offerings unto the LORD. But the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not yet laid.
The people kept the feast of tabernacles and then continued to offer burnt offerings as commanded for the new moons, other set feasts, and as the people came to make freewill offerings. This all began on the first day of the 7th month even though the foundation of the temple had not yet been laid.
The writer seems to be emphasizing that the returning remnant were determined to follow the LORD in obedience.
Ezra 3:7 They gave money also unto the masons, and to the carpenters; and meat, and drink, and oil, unto them of Zidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.
They gave money to hire masons and carpenters and provided food, drink and olive oil to the men from Zidon and Tyre who brought cedar trees from Lebanon to the port of Joppa as authorized by Cyrus king of Persia. Both Tyre and Zidon were ruled by Cyrus as well.
NIV Commentary: “As with the first temple, the Phoenicians (of Tyre and Sidon) cooperated by sending timbers and workmen (1Ki 5:7-12). The latter were paid in “money” (lit., “silver”) that would have been weighed out in shekels (see comment on 2:69). Ancient Phoenicia (modern Lebanon) was renowned for its cedars and other coniferous trees. Both the Mesopotamians and the Egyptians sought to obtain its timbers either by trade or by conquest. Cedars, mentioned seventy-one times in the OT, can grow to a height of 120 feet with a girth of 30 to 40 feet. Their fragrant wood resists rot and insects. The wood was floated on rafts down the coast and unloaded at Joppa.”
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.
Ezra 3:9 Then stood Jeshua 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.
In the 2nd month of the 2nd year Zerubbabel and Joshua led the people to begin rebuilding the temple. They appointed Levites that were 20 years and older to supervise the work. Jeshua and Kadmiel and their sons seemed to head up the team of Levites in overseeing the work that was done.
This was a different Jeshua than the high priest.
Ezra 2:40 “The Levites: the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the children of Hodaviah, seventy and four.”
Ezra 3:10 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.
Ezra 3:11 And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.
Once the foundation of the temple was laid, they gathered together for a time of praise and worship in celebration. They sang in praise of the LORD’s goodness and His mercy toward Israel in allowing them to lay the foundation.
Ezra 3:12 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 aloud for joy:
Ezra 3:13 So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.
It is noted that many of the older men, priests and Levites that had seen the first temple wept loudly, probably mourning the lost magnificence of the first temple; while others shouted for joy at the prospect of having a new temple. The noise was so loud that one couldn’t distinguish the weeping from the rejoicing and could be heard for quite a distance.
Ironside made an interesting application: “Youth is the period of enthusiasm and exuberance of spirit, while age is the time of sobriety and serious contemplation. Young men are apt to be over-sanguine looking on to the future; aged men, on the other hand, are likely to be reminiscent and unduly occupied with the past. It is often difficult for youth to comprehend the fears of the old and experienced regarding any new work in which they are involved. It is equally hard, frequently, for the elder men to recognize any special work of God entrusted chiefly to the young and in which they cannot share for long. They are too apt to forget their own youth; and as they think of ruined hopes would put the brake on any who do not now occupy their standpoint. Hence much patience is ever needed in a movement such as we have been tracing. The young need grace, to profit by the godly, sober counsels the fathers, who, in their turn, need grace to rejoice in what God is doing through those as yet immature.”
Ezra 4:1 ¶ Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel;
Ezra 4:2 Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.
Ezra 4:3 But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.
Some of the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the people that had returned to Jerusalem were rebuilding the temple to the LORD God of Israel. Representatives came to meet with Zerubbabel and some of the chief leaders of the people, declaring that they wanted to help them build the temple. They stated that they also worshipped and sacrificed to “your God” and had done so since Esarhaddon was king of Assur, the man responsible for bringing them to the land.
Verse 10 indicates that the primary antagonists were from Samaria. JFB offers the following insight: “A very interesting explanation of this passage has been recently obtained from the Assyrian sculptures. On a large cylinder, deposited in the British Museum, there is inscribed a long and perfect copy of the annals of Esar-haddon, in which the details are given of a large deportation of Israelites from Palestine, and a consequent settlement of Babylonian colonists in their place. It is a striking confirmation of the statement made in this passage. Those Assyrian settlers intermarried with the remnant of Israelite women, and their descendants, a mongrel race, went under the name of Samaritans. Though originally idolaters, they were instructed in the knowledge of God, so that they could say, ‘We seek your God’; but they served Him in a superstitious way of their own.”
Zerubbabel and Joshua, along with the chief elders of Israel, refused their help, declaring that they would do it themselves as commanded by Cyrus king of Persia.
Again, JFB makes astute observation: “This refusal to co-operate with the Samaritans, from whatever motives it sprang, was overruled by Providence for ultimate good; for, had the two peoples worked together, familiar acquaintanceship and intermarriage would have ensued, and the result might have been a relapse of the Jews into idolatry. Most certainly, confusion and obscurity in the genealogical evidence that proved the descent of the Messiah would have followed; whereas, in their hostile and separate condition, they were jealous observers of each other’s proceedings, watching with mutual care over the preservation and integrity of the sacred books, guarding the purity and honor of the Mosaic worship, and thus contributing to the maintenance of religious knowledge and truth.”
Ezra 4:4 Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,
Ezra 4:5 And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
“weaken the hands” – an idiom meaning to discourage
The people of the land responded by discouraging and intimidating them. They even hired people to work against them and frustrate their building efforts throughout the duration of the reign, until Darius became the king of Persia.
Ironside made a good application: “Men talk glibly of serving the Lord and having made a start for the kingdom, who know nothing of repentance toward God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Till such are brought to self-judgment before God, and heart-confidence in Christ as Saviour, they are only a hindrance to any Christian company, and will be adversaries to everything that is really of the Holy Spirit.”
Ezra 4:6 ¶ And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
Beginning with this verse through verse 23 it seems that the writer gets sidetracked in thinking about the continual adversity the people encountered in rebuilding the temple and the city of Jerusalem.
At the beginning of the reign of Ahasuerus (Xerxes), the enemies of the people of Israel wrote him a letter making accusations against those living in Judah and Jerusalem.
Note: Ahasuerus is the king that made Esther his queen.
Esther 2:16–17 “So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.”
Ezra 4:7 And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue.
Ezra 4:8 Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort:
Ezra 4:9 Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites,
Ezra 4:10 And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnappar brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this side the river, and at such a time.
Even though they got no response from Ahasuerus, the enemies of the people of Jerusalem did not give up. When Artaxerxes became king, they wrote him a similar letter in the Syrian (or Aramaic) language, declaring to be a unified opinion of several nationalities represented west of Euphrates.
Ezra 4:11 This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even unto Artaxerxes the king; Thy servants the men on this side the river, and at such a time.
Ezra 4:12 Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations.
Ezra 4:13 Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings.
Ezra 4:14 Now because we have maintenance from the king’s palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king’s dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king;
Ezra 4:15 That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed.
Ezra 4:16 We certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river.
The facts as set forth in the letter included:
Jerusalem had a history of being a rebellious and bad city.
It was being rebuilt by the captives that had been allowed to return.
If this was allowed, the people would not pay toll (personal tax), tribute (excise tax on articles consumed), or custom (travel tolls), thereby reducing revenue to the king.
Because we are your servants, we do not want to see you dishonored.
They then suggested that the king search the royal records, confident that he would see that they verified that the people of Jerusalem had a history of being rebellious. In fact, that is why the city was destroyed originally. They implied that if Jerusalem were rebuilt, he would end up losing control of the lands west of the Euphrates.
Guzik helps clarify the situation in reference to verse 12: “This indicates that the work they complained against was not the work of rebuilding the temple, because that work was already completed. This was resistance to the work of rebuilding the city and its walls. We know that the temple was completed sooner rather than later for several reasons. One is that the same Zerubbabel who started the work also saw it finished (Zechariah 4:9). Another is that some of the same people who saw the glory of Solomon’s temple also lived long enough to see Zerubbabel’s temple finished (Haggai 2:3).”
Zechariah 4:9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you.”
Haggai 2:3 “Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?”
Ezra 4:17 ¶ Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time.
Ezra 4:18 The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me.
Ezra 4:19 And I commanded, and search hath been made, and it is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein.
Ezra 4:20 There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them.
Ezra 4:21 Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until another commandment shall be given from me.
Ezra 4:22 Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?
The king answered their letter, noting that the letter they had sent had been clearly read to him. He informed them that the search they had recommended had been made and verified what they had written. He noted that in the past the kings of Jerusalem had been powerful enough to demand tribute from the surrounding nations. He then authorized them to command that work on the city be stopped until he ordered differently. He urged them not to fail in enforcing his command since it could result in harm to the king.
Ezra 4:23 Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power.
Ezra 4:24 Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
Once they received the king’s response, the enemies of the people of Judah couldn’t wait to go show it to the Jews and enforce their compliance.
So the work on the temple was stopped until the 2nd year of the reign of Darius, King of Persia.
Another good observation from Ironside: “So it ever is, the world and the world-church are quite content to see Christians prospering in temporal ways. The line of demarcation soon goes down when riches increase and self-interest prevails. It is the spiritual prosperity, the energy of faith that offends the world; for when the light shines brightly, it exposes the selfishness, the pride, the hypocrisy of those who have a name to live but are dead.”
Good application from Courson: “Why does the enemy condemn you? Why does he comb through your past failures and flaws? Because he know it will cause you to become disheartened and hopes it will cause you to give up. God’s work stops when God’s people feel the effects of accusation and condemnation.”