EZRA LESSON 3


     We will begin this lesson in 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."

     It appears, from this, that the people first went and reclaimed
their inheritance. The seventh month was Tisri on their calendar. On
our calendar, it is approximately October. This was speaking of them
coming to Jerusalem right after their harvest time. This month had
always been special to the Hebrews. This was a time of the blowing of
the trumpets. Day of atonement occurred on the tenth day of this
month.  This would be a time they would have their minds on their
LORD.  The Feast of Tabernacles occurred in this month, as well. This
was a special month for all Hebrews.

     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."

     Jeshua was acting high priest. His grandfather, Seraiah, was high
priest at the time of the destruction of the temple before the
Babylonian captivity. Zerubbabel had led this group of captives back
from Babylon. Those priests and people in high authority had built the
altar where they could offer burnt offerings. God had instructed them
in the law of Moses how to go about offering. God had shown David that
this was the only acceptable place for burnt offerings to be made.

     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."

     We see, from this, that, perhaps, the bases had not been
destroyed. The new altar was made to the size of the base. The altar
sat upon this base. These nations, they seemed to be afraid of, were
the nations around them that worshipped false gods. They would not
have feared the Persians, because Cyrus had sent them to construct the
temple. The following are the instructions they were keeping. Exodus
29:38  "Now this [is that] which thou shalt offer upon the altar; two
lambs of the first year day by day continually." Exodus 29:39 "The one
lamb thou shalt offer in the morning; and the other lamb thou shalt
offer at even:"

     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;"

     This was a time of year that was required by the Levitical law
for all males to worship. This would not be a true Feast of
Tabernacles or Feast of Ingathering, but would be recognizing the days
as such. The temple is not re-built at this time. This is the
beginning of re-establishing worship in Jerusalem.

     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."

     The "continual burnt offering" is speaking of the regular morning
and evening sacrifices. We see, that the returned Hebrews kept the
morning and evening sacrifices, and kept the new moons which was the
beginning of a new month. They would, from this time on, keep all of
the Feasts, including Passover and Pentecost. A freewill offering
might be made at any time. It was not of obligation, but of their free
will.

     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."

     It appears, the worship began in earnest on this first day of the
seventh month, and continued as if the temple was there. They had not
even begun the work on the temple at this time. They had taken care of
their own affairs first. They re-established their homes, and then
thought of sacrificing.

     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."

     We can assume from this, that the masons, carpenters, and workers
received money to live on in coins while they were working on the
temple. Tyre and Zidon did not have enough foodstuff, so they were
paid for the cedar trees, they brought for building, in grain and
other foodstuff, that was plentiful in Judah. The king of Persia had
helped to finance the rebuilding of the temple out of his own funds.

     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."

     This seems to be saying, that about May of the second year since
they had returned, they set forward the work on the house of the LORD.
Zif was their second month, which is comparable to our May. This is
the same month that Solomon had laid the foundation for the temple he
built. Zerubbabel seemed to be in charge of this whole operation. All
young men 20 years, or older, were to come to work on the temple.

     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."

     We see, from this, that the high priest would make sure that all
was done according to the building of the first temple. Jeshua was
that high priest. Kadmiel was of the tribe of Judah, but he was not
priest.  He was descended from Hodaviah. Henadad was a Levite, but not
a priest.

     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."

     The trumpets, blown by the priests in their priestly robes,
proclaimed the victory of the building of the foundation of the
temple. The cymbals were struck to show that the building had begun.
We remember, the family of Asaph was in charge of the praise and
worship through singing and music.

     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."

     This was a time of great celebration, because the re-establishing
of the temple in Jerusalem had begun. God was, and is, good. His mercy
does endure forever. This was especially so for these Hebrews. God
kept a remnant for them to begin again. The praising and shouting was
a way of saying thank you to God. We need to do a little shouting and
praising today for the goodness God has bestowed upon us all.

     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:"

     The weeping from those whom remembered the greatness of the
temple, before it was destroyed, was in joy. They were overwhelmed in
their hearts with the prospect of it being built again.

     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."

     The crying, and shouting with it, was just as loud as the
shouting and praising. This had to be a spectacular sound with the
cymbals clanging, the trumpets blowing, the weeping loudly, and the
shouts of praise. Everyone had to know what was happening by the loud
sounds.  Wouldn't it be interesting to see a church in our day
rejoicing so loudly that it would stir up the entire neighborhood?
Where has our enthusiasm in the LORD gone?
                             Ezra 3 Questions


1.  When did the children of Israel come to gather in Jerusalem?
2.  What was the 7th month on their calendar?
3.  What month is that on our calendar?
4.  What special event had gone on during this month in times past?
5.  _________ was acting high priest.
6.  Who was high priest, when the temple had been destroyed?
7.  Who had led the people home from Babylon?
8.  Who built the altar?
9.  It was built for what?
10. What was the altar set upon?
11. The nations around them worshipped ________ ______.
12. Quote Exodus chapter 29 verses 38 and 39.
13. What Feast did they keep?
14. What is this re-establishing?
15. The "continual burnt offering" is speaking of what?
16. What other thing did they observe, mentioned in verse 5?
17. How did the freewill offering differ from the other offerings?
18. When did the worship begin in earnest?
19. Who did they give money to for their work?
20. What did they give for the cedar trees?
21. When did they begin work on the temple?
22. Who was overseeing this whole thing?
23. What did the priests do?
24. Who was called into service to work on the temple?
25. Zif on their calendar is compared to our _______.
26. Who was Kadmiel?
27. Who blew the trumpets in celebration of the foundation being laid?
28. Who struck the cymbals?
29. Asaph's family was in charge of what?
30. Quote Ezra chapter 3 verse 11.
31. Who cried over the foundation being laid?