Why did the people gather as one man to Jerusalem in the seventh month?

The seventh month was full of important festivals given in the law, including the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles. After returning from exile, the people had settled in their own towns, but they left their personal concerns to come together in Jerusalem with one heart. They wanted to put worship first and return to what God had commanded. Their unity shows that they were moved to seek God together, even though they had just resettled and likely had many practical needs at home.

Who were Jeshua son of Jozadak and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel?

Jeshua son of Jozadak was the high priest, the leading spiritual figure among the returned exiles. Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel was the civil leader, a governor from the royal line of David. In this passage they stand up together with their brothers, the priests and the leaders of the people, to rebuild the altar of the God of Israel. Their joint leadership shows priest and ruler working side by side so that the nation can return to proper worship and prepare for the rebuilding of the temple.

Why did they rebuild the altar before laying the temple foundation?

They rebuilt the altar first so that sacrifices to God could start again right away, even though the temple building would take much longer. They knew from the law of Moses that burnt offerings and daily sacrifices were part of their covenant life with God. Also, they were afraid of the surrounding peoples, so they wanted to seek God’s help and favour at once. By starting with the altar, they did what they could in worship while they prepared and gathered materials for the larger work of rebuilding the temple.

What does it mean that they set the altar on its bases because fear was upon them?

The phrase shows that they were aware of danger from the peoples around them. They were few in number, newly returned, and surrounded by those who might oppose them. This fear did not stop them from worshiping. Instead, they quickly set the altar in its proper place, likely where it had stood before, and began offering burnt offerings to the Lord morning and evening. Their response to fear was to turn to God, not to withdraw from him. They sought his protection by renewing the sacrifices he had commanded.

What is the Feast of Tabernacles and how did they keep it here?

The Feast of Tabernacles was a joyful festival in the seventh month when Israel lived in booths to remember how God cared for their ancestors in the wilderness. In this passage, the returned exiles keep it “as it is written,” offering the daily burnt offerings by number, just as the law required for each day. They follow the set pattern for every day of the feast, then continue with the regular burnt offerings, the new moon sacrifices, other appointed feasts, and any freewill offerings people chose to bring.

What are the continual burnt offering, new moons, and freewill offerings mentioned here?

The continual burnt offering is the regular sacrifice offered every morning and evening. New moons are the first days of each month, which had their own sacrifices. The passage says they offered these, along with sacrifices for all the appointed feasts, and also any freewill offerings that individuals chose to give from the heart. This shows that they were not only doing the minimum required, but were eager to restore the full pattern of worship, both the fixed duties and the voluntary gifts people wanted to bring to the Lord.

What does this passage teach about worship when resources are limited?

The people had just come back from exile and did not yet have a temple. They were still organizing their lives and likely had few resources. Even so, they did not wait until everything was perfect to worship. They rebuilt the altar on its old bases, began the daily sacrifices, and kept the feasts as best they could. At the same time, they started paying masons and carpenters and arranging supplies from Tyre and Zidon for the future temple. It shows that we can honour God with what we have now, while also preparing for larger works ahead.

Why are Zidon, Tyre, Lebanon, and Joppa mentioned in the temple work?

These places are mentioned because they supplied materials and routes for the rebuilding. People from Zidon and Tyre received food, drink, and oil in return for bringing cedar trees from the forests of Lebanon. The logs were shipped by sea to the port of Joppa, which was the closest harbour to Jerusalem. This arrangement followed the permission given by Cyrus, king of Persia. It shows how God used distant regions and sea trade, under a foreign king’s rule, to provide what was needed for his house to be rebuilt.

Ezra.3.1

Ezra 3:1

KJV

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.

Sacrifices Restored

Cross References

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