Bible Commentaries
Ezra 3

Verse 1

seventh month. Tisri. See App-51 .

children = sons.

of Israel. See note on Ezra 2:2 , and 1 Kings 12:17 .

the cities. Some codices, with Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulg, read "their cities".

to = in. Therefore this was after Nehemiah 7:1-4 .

Verse 2

Jeshua . The high priest. Spelled Joshua in Haggai 1:1 ; Haggai 2:2 .Zechariah 3:1 .

Jozadak. The son of Seraiah (1 Chronicles 6:14 , 1 Chronicles 6:15 ). But Ezra was the son of Seraiah (Ezra 7:1 ). Therefore Ezra was brother to Jozadak and uncle to Joshua the high priest.

Zerubbabel. Compare Matthew 1:12 .Luke 3:27 , called Zorobabel.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. (with Art.) = the [true] God. App-4 .

offer = offer up. Hebrew. 'alah . App-43 .

written in the law of Moses. See note on Exodus 17:14 , and App-47 .

the man Of God (with Art.) = the [true] God. See note on Deuteronomy 33:1 ; and App-49 .

Verse 3

people = peoples.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

Verse 4

kept, &c. As recorded also in the parallel passage (Nehemiah 8:1-18 ).

as it is written. See Leviticus 23:34-43 .Deuteronomy 16:13-15 , and compare 1 Kings 8:2 , 1 Kings 8:65 .

Verse 7

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ), to emphasize each detail.

carpenters = artificers.

bring cedar trees. Compare 1 Kings 5:6 . 2Ch 2:8 , 2 Chronicles 2:10 .

Joppa. Compare Joshua 19:46 . Acts 9:35 , 3 John 1:3; 3 John 1:3 .

grant. Occurs only here.

Of = from. Genitive of Origin. See App-17 .

Verse 8

God. Hebrew. Elohim. (with Art.) the [true] God. App-4 . set forward = oversee.

Verse 9

Judah: or Hodaviah, as in Ezra 2:40 .

Verse 10

they set the priests: or, the priests took their stand.

cymbals. Hebrew mziltayim. Dual form, meaning two metal discs struck together, making a clashing sound. Not zilzilim, which = timbrels, but is translated cymbals in 2 Samuel 6:5 and Psalms 150:5 , from the rustling sound. See note on 1 Chronicles 13:8 .

Verse 11

mercy = lovingkindness, or grace.

shouted with a great shout. Figure of speech Polyptoton. App-6 .

Verse 12

chief = heads.

who were. Some codices, with one early printed edition and "Vulgate, read "and the".

shouted aloud for joy. Thus fulfilling Jeremiah 33:10 , Jeremiah 33:11 .