Ezra 3

Sacrifices Restored

1By the seventhH7637 monthH2320, the IsraelitesH1121H3478 had settledH5060 in their townsH5892, and the peopleH5971 assembledH622 as oneH259 manH376 inH413 JerusalemH3389.

2Then JeshuaH3442 sonH1121 of JozadakH31361 and his fellowH251 priestsH3548, along with ZerubbabelH2216 sonH1121 of ShealtielH7597 and his associatesH251, beganH6965 to buildH1129 the altarH4196 of the GodH430 of IsraelH3478 to sacrificeH5927 burnt offeringsH5930 on itH5921, as it is writtenH3789 in the LawH8451 of MosesH4872 the manH376 of GodH430. 3They set upH3559 the altarH4196 onH5921 its foundationH4350 and sacrificedH5927H5921 burnt offeringsH5930 on itH5921 to the LORDH3068—both the morningH1242 and eveningH6153 burnt offeringsH5930—even thoughH3588 they fearedH367 the peopleH5971 of the landH776.

4They also celebratedH6213 the FeastH2282 of TabernaclesH55212 in accordance with what is writtenH3789, and they offered burnt offeringsH5930 dailyH3117 based on the numberH4557 prescribedH4941H1697 for each dayH3117.

5After thatH310, they presented the regularH8548 burnt offeringsH5930 and those for New MoonsH2320 and for allH3605 the appointedH4150 sacred feastsH6942 of the LORDH3068, as well as allH3605 the freewill offeringsH5071 broughtH5068 to the LORDH3068.

6On the firstH259 dayH3117 of the seventhH7637 monthH2320, the Israelites beganH2490 to offerH5927 burnt offeringsH5930 to the LORDH3068, although the foundation of the templeH1964 of the LORDH3068 had not been laidH3808H3245. 7They gaveH5414 moneyH3701 to the masonsH2672 and carpentersH2796, and foodH3978 and drinkH4960 and oilH8081 to the people of SidonH6722 and TyreH6876 to bringH935 cedarH730 logsH6086 fromH4480 LebanonH3844 toH413 JoppaH3305 by seaH3220, as authorizedH7558H5921 by CyrusH3566 kingH4428 of PersiaH6539.

Temple Restoration Begins

8In the secondH8145 monthH2320 of the secondH8145 yearH8141 after they had arrivedH935 atH413 the houseH1004 of GodH430 in JerusalemH3389, ZerubbabelH2216 sonH1121 of ShealtielH7597, JeshuaH3442 sonH1121 of JozadakH3136, and the restH7605 of their associatesH251 including the priestsH3548, the LevitesH3881, and allH3605 who had returnedH935 to JerusalemH3389 from the captivityH7628, beganH2490 the work. They appointedH5975 LevitesH3881 twentyH6242 years of ageH1121H8141 or olderH4605 to superviseH5329H5921 the constructionH4399 of the houseH1004 of the LORDH3068. 9So JeshuaH3442 and his sonsH1121 and brothersH251, KadmielH6934 and his sonsH1121 (descendantsH1121 of YehudahH3063),3 and the sonsH1121 of HenadadH2582 and their sonsH1121 and brothersH251—all LevitesH3881—joinedH5975 togetherH259 to superviseH5329H5921 those workingH6213H4399 on the houseH1004 of GodH430.

10When the buildersH1129 had laid the foundationH3245 of the templeH1964 of the LORDH3068, the priestsH3548 in their apparelH3847 with trumpetsH2689, and the LevitesH3881 (the sonsH1121 of AsaphH623) with cymbalsH4700, took their positionsH5975 to praiseH1984 the LORDH3068, asH5921 DavidH1732 kingH4428 of IsraelH3478 had prescribedH3027. 11And they sang responsivelyH6030 with praiseH1984 and thanksgivingH3034 to the LORDH3068:

Then allH3605 the peopleH5971 gave a greatH1419 shoutH7321H8643 of praiseH1984 to the LORDH3068, because the foundationH5921 of the houseH1004 of the LORDH3068 had been laidH3245.

12But manyH7227 of the olderH2205 priestsH3548, LevitesH3881, and familyH1 headsH7218 whoH834 had seenH7200 the firstH7223 templeH1004 weptH1058 loudlyH6963H1419 when they sawH5869 the foundationH3245 of thisH2088 templeH1004. Still, manyH7227 others shoutedH8643H7311 joyfullyH6963H8057. 13The peopleH5971 could notH369 distinguishH5234 the shoutsH6963H8643 of joyH8057 from the soundH6963 of weepingH1065, becauseH3588H5971 the peopleH5971 were making so much noiseH7321H8643H1419. And the soundH6963 was heardH8085 fromH5704 afarH7350.