Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 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 built 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.

2. Then stood up to offer ]

Jeshua the High-priest (cf. Ezr 2:2) mentioned here in connexion with sacrifice, before Zerubbabel; in Ezr 3:8 after Zerubbabel in connexion with the work of rebuilding the Temple.

Jeshua’s brethren are the priests: Zerubbabel’s brethren ‘the heads of fathers’ houses’ (cf. Ezr 2:2; Ezr 2:68).

Zerubbabel called here for the first time ‘son of Shealtiel’. See note on Ezr 2:2.

and builded ] a ceremonious act performed by the heads of the people.

the altar of the God of Israel ] cf. Ezr 1:3. We are reminded by this term of the unity of the divided and scattered people. The altar, the place of sacrifice, symbolized the approach of the whole people.

as it is written in the law of Moses ] cf. Ezr 6:18; 2Ch 23:18; 2Ch 35:12 ; 2Ch 35:26. The offerings for the 1st day of Tisri, the Feast of Trumpets, are described in Num 29:1-6.

the man of God ] For the phrase used of Moses, cf. 1Ch 23:14 ; 2Ch 30:16.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Jeshua, the high priest, was the son of Jozadak, who was carried into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar 1Ch 6:15.

Zerubbabel was really the son of Pedaiah, Shealtiels (or Salathiels) younger brother. But Shealtiel having no sons, and the royal line being continued in the person of his nephew, Zerubbabel, the latter was accounted Shealtiels son.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Verse 2. Jeshua the son of Jozadak] He was grandson of Seraiah the high priest, who was put to death by Nebuchadnezzar, 2Kg 25:18; 2Kg 25:21. This Jeshua or Joshua was the first high priest after the captivity.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

Jeshua the son of Jozadak, the high priest.

The son of Shealtiel, i.e. the grandson; for he was the son of Pedaiah, 1Ch 3:17-19.

Built the altar; which was of more present and urgent necessity than the temple, both to make atonement to God for all their sins, and to obtain Gods assistance for the building of the temple, and to strengthen their own hearts and hands in that great work, wherein they saw they should have many enemies.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

2. Jeshuathe grandson ofSeraiah, the high priest, put to death by Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah(2Ki 25:18-21). Hisfather, Josedech, had been carried captive to Babylon, and diedthere, some time before this.

Zerubbabelwas,according to the order of nature, son of Pedaiah (1Ch3:17-19); but having been brought up by Salathiel, he was calledhis son.

builded the altar of the Godof Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereonThis was of urgentand immediate necessity, in order, first, to make atonement for theirsins; secondly, to obtain the divine blessing on their preparationsfor the temple, as well as animate their feelings of piety andpatriotism for the prosecution of that national work.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak,…. Who was the high priest, and the proper person to give the lead in the following work:

and his brethren the priests; the common priests, very fit to join him, and assist him in it:

and Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel; the prince and governor of Judah, whose presence was necessary to give countenance to the work, and animate to it:

and his brethren; the princes and heads of the people, particularly those mentioned Ezr 2:2

and builded the altar of the God of Israel; the altar of burnt offering, gave orders for the building of it, and directions about it:

to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God; or prophet of God, as the Syriac version; see Le 1:1.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(2) Builded the altar.Only as the beginning of their work. The Temple was, as it were, built around the altar, as the centre of all.

Moses the man of God.Like David, Neh. 12:24; Neh. 12:36.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

2. Then stood up To lead and direct the people in the work and worship for which they had come together.

Jeshua Zerubbabel See note on Ezr 2:2. Here priestly work is the main subject of the context, and Jeshua, the priest, is named first; in other passages where the government of the people, or building matters, form the chief topic, Zerubbabel is named first. Compare Ezr 3:8, Ezr 2:2; Ezr 4:3, etc.

Builded the altar This was their first care. Before the temple is commenced they provided for the proper offering of the daily and special sacrifices.

The law of Moses This had been sacredly preserved, and existed in book form; but during the exile the masses of the people had so far lost the use of their ancient language that they needed to have the law not only read, but expounded in their hearing. Neh 8:1-8.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

I must beg the Reader very particularly to mark this verse. Here we find that before they begun, or even had power to begin, the foundation for the temple, the altar was set up. Was not this typical of Jesus? Is he not, and was he not ever, the Altar, the Sacrifice, and Priest? What a precious allusion then was this to him, in whom all sacrifices had their substance, and to whom they all referred.

Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

Ezr 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.

Ver. 2. Then stood up Jeshua ] Ministers, of all others, should be most forward and forth putting, ready prest and prepared to every good work, as patterns to the people, who are led more by their eyes than by their ears, &c.

And Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel ] These two ever went hand in hand; and hence the work so prospered in their hand. It must needs be so (said Queen Elizabeth once to the Suffolk gentlemen who came to meet her with their ministers by their sides) where the word and the sword go together.

And builded the altar of the God of Israel ] Which therefore, in their father Jacob’s sense, Gen 33:20 , they might safely have called El, Elohe-Israel, that is, God, the God of Israel, putting the sign for the thing signified. Thus also the ark is called God’s face, Psa 105:4 ; yea, even God himself, Psa 132:5 .

As it is written in the law of Moses ] This was the rule they wrought by. God requireth to have a reasonable service, Rom 12:1 , such as whereof we can render a reason out of his word; he hateth a Samaritan service, Joh 4:22 , and will not endure Popish will-worship. Who requireth these things at their hands, their altars, crucifixes, penances, pilgrimages, &c.? The whole number of the beast is but the number of a man, Rev 13:18 . Men will have it so, and this is the sum of all Popish religion. All their superstructions are human inventions.

Moses, the man of God ] The prophet, the lawgiver, a man of much communion with God above any other, Num 12:8 . One calleth him heaven’s chancellor.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

Jeshua. The high priest. Spelled Joshua in Hag 1:1; Hag 2:2. Zec 3:1.

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

Zerubbabel. Compare Mat 1:12. Luk 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 Exo 17:14, and App-47.

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

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

Jeshua: Hag 1:1, Hag 1:12, Hag 1:14, Hag 2:2-4, Zec 3:1, Zec 3:8, Zec 6:11, Joshua the son of Josedech.

Zerubbabel: Ezr 2:2, 1Ch 3:17, 1Ch 3:19, Hag 2:21, Hag 2:23, Zec 4:6-10, Mat 1:12, Mat 1:13, Luk 3:27, Zorobabel, Salathiel

as it is written: Exo 20:24, Exo 20:25, Num 28:3-31, Deu 12:5-7, 2Ch 6:6, Psa 78:68, Bp. Patrick observes, that before the temple was built, there seems to have been a tabernacle pitched for Divine service, as was in David’s time, not on mount Moriah, but mount Sion, to be used while the temple was building. Let us learn hence to begin with God, and to do what we can in the worship of God, when we cannot do what we would. They could not immediately have a temple, but they would not be without an altar. Wherever a Christian goes, if he carry not with him the sacrifices of prayer and praise, he is wanting in his duty; for he has an altar ever ready that sanctifies both the gift and the giver.

Reciprocal: Ezr 3:8 – Zerubbabel Ezr 4:2 – Zerubbabel Ezr 5:2 – rose up Ezr 10:18 – Jeshua Neh 12:7 – of Jeshua Isa 27:9 – when Hag 2:14 – and that

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ezr 3:2. Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak He was the high- priest, called Joshua, Hag 1:1. And Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel That is, his grandson; for, properly speaking, he was the son of Pedaiah. And builded the altar of the God of Israel Which was of more present necessity than the temple, both to make atonement to God for all their sins, and to obtain Gods assistance for the building of the temple, and to strengthen their own hearts and hands in that great work.

Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

3:2 Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the {b} 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.

(b) Meaning nephew, for he was the son of Pedaiah, 1Ch 3:19.

Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes