*Ezra 3:7-13
The foundation of the second temple is laid in Jerusalem by returning exiles from Judah, marked by both joy and tears.
- Rebuilding of the Temple Begins:
- The Israelites, under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Jeshua, begin rebuilding the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem during the second year of their return from exile in Babylon.
- They appoint Levites twenty years of age and older to oversee the work of the Lord’s house, while Jeshua and his sons and brothers, along with Kadmiel and his sons, oversee the work of the sons of Henadad.
- Foundation of the Temple Laid:
- Despite opposition and threats from surrounding peoples, the Israelites lay the foundation of the temple of the Lord with great ceremony and reverence.
- They offer burnt offerings to the Lord and sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving, rejoicing in the restoration of their ability to worship and serve God in His temple.
- Mixed Reactions:
- While many of the older priests, Levites, and heads of families who had seen the former temple weep with sorrow at the sight of the new foundation, others shout for joy and praise the Lord.
- The sound of their joyful praise and the sound of weeping are mingled together, making it difficult to distinguish between the shouts of joy and the cries of sorrow.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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: 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.