Ezra 3:2

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.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

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 God’s assistance for the building of the temple, and to strengthen their own hearts and hands in that great work.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

3:2 Jeshua (Hag 1:1; Zech 3:1) was the high priest (Neh 12:1). However, Ezra never used this title (Ezra 2:2; 3:2; 4:3; 5:2), which suggests that the title was given after the Temple was completed (6:15). • Zerubbabel served as the Persian-appointed governor of Judah (Hag 1:1), most likely after the death of Sheshbazzar (see study note on Ezra 1:8). He was the grandson of King Jehoiachin of Judah (1 Chr 3:17).

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Meaning, nephew: for he was the son of Pedaiah, read 1 Chron. 3:19.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Jeshua--the grandson of Seraiah, the high priest, put to death by Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah (Kg2 25:18-21). His father, Josedech, had been carried captive to Babylon, and died there, some time before this.

Zerubbabel--was, according to the order of nature, son of Pedaiah (Ch1 3:17-19); but having been brought up by Salathiel, he was called his son.

builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon--This was of urgent and immediate necessity, in order, first, to make atonement for their sins; secondly, to obtain the divine blessing on their preparations for the temple, as well as animate their feelings of piety and patriotism for the prosecution of that national work.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

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.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(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.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

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.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

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 Lev 1:1.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

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

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Josue, or Jesus, (Jeshua) the son of Josedec: he was the high priest at that time; (Challoner) the first after the captivity. --- Salathiel, by whom he was brought up, though he was born of Phadaia, 1 Paralipomenon iii. 19. (Calmet) --- Protestants read Shealtiel.

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

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 God’s 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.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

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.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Jeshua the son of Jozadak. The position of Jeshua, both here and in vers. 8, 9, sufficiently marks him as the high priest, though Ezra does not give him the title. Haggai, however, (Ezr_1:1 Ezr_2:2) and Zechariah (Ezr_3:1, 8 6:11) distinctly assign him the office. His father, Jozadak, or Josedech, was the son of Seraiah, high priest at the destruction of Jerusalem. (1Ch_6:14) The name Jeshua is a mere variant of Joshua, and so corresponds to Jesus, of whom Jeshua may be regarded as a type. His brethren the priests. As being all of them equally descended from Aaron, the priests were "brethren." Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel. See note on Ezr_2:2, where Zerubbabel"s actual descent is given. And his brethren. Such other members of the royal house as had returned with him. As it is written in the law. See Lev_17:2-6; Deu_12:5-11. It was an express command of God to the Israelites that sacrifice should be offered only at Jerusalem in the place which he should appoint. Moses the man of God. That is, "the Prophet;" but the phrase is emphatic, and characteristic of Ezra. (comp. 1Ch_23:14 and 2Ch_30:16)

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Altar - Which was of more present necessity than the temple, both to make atonement to God for all their sins, and to obtain God's assistance for the building of the temple, and to strengthen their own hearts and hands in that great work.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.