The Altar Rebuilt and Worship Restored
Ezra 3:1-6
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Ezr.3.1 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויגע: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- החדש: NOUN,m,sg,def
- השביעי: ADJ,m,sg,def
- ובני: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,cons
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בערים: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- ויאספו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- כאיש: PREP
- אחד: NUM,card,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- ירושלם: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Nehemiah 8:2 (verbal): Both passages describe the people 'gathering as one man' in the early days of the restoration period (Nehemiah 8:2 describes the assembly to hear the Law), using nearly identical language and context of communal assembly in Jerusalem.
- Leviticus 23:34 (structural): Specifies the Feast of Tabernacles in the seventh month (an appointed, communal festival), giving background to Ezra's timing—the seventh month was a liturgical moment for Israelites to come together in Jerusalem.
- Deuteronomy 31:12 (thematic): Commands that the whole assembly—men, women, children, and sojourners—be gathered to hear the Law, paralleling Ezra's depiction of the entire people assembling as one for corporate religious instruction and covenantal renewal.
- Psalm 122:1-4 (thematic): Expresses the joy of going up to Jerusalem and the communal character of pilgrimage to the city; thematically parallels the motive and unity of the people gathering 'as one' to Jerusalem in Ezra 3:1.
Alternative generated candidates
- Now when the seventh month came, the people of Israel were in their towns, and all the people assembled as one man to Jerusalem.
- Now when the seventh month came, the people of Israel were in their towns, and the people gathered as one to Jerusalem.
Ezr.3.2 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויקם: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- ישוע: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יוצדק: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואחיו: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs,poss:3,m,sg
- הכהנים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- וזרבבל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שאלתיאל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואחיו: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs,poss:3,m,sg
- ויבנו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- מזבח: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אלהי: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- להעלות: VERB,hiphil,inf
- עליו: PREP,3,m,sg
- עלות: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- ככתוב: ADV
- בתורת: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,const
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- האלהים: NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- Haggai 1:1 (structural): Names Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Joshua (Jeshua) son of Jozadak as the leaders called to rebuild the temple—same historical leaders and rebuilding context as Ezra 3:2.
- Zechariah 3:1-10 (thematic): Presents Joshua/Jeshua as the high priest in a postexilic vision; parallels the priestly identity and role of Jeshua in Ezra's account.
- Joshua 8:30-31 (verbal): Joshua builds an altar of uncut stones and offers burnt offerings 'as Moses commanded'—closely parallels Ezra's erection of an altar and the formula 'as it is written in the law of Moses.'
- Deuteronomy 12:5-7 (allusion): Deuteronomy's instructions about offering sacrifices at the place the LORD chooses supply the Mosaic legal background alluded to by Ezra's phrase 'as it is written in the law of Moses.'
- Leviticus 1:2-4 (verbal): Gives the regulations for burnt offerings (who may offer, how they are offered); parallels Ezra's purpose in setting up the altar 'to offer burnt offerings' in accordance with Mosaic law.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then Jeshua son of Jozadak and his brothers the priests, and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his brothers, arose and built the altar of the God of Israel to offer burnt offerings on it, as written in the law of Moses, the man of God.
- Then Jeshua son of Jozadak and his brothers the priests, together with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his brothers, set up the altar of the God of Israel to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the law of Moses, the man of God.
Ezr.3.3 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויכינו: VERB,hif,wayyiqtol,3,m,pl
- המזבח: NOUN,m,sg,def
- על: PREP
- מכונתיו: NOUN,f,pl,abs+3ms
- כי: CONJ
- באימה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- עליהם: PREP,3,m,pl
- מעמי: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs,poss:1,_,sg
- הארצות: NOUN,f,pl,def
- ויעלו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- עליו: PREP,3,m,sg
- עלות: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- ליהוה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
- עלות: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- לבקר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ולערב: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Exodus 29:38-39 (verbal): Prescribes the continual burnt offerings 'morning and evening'—the same daily morning and evening offerings (עלות לבקר ולערב) that Ezra records they resumed.
- Numbers 28:3-4 (verbal): Gives the law for the perpetual burnt offering 'continually before the LORD' morning and evening, paralleling Ezra's resumption of the regular daily offerings.
- Leviticus 6:9-13 (verbal): Commands the priests to keep the fire on the altar burning and to perform the continual/regular offerings—background legal material for the altar service Ezra reinstated.
- 1 Chronicles 16:40 (structural): Describes the establishment of a routine of priests and Levites offering burnt offerings 'morning by morning, and evening by evening,' echoing Ezra's organizational return to the daily cult.
- Nehemiah 4:14 (thematic): Addresses fear and opposition from surrounding peoples during rebuilding work; thematically parallels Ezra's note that they set up the altar 'because they were afraid of the peoples of the lands.'
Alternative generated candidates
- They set the altar on its bases, for fear of the peoples of the lands had fallen upon them; and they offered burnt offerings to the LORD—morning and evening.
- They prepared the altar on its bases, for fear of the peoples of the lands was upon them; and they offered burnt offerings to the LORD, morning and evening.
Ezr.3.4 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויעשו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- חג: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הסכות: NOUN,f,pl,def
- ככתוב: ADV
- ועלת: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,cons
- יום: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ביום: PREP
- במספר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כמשפט: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יום: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ביומו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,suff,3,m
Parallels
- Leviticus 23:39-43 (quotation): Gives the statute for observing the Feast of Booths (Sukkot), including dwelling in booths and keeping the festival "as a statute forever"—the scriptural prescription Ezra says they followed ("ka‑katuv").
- Numbers 29:12-39 (verbal): Specifies the offerings required for the Feast of Tabernacles, listing daily burnt offerings and the number of offerings for each day—parallels Ezra’s mention of offering "day by day, by number."
- Numbers 28:1-8 (thematic): Prescribes the continual (daily) burnt offerings (olah tamid) morning and evening; connects to Ezra’s phrase about the regular daily offering ("davar yom be‑yomo").
- Nehemiah 8:14-18 (structural): Records a post‑exilic observance of the Feast of Booths after discovering the law, emphasizing doing the festival "as it is written," similar to Ezra’s report that they kept Sukkot according to the written ordinance.
- 2 Chronicles 7:8-10 (thematic): Describes Solomon and the assembly keeping the Feast of Tabernacles at the temple dedication, providing an earlier precedent of celebrating Sukkot in connection with the temple and its services—paralleling Ezra’s cultic observance.
Alternative generated candidates
- They observed the Feast of Booths as written, and the regular daily offering, each day in its appointed number, according to the ordinance day by day.
- They kept the Feast of Booths as written, and presented the regular daily offering in its prescribed number, according to the ordinance, day by day.
Ezr.3.5 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ואחריכן: CONJ
- עלת: VERB,qal,perf,3,_,pl
- תמיד: ADV
- ולחדשים: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ולכל: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מועדי: NOUN,m,pl,cs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- המקדשים: ADJ,m,pl,def
- ולכל: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מתנדב: VERB,qal,ptcp,m,sg
- נדבה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ליהוה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- Numbers 28:1-8 (verbal): Prescribes the continual (תמיד) burnt offering—the twice-daily regular sacrifice—corresponding to Ezra’s reference to the continual offering restored at the temple.
- Numbers 28:11-15 (verbal): Specifies offerings for the new moon (חדשים), directly parallel to Ezra’s mention of offerings on the new moons.
- Leviticus 23:37-38 (verbal): Lists the LORD’s appointed feasts and states offerings to be made beside the continual burnt offering, echoing Ezra’s coupling of the continual sacrifice with festival observance.
- 1 Chronicles 23:31 (verbal): Assigns Levites to offer sacrifices on sabbaths, new moons, and appointed feasts—closely parallels the restored liturgical schedule described in Ezra 3:5.
- Nehemiah 10:33-39 (thematic): Community covenant to provide for the continual burnt offering, showbread, and temple service; thematically parallels Ezra’s restoration of regular and voluntary offerings to the LORD.
Alternative generated candidates
- And thereafter the continual burnt offering, and for the new moons, and for all the holy appointed festivals of the LORD, and for every voluntary offering and freewill gift to the LORD.
- And thereafter they offered the continual offering, the new moons, and all the appointed festivals of the LORD that are consecrated, and every voluntary freewill offering to the LORD.
Ezr.3.6 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- מיום: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אחד: NUM,card,m,sg
- לחדש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- השביעי: ADJ,m,sg,def
- החלו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- להעלות: VERB,hiphil,inf
- עלות: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- ליהוה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
- והיכל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- יסד: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Numbers 29:1 (verbal): Specifies the first day of the seventh month as a holy convocation with prescribed cultic observance—parallels Ezra's timing for offering burnt offerings.
- Leviticus 23:24-25 (thematic): The Torah's regulation of the first day of the seventh month (a holy day/convocation and associated sacrificial observances) provides the legal/ritual background for Ezra's actions.
- 1 Kings 8:2 (thematic): Solomon's temple-related ceremonies occur in the seventh month (Ethanim), linking major temple events to the seventh month as in Ezra's resumption of offerings.
- Haggai 2:18-19 (allusion): Haggai contrasts the period before the temple stones were laid with the new period of blessing 'from this day'—echoing Ezra's note that offerings began even though the LORD's house had not yet been founded.
Alternative generated candidates
- On the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the LORD; yet the foundation of the house of the LORD had not been laid.
- From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the LORD; yet the foundation of the house of the LORD had not been laid.
When the seventh month came, the people of Israel were in their towns, and the whole assembly gathered as one man to Jerusalem.
Then Jeshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests, and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his brothers, set up the altar of the God of Israel to offer burnt offerings on it, as prescribed in the law of Moses, the man of God.
They established the altar on its foundations, for they were afraid of the peoples of the lands; and they offered burnt offerings to the LORD, morning and evening.
They observed the Feast of Booths as it is written, and performed the daily offering day by day, in its appointed number, according to the ordinance—day after day. And afterward they offered the continual offering, and the offerings for the new moons, and for all the appointed, holy festivals of the LORD that were consecrated, and for every voluntary gift to the LORD.
From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the LORD; yet the foundation of the house of the LORD had not yet been laid.