mh_parser/vol_split/15 - Ezra/Chapter 3.xml

<div2 id="Ez.iv" n="iv" next="Ez.v" prev="Ez.iii" progress="89.83%" title="Chapter III">
<h2 id="Ez.iv-p0.1">E Z R A</h2>
<h3 id="Ez.iv-p0.2">CHAP. III.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ez.iv-p1">In the close of the foregoing chapter we left
Israel in their cities, but we may well imagine what a bad posture
their affairs were in, the ground untilled, the cities in ruins,
all out of order; but here we have an account of the early care
they took about the re-establishment of religion among them. Thus
did they lay the foundation well, and begin their work at the right
end. I. They set up an altar, and offered sacrifices upon it, kept
the feasts, and contributed towards the rebuilding of the temple,
<scripRef id="Ez.iv-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.3.1-Ezra.3.7" parsed="|Ezra|3|1|3|7" passage="Ezr 3:1-7">ver. 1-7</scripRef>. II. They laid
the foundation of the temple with a mixture of joy and sorrow,
<scripRef id="Ez.iv-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.3.8-Ezra.3.13" parsed="|Ezra|3|8|3|13" passage="Ezr 3:8-13">ver. 8-13</scripRef>. This was the
day of small things, which was not to be despised, <scripRef id="Ez.iv-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Zech.4.10" parsed="|Zech|4|10|0|0" passage="Zec 4:10">Zech. iv. 10</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="Ez.iv-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.3" parsed="|Ezra|3|0|0|0" passage="Ezr 3" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ez.iv-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.3.1-Ezra.3.7" parsed="|Ezra|3|1|3|7" passage="Ezr 3:1-7" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ezra.3.1-Ezra.3.7">
<h4 id="Ez.iv-p1.6">The Renewal of the
Sacrifices. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.iv-p1.7">b. c.</span> 536.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ez.iv-p2">1 And when the seventh month was come, and the
children of Israel <i>were</i> in the cities, the people gathered
themselves together as one man to Jerusalem.   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
<i>it is</i> written in the law of Moses the man of God.   3
And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear <i>was</i> upon
them because of the people of those countries: and they offered
burnt offerings thereon unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.iv-p2.1">Lord</span>, <i>even</i> burnt offerings morning and
evening.   4 They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as <i>it
is</i> written, and <i>offered</i> the daily burnt offerings by
number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required;
  5 And afterward <i>offered</i> the continual burnt offering,
both of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.iv-p2.2">Lord</span> that were consecrated, and of every
one that willingly offered a freewill offering unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.iv-p2.3">Lord</span>.   6 From the first day of the
seventh month began they to offer burnt offerings unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.iv-p2.4">Lord</span>. But the foundation of the temple of
the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.iv-p2.5">Lord</span> was not <i>yet</i> laid.
  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.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.iv-p3">Here is, I. A general assembly of the
returned Israelites at Jerusalem, in the <i>seventh month,</i>
<scripRef id="Ez.iv-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.3.1" parsed="|Ezra|3|1|0|0" passage="Ezr 3:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>. We may suppose
that they came from Babylon in the spring, and must allow at least
four months for the journey, for so long Ezra and his company were
in coming, <scripRef id="Ez.iv-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.7.9" parsed="|Ezra|7|9|0|0" passage="Ezr 7:9"><i>ch.</i> vii.
9</scripRef>. The seventh month therefore soon came, in which many
of the feasts of the Lord were to be solemnized; and then they
gathered themselves together by agreement among themselves, rather
than by the command of authority, to Jerusalem. Though they had
newly come to their cities, and had their hands full of business
there, to provide necessaries for themselves and their families,
which might have excused them from attending on God's altar till
the hurry was a little over, as many foolishly put off their coming
to the communion till they are settled in the world, yet such was
their zeal for religion, now that they had newly come from under
correction for their irreligion, that they left all their business
in the country, to attend God's altar; and (which is strange) in
this pious zeal they were all of a mind, they came <i>as one
man.</i> Let worldly business be postponed to the business of
religion and it will prosper the better.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.iv-p4">II. The care which their leading men took
to have an altar ready for them to attend upon.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.iv-p5">1. Joshua and his brethren the priests,
Zerubbabel and his brethren the princes, built <i>the altar of the
God of Israel</i> (<scripRef id="Ez.iv-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.3.2" parsed="|Ezra|3|2|0|0" passage="Ezr 3:2"><i>v.</i>
2</scripRef>), in the same place (it is likely) where it had stood,
upon the same bases, <scripRef id="Ez.iv-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.3.3" parsed="|Ezra|3|3|0|0" passage="Ezr 3:3"><i>v.</i>
3</scripRef>. Bishop Patrick, observing that before the temple was
built there seems to have been a tabernacle pitched for the divine
service, as was in David's time, not on Mount Moriah, but Mount
Sion (<scripRef id="Ez.iv-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.9.23" parsed="|1Chr|9|23|0|0" passage="1Ch 9:23">1 Chron. ix. 23</scripRef>),
supposes that this altar was erected there, to be used while the
temple was in building. Let us learn hence, (1.) To <i>begin with
God.</i> The more difficult and necessitous our case is the more
concerned we are to take him along with us in all our ways. If we
expect to be directed by his oracles, let him be honoured by our
offerings. (2.) To <i>do what we can</i> in the worship of God when
<i>we cannot do what we would.</i> They could not immediately have
a temple, but they would not be without an altar. Abraham, wherever
he came, <i>built an altar;</i> and wherever we come, though we may
perhaps want the benefit of the candlestick of preaching, and the
showbread of the eucharist, yet, if we bring not the sacrifices of
prayer and praise, we are wanting in our duty, for we have an altar
that sanctifies the gift ever ready.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.iv-p6">2. Observe the reason here given why they
hastened to set up the altar: <i>Fear was upon them, because of the
people of the land.</i> They were in the midst of enemies that bore
ill will to them and their religion, for whom they were an unequal
match. And, (1.) <i>Though</i> they were so, yet they built the
altar (so some read it); they would not be frightened from their
religion by the opposition they were likely to meet with in it.
Never let the fear of man bring us into this snare. (2.)
<i>Because</i> they were so, therefore they set up the altar.
Apprehension of danger should stir us up to our duty. Have we many
enemies? Then it is good to have God our friend and to keep up our
correspondence with him. This good use we should make of our fears,
we should be driven by them to our knees. Even Saul would think
himself undone if the enemy should come upon him before he had made
his supplication to God, <scripRef id="Ez.iv-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.13.12" parsed="|1Sam|13|12|0|0" passage="1Sa 13:12">1 Sam. xii.
12</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.iv-p7">III. The sacrifices they offered upon the
altar. The altar was reared to be used, and they used it
accordingly. Let not those that have an altar starve it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.iv-p8">1. They began <i>on the first day of the
seventh month,</i> <scripRef id="Ez.iv-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.3.6" parsed="|Ezra|3|6|0|0" passage="Ezr 3:6"><i>v.</i>
6</scripRef>. It does not appear that they had any fire from heaven
to begin with, as Moses and Solomon had, but common fire served
them, as it did the patriarchs.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.iv-p9">2. Having begun, they kept up the
<i>continual burnt-offering</i> (<scripRef id="Ez.iv-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.3.5" parsed="|Ezra|3|5|0|0" passage="Ezr 3:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>), <i>morning and evening,</i>
<scripRef id="Ez.iv-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.3.3" parsed="|Ezra|3|3|0|0" passage="Ezr 3:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>. They had known
by sad experience what it was to want the comfort of the daily
sacrifice to plead in their daily prayers, and now that it was
revived they resolved not to let it fall again. The daily lamb
typified the Lamb of God, whose righteousness must be our
confidence in all our prayers.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.iv-p10">3. They observed all the <i>set feasts of
the Lord,</i> and offered the sacrifices appointed for each, and
particularly <i>the feast of tabernacles,</i> <scripRef id="Ez.iv-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.3.4-Ezra.3.5" parsed="|Ezra|3|4|3|5" passage="Ezr 3:4,5"><i>v.</i> 4, 5</scripRef>. Now that they had received
such great mercy from God that joyful feast was in a special manner
seasonable. And now that they were beginning to settle in their
cities it might serve well to remind them of their fathers dwelling
in tents in the wilderness. That feast also which had a peculiar
reference to gospel times (as appears, <scripRef id="Ez.iv-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Zech.14.18" parsed="|Zech|14|18|0|0" passage="Zec 14:18">Zech. xiv. 18</scripRef>) was brought, in a special
manner, into reputation, now that those times drew on. Of the
services of this feast, which continued seven days and had peculiar
sacrifices appointed, it is said that they did <i>as the duty of
every day required</i> (see <scripRef id="Ez.iv-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:Num.29.13-Num.29.38" parsed="|Num|29|13|29|38" passage="Nu 29:13-38">Num.
xxix. 13, 17</scripRef>, &amp;c.), <i>Verbum die in die suo—the
word, or matter, of the day in its day</i> (so it is in the
original)—a phrase that has become proverbial with those that have
used themselves to scripture-language. If the feast of tabernacles
was a figure of a gospel conversation, in respect of continual
weanedness from the world and joy in God, we may infer that it
concerns us all to do the <i>work of the day in its day, according
as the duty of the day requires,</i> that is, (1.) We must improve
time, by finding some business to do every day that will turn to a
good account. (2.) We must improve opportunity, by accommodating
ourselves to that which is the proper business of the present day.
Every thing is beautiful in its season. The tenth day of this month
was the day of atonement, a solemn day, and very seasonable now: it
is very probable that they observed it, yet it is not mentioned,
nor indeed in all the Old Testament do I remember the least mention
of the observance of that day; as if it were enough that we have
the law of it in <scripRef id="Ez.iv-p10.4" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.1-Lev.16.34" parsed="|Lev|16|1|16|34" passage="Le 16:1-34">Lev.
xvi.</scripRef>, and the gospel of it, which was the chief
intention of it, in the New Testament.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.iv-p11">4. They offered <i>every man's free-will
offering,</i> <scripRef id="Ez.iv-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.3.5" parsed="|Ezra|3|5|0|0" passage="Ezr 3:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>.
The law required much, but they brought more; for, though they had
little wealth to support the expense of their sacrifices, they had
much zeal, and, we may suppose, spared at their own tables that
they might plentifully supply God's altar. Happy are those that
bring with them out of the furnace of affliction such a holy heat
as this.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.iv-p12">IV. The preparation they made for the
building of the temple, <scripRef id="Ez.iv-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.3.7" parsed="|Ezra|3|7|0|0" passage="Ezr 3:7"><i>v.</i>
7</scripRef>. This they applied themselves immediately to; for,
while we do what we can, we must still be aiming to do more and
better. Tyre and Sidon must now, as of old, furnish them with
workmen, and Lebanon with timber, orders for both which they had
from Cyrus. What God calls us to we may depend upon his providence
to furnish us for.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ez.iv-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.3.8-Ezra.3.13" parsed="|Ezra|3|8|3|13" passage="Ezr 3:8-13" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ezra.3.8-Ezra.3.13">
<h4 id="Ez.iv-p12.3">The Foundation of the Temple
Laid. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.iv-p12.4">b. c.</span> 535.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ez.iv-p13">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 <span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.iv-p13.1">Lord</span>.   9 Then stood Jeshua <i>with</i> 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, <i>with</i> their sons and their brethren the Levites.
  10 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple
of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.iv-p13.2">Lord</span>, they set the priests in
their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with
cymbals, to praise the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.iv-p13.3">Lord</span>, after
the ordinance of David king of Israel.   11 And they sang
together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.iv-p13.4">Lord</span>; because <i>he is</i> good, for his
mercy <i>endureth</i> for ever toward Israel. And all the people
shouted with a great shout, when they praised the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.iv-p13.5">Lord</span>, because the foundation of the house of the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.iv-p13.6">Lord</span> was laid.   12 But many of
the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, <i>who were</i>
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:   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.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.iv-p14">There was no dispute among the returned
Jews whether they should build the temple or no; that was
immediately resolved on, and that it should be done with all speed;
what comfort could they take in their own land if they had not that
token of God's presence with them and the record of his name among
them? We have here therefore an account of the beginning of that
good work. Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.iv-p15">I. When it was begun-in the second month of
the second year, as soon as ever the season of the year would
permit (<scripRef id="Ez.iv-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.3.8" parsed="|Ezra|3|8|0|0" passage="Ezr 3:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>), and
when they had ended the solemnities of the passover. They took
little more than half a year for making preparation of the ground
and materials; so much were their hearts upon it. Note, When any
good work is to be done it will be our wisdom to set about it
quickly, and not to lose time, yea, though we foresee difficulty
and opposition in it. Thus we engage ourselves to it, and engage
God for us. Well begun (we say) is half ended.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.iv-p16">II. Who began it—Zerubbabel, and Jeshua,
and their brethren. Then the work of God is likely to go on well
when magistrates, ministers, and people, are hearty for it, and
agree in their places to promote it. It was God that gave them one
heart for this service, and it boded well.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.iv-p17">III. Who were employed to further it. They
appointed the <i>Levites to set forward the work</i> (<scripRef id="Ez.iv-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.3.8" parsed="|Ezra|3|8|0|0" passage="Ezr 3:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>), and they did it by
<i>setting forward the workmen</i> (<scripRef id="Ez.iv-p17.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.3.9" parsed="|Ezra|3|9|0|0" passage="Ezr 3:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>), and strengthening their hands
with good and comfortable words. Note, Those that do not work
themselves may yet do good service by quickening and encouraging
those that do work.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.iv-p18">IV. How God was praised at the laying of
the foundation of the temple (<scripRef id="Ez.iv-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.3.10-Ezra.3.11" parsed="|Ezra|3|10|3|11" passage="Ezr 3:10,11"><i>v.</i> 10, 11</scripRef>); the priests with the
trumpets appointed by Moses, and the Levites with the cymbals
appointed by David, made up a concert of music, not to please the
ear, but to assist the singing of that everlasting hymn which will
never be out of date, and to which our tongues should never be out
of tune, <i>God is good, and his mercy endureth for ever,</i> the
burden of <scripRef id="Ez.iv-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.136.1-Ps.136.26" parsed="|Ps|136|1|136|26" passage="Ps 136:1-26">Ps. cxxxvi.</scripRef>
Let all the streams of mercy be traced up to the fountain. Whatever
our condition is, how many soever our griefs and fears, let it be
owned that God is good; and, whatever fails, that his mercy fails
not. Let this be sung with application, as here; not only his mercy
endures for ever, but it endures for ever towards Israel, Israel
when captives in a strange land and strangers in their own land.
However it be, yet <i>God is good to Israel</i> (<scripRef id="Ez.iv-p18.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.73.1" parsed="|Ps|73|1|0|0" passage="Ps 73:1">Ps. lxxiii. 1</scripRef>), good to us. Let the reviving
of the church's interests, when they seemed dead, be ascribed to
the continuance of God's mercy for ever, for therefore the church
continues.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.iv-p19">V. How the people were affected. A
remarkable mixture of various affections there was upon this
occasion. Different sentiments there were among the people of God,
and each expressed himself according to his sentiments, and yet
there was no disagreement among them, their minds were not
alienated from each other nor the common concern retarded by it. 1.
Those that only knew the misery of having no temple at all praised
the Lord with shouts of joy when they saw but the foundation of one
laid, <scripRef id="Ez.iv-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.3.11" parsed="|Ezra|3|11|0|0" passage="Ezr 3:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>. To them
even this foundation seemed great, and was as life from the dead;
to their hungry souls even this was sweet. They shouted, so that
<i>the noise was heard afar off.</i> Note, We ought to be thankful
for the beginnings of mercy, though we have not yet come to the
perfection of it; and the foundations of a temple, after long
desolations, cannot but be fountains of joy to every faithful
Israelite. 2. Those that remembered the glory of the first temple
which Solomon built, and considered how far this was likely to be
inferior to that, perhaps in dimensions, certainly in magnificence
and sumptuousness, <i>wept with a loud voice,</i> <scripRef id="Ez.iv-p19.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.3.12" parsed="|Ezra|3|12|0|0" passage="Ezr 3:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>. If we date the
captivity with the first, from the fourth of Jehoiakim, it was
about fifty-two years since the temple was burnt; if from
Jeconiah's captivity, it was but fifty-nine. So that many now alive
might remember it standing; and a great mercy it was to the
captives that they had the lives of so many of their priests and
Levites lengthened out, who could tell them what they themselves
remembered of the glory of Jerusalem, to quicken them in their
return. These lamented the disproportion between this temple and
the former. And, (1.) There was some reason for it; and if they
turned their tears into the right channel, and bewailed the sin
that was the cause of this melancholy change, they did well. Sin
sullies the glory of any church or people, and, when they find
themselves diminished and brought low, that must bear the blame.
(2.) Yet it was their infirmity to mingle those tears with the
common joys and so to cast a damp upon them. They <i>despised the
day of small things,</i> and were unthankful for the good they
enjoyed, because it was not so much as their ancestors had, though
it was much more than they deserved. In the harmony of public joys,
let not us be jarring strings. It was an aggravation of the
discouragement they hereby gave to the people that they were
priests and Levites, who should have known and taught others how to
be duly affected under various providences, and not to let the
remembrance of former afflictions drown the sense of present
mercies. This mixture of sorrow and joy here is a representation of
this world. Some are bathing in rivers of joy, while others are
drowned in floods of tears. In heaven all are singing, and none
sighing; in hell all are weeping and wailing, and none rejoicing;
but here on earth we can scarcely <i>discern the shouts of joy from
the noise of the weeping.</i> Let us learn to <i>rejoice with those
that do rejoice</i> and <i>weep with those that weep,</i> and
ourselves to rejoice as though we rejoiced not, and weep as though
we wept not.</p>
</div></div2>