Ezra 3:1-6
New English Translation
The Altar is Rebuilt
3 When the seventh month arrived and the Israelites[a] were living[b] in their[c] towns, the people assembled[d] in[e] Jerusalem. 2 Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak[f] and his priestly colleagues[g] and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his colleagues[h] started to build[i] the altar of the God of Israel so they could offer burnt offerings on it as required by[j] the law of Moses the man of God. 3 They established the altar on its foundations, even though they were in terror of the local peoples,[k] and they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord, both the morning and the evening offerings. 4 They observed the Feast of Shelters[l] as required[m] and offered the proper number of[n] daily burnt offerings according to the requirement for each day. 5 Afterward they offered the continual burnt offerings and those for the new moons and those for all the holy assemblies of the Lord and all those that were being voluntarily offered to the Lord. 6 From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord. However, the Lord’s temple was not at that time established.[o]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Ezra 3:1 tn Heb “the sons of Israel.”
- Ezra 3:1 tn The word “living” is not in the Hebrew text, but is implied. Some translations supply “settled” (cf. NAB, NIV, NLT).
- Ezra 3:1 tc The translation reads with some medieval Hebrew mss and ancient versions בְּעָרֵיהֶם (beʿarehem, “in their towns”), rather than the reading בֶּעָרִים (beʿarim, “in the towns”) found in the MT. Cf. Neh 7:72 HT [7:73 ET].
- Ezra 3:1 tn The Hebrew text adds the phrase “like one man.” This has not been included in the translation for stylistic reasons.
- Ezra 3:1 tn Heb “to.”
- Ezra 3:2 sn Jozadak (also in 3:8) is a variant spelling of Jehozadak.
- Ezra 3:2 tn Heb “his brothers the priests.”
- Ezra 3:2 tn Heb “his brothers.”
- Ezra 3:2 tn Heb “arose and built.”
- Ezra 3:2 tn Heb “written in.” Cf. v. 4.
- Ezra 3:3 tn Heb “the peoples of the lands.”
- Ezra 3:4 tn The Hebrew phrase אֶת חַג־הַסֻּכּוֹת (ʾet khag hassukot, “Feast of Shelters” [or “Huts”]) is traditionally known as the Feast of Tabernacles. The rendering “booths” (cf. NAB, NASB, NRSV) is probably better than the traditional “tabernacles” in light of the meaning of the term סֻכָּה (sukkah, “hut; booth”), but “booths” are frequently associated with trade shows and craft fairs in contemporary American English. The nature of the celebration during this feast as a commemoration of the wanderings of the Israelites after they left Egypt suggests that a translation like “shelters” is more appropriate.
- Ezra 3:4 tn Heb “according to what is written.”
- Ezra 3:4 tn Heb “by number.”
- Ezra 3:6 tn Or “the foundation of the Lord’s temple was not yet laid.”
Ezra 3:1-6
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Worship Restored at Jerusalem
3 When the seventh month came and the Israelites were in their[a] towns, the people gathered together as one in Jerusalem.(A) 2 Then Jeshua son of Jozadak with his fellow priests and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel with his kin set out to build the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as prescribed in the law of Moses the man of God.(B) 3 They set up the altar on its foundation because they were in dread of the people of the lands, and they offered burnt offerings upon it to the Lord, morning and evening.(C) 4 And they kept the Festival of Booths,[b] as prescribed, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number according to the ordinance, as required for each day,(D) 5 and after that the regular burnt offerings, the offerings at the new moon and at all the sacred festivals of the Lord, and the offerings of everyone who made a freewill offering to the Lord. 6 From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord. But the foundation of the temple of the Lord was not yet laid.
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