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A chapter in the Book of Ezra From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ezra 3 is the third chapter of the Book of Ezra in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible,[1] or the book of Ezra–Nehemiah in the Hebrew Bible, which treats the book of Ezra and book of Nehemiah as one book.[2] Jewish tradition states that Ezra is the author of Ezra–Nehemiah as well as the Book of Chronicles,[3] but modern scholars generally accept that a compiler from the 5th century BCE (the so-called "Chronicler") is the final author of these books.[4] The section comprising chapter 1 to 6 describes the history before the arrival of Ezra in the land of Judah [5][6] in 468 BCE.[7] This chapter focuses on the people's worship and culminates in the project to rebuild the temple's foundations.[8]
Ezra 3 | |
---|---|
Book | Book of Ezra |
Category | Ketuvim |
Christian Bible part | Old Testament |
Order in the Christian part | 15 |
The original text is written in Hebrew language. This chapter is divided into 13 verses.
Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text, which includes Codex Leningradensis (1008).[9][lower-alpha 1]
There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus (B; B; 4th century), and Codex Alexandrinus (A; A; 5th century).[11][lower-alpha 2]
An ancient Greek book called 1 Esdras (Greek: Ἔσδρας Αʹ) containing some parts of 2 Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah is included in most editions of the Septuagint and is placed before the single book of Ezra–Nehemiah (which is titled in Greek: Ἔσδρας Βʹ). 1 Esdras 5:47-65 is an equivalent of Ezra 3 (Feast of Tabernacles).[15][16]
Before reestablishing legitimate worship at the temple, which still needed to be rebuilt, the people repaired the altar and performed the sacrifices according to the Torah.[17]
"The seventh month", Tishrei, follows the liturgical calendar of Israel (cf. Exodus 12; 23; Leviticus 23; Numbers 28–29; Deuteronomy 16, which begins in the first month when the Passover is celebrated.[8] Three central feasts are celebrated in the seventh month, making it the “preeminent month” in the calendar.[8] The seventh month of the first year of the return of the exiles corresponds to September/October 537 BC.[19]
The morning and evening burnt offerings are those prescribed in Exodus 29:38 and Numbers 28:3–8.[25]
After reintroduced worship at the former site of altar (in Solomon's Temple), the building of a new temple is initiated.[26] Both the building of the altar and the foundation of the temple showed similarities to the one of the first temple, such as the importation of cedars from Lebanon (2 Chronicles 2:16) and the start of the project in the second month (which could be the appropriate time in early spring; cf. 1 Kings 6:1).[27] When the foundation of temple was laid, the people responded in different ways: the older ones who had seen the first temple wept loudly, while the younger ones gave a great shout of praise to God.[28]
The laborers and materials for the temple came from Sidon and Tyre in Lebanon, closely repeating those of the Solomon's temple (1 Kings 5:8–9; 1 Chronicles 22:4).[30]
The same song was sung at the dedication of the first temple (Solomon's temple) over four centuries earlier (2 Chronicles 7:3).[36]
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