Ezra, chapters 2-7
A great number of men with their families went from Babylon to live in the land of Judah, to build up the temple in Jerusalem, which had been burned many years before (2 Chron. 36:1919And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof. (2 Chronicles 36:19)). The names of the leaders are given, and the exact number of all the people. They had many horses, camels, mules, and asses to carry the people and their things on the long journey.
When they reached the land of Judah, they made homes in the cities and towns.
We know it was sad to see the big paces, and the temple in Jerusalem in ruins. But they stood in the court where the big brass altar, had been, and set up an altar, and offered animals on it, as God had told the people of Israel. Then they sent for cedar wood from the forest to build the walls, and appointed men for every part of the work.
No doubt the great foundation stones were still in place, but all needed to be cleared of the ruins and repaired. King Cyrus had said the foundation should be strong, and when it was ready, the people came to praise God: the trumpets were blown and they sang a song often sung before there,
The older people who had seen the beauty of the first temple wept to think how all had been destroyed, but the younger people shouted with joy that a new temple would be built.
The people who lived in countries near, Judah worshiped idols and did not want a temple built for the Lord, and made trouble for the builders, and sent to ask a king who ruled after Cyrus to have the building stopped, and for a time it was.
Then God sent men to encourage the people, and they wrote to the king to allow them to build as Cyrus had said, and he gave them permission, and the work continued.
After several years the temple was finished, although not with the great beauty and glory of the first temple, and we are not told as much of this as of the first one, yet it also was in honor to the Lord (Haggai 2:3, 43Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing? 4Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the Lord; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work: for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts: (Haggai 2:3‑4)).
ML 11/26/1939