This week we are continuing our study of the book of Ezra, diving into chapter 3. This portion of the narrative is full of victorious moments. The first wave of returnees from Babylon to Judah rebuilt an altar to the Lord, resumed their religious calendar of worship, and commenced work on the Temple foundations. If chapter 2’s theme was continuity within the community, chapter 3 stresses the continuity between the first and second temples.
The Altar is First Priority
Chapter 3 begins, “When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns, the people assembled together as one in Jerusalem” (Ez. 3:1). Their goal was “to build the altar of the God of Israel to sacrifice burnt offerings on it” (Ez. 3:1). The passage conveys the remnant’s feeling of urgency to rebuild the altar. For all this time in exile, they were deprived of sacrifice which, according to the torah legislation, also meant they were deprived of atonement.
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