Kapitel-Kommentar
Ezra Kapitel 3
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Englisches Original
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, Ezr 3:1-7. II. They laid the foundation of the temple with a mixture of joy and sorrow, Ezr 3:8-13. This was the day of small things, which was not to be despised, Zec 4:10.
1-7
The Renewal of the Sacrifices (536 BC)
繁體中文
獻祭的恢復（主前五三六年）
¹ 到了七月，以色列人已經各歸各城。那時他們如同一人聚集在耶路撒冷。
² 約薩達的兒子耶書亞和他的弟兄眾祭司，並撒拉鐵的兒子所羅巴伯與他的弟兄，都起來建造以色列神的壇，要在壇上獻燔祭，是照神人摩西律法書上所寫的。
³ 他們在原有的根基上築壇，因他們懼怕鄰國的民；又在其上向耶和華獻燔祭，就是早晚的燔祭；
⁴ 他們又照律法書上所寫的，守住棚節，按數照例獻每日當獻的燔祭；
⁵ 其後獻常獻的燔祭，並在月朔和耶和華一切分別為聖的節期獻祭，又向耶和華獻各人的甘心祭。
⁶ 從七月初一日起，他們就向耶和華獻燔祭。只是耶和華殿的根基尚未立定。
⁷ 他們又將銀子給石匠、木匠，把糧食、酒、油給西頓人、推羅人，好將香柏樹從利巴嫩運到海裏，照波斯王居魯士所允准的運到約帕。
此處有，I. 歸回的以色列人在七月於耶路撒冷的全體大會，Ezr 3:1。我們可以設想他們在春天從巴比倫出發，並且至少要為旅程留出四個月——因為以斯拉和他的同伴用了這麼長時間，Ezr 7:9。所以七月很快就到了，在其中要守許多耶和華的節期；那時他們因彼此的約定——而非因權柄的命令——聚集在耶路撒冷。雖然他們剛回到各城，在那裏手頭充滿了事務——為自己和家人預備必需品——這本可以成為他們暫不來到神祭壇前的藉口，直到忙碌稍歇，正如許多人愚昧地推遲來到聖餐，直到在世上安定下來；然而他們對信仰的熱心如此之大——如今他們剛因自己的不敬虔受過責罰——以致他們放下鄉間一切的事務，來到神的祭壇前；並且（這很奇妙）在這敬虔的熱心上他們同心合意，他們來了如同一人。讓屬世的事務為信仰的事務讓路，它必更為亨通。
II. 他們的領袖們所採取的關懷——為他們預備好可以前來的祭壇。
1. 約書亞和他的弟兄眾祭司、所羅巴伯和他的弟兄眾首領，建造了以色列神的壇（Ezr 3:2），很可能在它從前所立之處、在同樣的根基上，Ezr 3:3。帕特里克主教觀察到，聖殿未建之前似乎搭了一個帳幕供事奉之用——如在 David 時代，不在摩利亞山上，而在錫安山上（代上 9:23）——他推想這壇就是立在那裏，在聖殿建造時使用。讓我們從此學習，(1.) 從神開始。我們的情形越困難、越缺乏，我們越當在一切道路上帶他同行。若我們期待受他聖言的指引，就讓他因我們的祭物得尊榮。(2.) 當我們不能作我們所願的事時，在敬拜神的事上盡我們所能。他們不能立即有聖殿，卻不願沒有祭壇。亞伯拉罕每到一處都築了一座壇；我們每到一處，雖然或許缺少講道金燈臺和聖餐陳設餅的益處，卻若不帶上禱告和讚美的祭物，就是在本分上有所欠缺，因為我們有一座使禮物成聖的壇，隨時可用。
2. 當留意此處所給他們急忙立壇的理由：*因他們懼怕那地的民。*他們在那些對他們和他們的信仰懷有惡意的仇敵中間，他們與之相比力量懸殊。而，(1.) 雖然如此，他們仍建造了祭壇（有人如此讀）；他們不因在信仰上可能遇到的反對而被嚇退。決不可讓對人的懼怕使我們陷入這網羅。(2.) 因為如此，所以他們立了壇。對危險的警覺當激發我們盡本分。我們有許多仇敵嗎？那麼以神為我們的朋友、並保持與他的交通是好的。我們當如此善用我們的恐懼——被它們驅使我們跪下。甚至掃羅也認為仇敵若在他向神懇求以臨到就必完了，撒上 13:12。
III. 他們在壇上所獻的祭。壇被立起來是為使用，他們照樣使用了。不要讓有祭壇的人使之挨餓。
1. 他們在七月初一日開始，Ezr 3:6。看不出他們如摩西和所羅門那樣有從天降下來的火作為開始，而是用平常的火，如先祖所用。
2. 既已開始，他們就維持常獻的燔祭（Ezr 3:5），早晚獻，Ezr 3:3。他們從痛苦的經歷知道缺少每日獻祭的安慰在每日禱告中祈求是什麼滋味，如今既已恢復，他們決心不再讓它失落。每日的羔羊預表神的羔羊——他的義必成為我們在一切禱告中的信靠。
3. 他們守了耶和華一切所定的節期，為每一個獻上所指定的祭，特別是住棚節，Ezr 3:4,5。如今他們既從神領受了如此大的憐憫，那喜樂的節期特別合宜。而且如今他們正開始在各城定居，這可以很好地提醒他們記念他們的列祖在曠野住帳棚。這節期也特別指福音時代（如亞 14:18 所示），如今那些時代臨近，它就特別被恢復了聲譽。關於這持續七天、有特別祭物的節期之事奉，說到他們按數照例獻每日當獻的（見民 29:13-38 等），Verbum die in die suo——每日的事在每日之時（原文如此）——這話語已成為那些慣用聖經語言之人的諺語。若住棚節是福音生活方式的預表——在持續與世界斷絕和在神裏喜樂方面——我們可以推斷，我們眾人都當在每日之時作每日的工，照每日當盡的本分；即，(1.) 我們當善用時間，每天找一些能有益處的事來作。(2.) 我們當善用機會，使自己適應當日正當的事務。凡事在當時令都是美好的。本月第十日是贖罪日——一個莊嚴的日子，如今非常合宜：他們很可能守了它，卻未提及，確實在整本舊約中我不記得有絲毫提及守那日的記載；彷彿我們在利 16:1-34 中有它的律法、在新約中有它的福音——那本是它的主要旨意——就夠了。
4. 他們獻了各人的甘心祭，Ezr 3:5。律法要求的多，他們獻的更多；因為，雖然他們財富不多，難以維持獻祭的費用，卻大有熱心，我們可以設想他們在自己餐桌上節省，好豐富地供應神的祭壇。那些從患難的火爐中帶出如此聖潔的熱度的人是有福的。
IV. 他們為建造聖殿所作的預備，Ezr 3:7。他們立即著手此事；因為，當我們盡我們所能時，仍當立志作更多更好。如今推羅和西頓要如古時一樣供應他們工匠，利巴嫩供應木料——兩者都是照居魯士所吩咐的。神所召我們去作的，我們可以倚靠他的護理為我們預備。
Englisches Original
The Renewal of the Sacrifices (536 BC)
¹ And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were 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 it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.
³ And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD, even burnt offerings morning and evening.
⁴ They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required;
⁵ And afterward offered the continual burnt offering, both of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of the LORD that were consecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a freewill offering unto the LORD.
⁶ From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt offerings unto the LORD. But the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not yet 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.
Here is, I. A general assembly of the returned Israelites at Jerusalem, in the seventh month, Ezr 3:1. 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, Ezr 7:9. 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 as one man. Let worldly business be postponed to the business of religion and it will prosper the better.
II. The care which their leading men took to have an altar ready for them to attend upon.
1. Joshua and his brethren the priests, Zerubbabel and his brethren the princes, built the altar of the God of Israel (Ezr 3:2), in the same place (it is likely) where it had stood, upon the same bases, Ezr 3:3. 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 (1Ch 9:23), supposes that this altar was erected there, to be used while the temple was in building. Let us learn hence, (1.) To begin with God. 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 do what we can in the worship of God when we cannot do what we would. They could not immediately have a temple, but they would not be without an altar. Abraham, wherever he came, built an altar; 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.
2. Observe the reason here given why they hastened to set up the altar: Fear was upon them, because of the people of the land. 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.) Though 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.) Because 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, 1Sa 13:12.
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.
1. They began on the first day of the seventh month, Ezr 3:6. 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.
2. Having begun, they kept up the continual burnt-offering (Ezr 3:5), morning and evening, Ezr 3:3. 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.
3. They observed all the set feasts of the Lord, and offered the sacrifices appointed for each, and particularly the feast of tabernacles, Ezr 3:4,5. 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, Zec 14:18) 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 as the duty of every day required (see Nu 29:13-38, etc.), Verbum die in die suo—the word, or matter, of the day in its day (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 work of the day in its day, according as the duty of the day requires, 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 Le 16:1-34, and the gospel of it, which was the chief intention of it, in the New Testament.
4. They offered every man's free-will offering, Ezr 3:5. 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.
IV. The preparation they made for the building of the temple, Ezr 3:7. 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.
8-13
The Foundation of the Temple Laid (535 BC)
繁體中文
聖殿立根基（主前五三五年）
⁸ 百姓到了耶路撒冷神的殿那裏，到了第二年二月，撒拉鐵的兒子所羅巴伯、約薩達的兒子耶書亞和其餘的弟兄——就是祭司和利未人——並一切從被擄歸回耶路撒冷的人，都興工建造；又派利未人，從二十歲以外的，管理耶和華殿的工作。
⁹ 於是耶書亞和他的兒子並弟兄，甲篾和他的兒子，猶大的子孫，都一同起來，督理在神殿裏作工的人；還有何拿達的兒子與他們的兒子並弟兄利未人。
¹⁰ 匠人立耶和華殿根基的時候，祭司都穿禮服吹號，亞薩的子孫利未人敲鈸，照以色列王大衛所定的例，讚美耶和華。
¹¹ 他們彼此唱和，讚美感謝耶和華說：他本為善，他向以色列人永發慈愛。他們讚美耶和華的時候，眾人大聲呼喊，因為耶和華殿的根基已經立定。
¹² 然而有許多祭司、利未人和族長，就是從前親眼看過舊殿的老年人，現在親眼看見這殿立根基，便大聲哭號；也有許多大聲歡呼快樂的；
¹³ 甚至百姓不能分辨歡呼的聲音和哭號的聲音；因為眾人大聲呼喊，聲音聽到遠處。
歸回的猶太人對是否建造聖殿並無爭議；這是立刻議定的，且要全速進行；他們若沒有神與他們同在的憑據、沒有他名號的記錄在他們中間，在自己的故土上還能得著甚麼安慰呢？因此我們在此有這善工開工的記錄。請注意，
I. 開工的時候——第二年的第二個月，一年之中季節一允許就開始（Ezr 3:8），也是在他們結束了逾越節的莊嚴儀式之後。他們只花了半年多一點來預備場地和材料；他們的心是如此投入。請注意，當要作任何善工時，我們的智慧在於盡快著手，不浪費時間，是的，即使我們預見其中會有困難和反對。如此我們就把自己投入到其中，也使神為我們而投入。好的開始（如我們所說）是成功的一半。
II. 誰開始了它——所羅巴伯、耶書亞，以及他們的弟兄。當官長、傳道人和百姓都同心支持，並在各自的位置上合力推動時，神的工作就很有可能進展順利。是神賜給他們同心作這服事的心，這是一個好兆頭。
III. 誰被派去推進它。他們派利未人管理這工作（Ezr 3:8），他們是藉著管理作工的人（Ezr 3:9）並以美好而安慰的話語堅固他們的手來作的。請注意，那些自己不作工的人，仍可以藉著激發和鼓勵那些作工的人而作出有益的服事。
IV. 在聖殿立根基時神如何受讚美（Ezr 3:10,11）；帶著摩西所設立之號角的祭司，與帶著大衛所設立之鈸的利未人，組成了一場音樂的合奏——不是為了悅耳，而是為了協助唱那首永遠不會過時的永恆詩歌，我們的舌頭也永不該與之走調——神本為善，他的慈愛永遠長存——這是詩 136:1-26 的副歌。讓一切恩惠的溪流都追溯到那源頭。無論我們的處境如何，無論我們的憂愁和恐懼有多少，都要承認神是良善的；無論有甚麼會失效，他的慈愛總不失效。讓這詩歌帶著應用而唱，如此處所行；不僅他的慈愛永遠長存，更是永遠向以色列長存——無論以色列人是在異鄉作俘虜，還是在自己的地上作外人。無論如何，神實在恩待以色列（詩 73:1），恩待我們。讓教會的利益看似衰亡卻又復甦，歸因於神永遠不斷的慈愛，因為教會正是因此得以延續。
V. 百姓有何感受。此際有一種各樣情感的顯著混合。神的百姓當中有不同的感受，各人按自己的感受表達自己，然而他們當中並沒有不和，彼此的心沒有因此疏遠，共同的事業也沒有因此受阻。1. 那些只知沒有聖殿之苦的人，看見聖殿的根基被立，便以歡呼讚美耶和華，Ezr 3:11。在他們看來，連這根基也是偉大的，如同死而復活；對他們飢餓的心靈來說，連這也是甘甜的。他們呼喊，以致聲音聽到遠處。請注意，我們當為恩惠的開端感恩，即使我們尚未達到其完全；經過長久荒涼之後聖殿的根基，不能不成為每一個忠信之以色列人的喜樂之源。2. 那些記得所羅門所建第一聖殿之榮耀，又想到這殿可能遠不及那殿——也許在規模上，必定在華美和壯麗上——的人，便大聲哭號，Ezr 3:12。我們若從第一次被擄算起——即約雅敬第四年——聖殿被焚約有五十二年了；若從耶哥尼雅被擄算起，不過五十九年。所以當時活著的許多人可能記得它還矗立著；對被擄的人來說，這是一個大恩惠——他們有這麼多祭司和利未人的壽數被延長，他們能告訴他們自己所記得的耶路撒冷的榮耀，以激發他們歸回。這些人為這殿與前殿之間的懸殊而哀嘆。並且，(1.) 這是有幾分道理的；若他們把眼淚引到正確的渠道，為那造成這憂鬱改變的罪而哀哭，他們就作得好。罪玷污任何教會或民族的榮耀；當他們發現自己衰微卑下時，罪必承擔其咎。(2.) 然而，把這些眼淚與共同的喜樂混雜在一起，從而給喜樂潑冷水，卻是他們的軟弱。他們藐視微小之日的開端，對所享的福不知感恩，因為不如祖先所享的多——其實已遠超他們所配得的。在公眾喜樂的和諧中，讓我們不要作不和諧的弦。他們在此給百姓所造成的灰心更為嚴重，因為他們是祭司和利未人——他們本該知道並教導別人，在不同的護理之下當如何有正當的感受，不可讓對往昔苦難的記憶淹沒對當前恩惠的知覺。此處這種憂愁與喜樂的混合，正是這世界的寫照。有的人沐浴在喜樂的江河中，有的人卻淹沒在淚水的洪流裏。在天上，所有的人都在歌唱，沒有人嘆息；在地獄裏，所有的人都在哀哭號泣，沒有人歡喜；但在地上，我們幾乎不能分辨歡呼的聲音和哭號的聲音。讓我們學會與喜樂的人同樂，與哀哭的人同哭，我們自己也當喜樂如同不喜樂，哀哭如同不哀哭。
Englisches Original
The Foundation of the Temple Laid (535 BC)
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 LORD.
⁹ Then stood Jeshua with 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, with their sons and their brethren the Levites.
¹⁰ And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel.
¹¹ And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.
¹² But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were 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.
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,
I. When it was begun-in the second month of the second year, as soon as ever the season of the year would permit (Ezr 3:8), 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.
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.
III. Who were employed to further it. They appointed the Levites to set forward the work (Ezr 3:8), and they did it by setting forward the workmen (Ezr 3:9), 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.
IV. How God was praised at the laying of the foundation of the temple (Ezr 3:10,11); 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, God is good, and his mercy endureth for ever, the burden of Ps 136:1-26 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 God is good to Israel (Ps 73:1), 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.
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, Ezr 3:11. 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 the noise was heard afar off. 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, wept with a loud voice, Ezr 3:12. 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 despised the day of small things, 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 discern the shouts of joy from the noise of the weeping. Let us learn to rejoice with those that do rejoice and weep with those that weep, and ourselves to rejoice as though we rejoiced not, and weep as though we wept not.
在前一章的結尾，我們看見以色列人各歸本城，但我們不難想像他們的事務處於何等糟糕的狀態——地未耕種、城邑荒涼、一切失序；然而此處我們看到他們及早關心在他們中間重新建立信仰的記述。如此他們好好地立了根基，並從正確的一端開始了他們的工作。I. 他們築了一座壇，在其上獻祭，守節期，並為重建聖殿捐獻，Ezr 3:1-7。II. 他們在喜樂與哀傷交織之中立了聖殿的根基，Ezr 3:8-13。這是小物的日子，卻不可藐視，亞 4:10。