Ezra 3:8

King James Version (KJV)

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.

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

In the second year - The previous time had been employed in clearing the ground, felling timber, hewing stones, and transporting them to the place, and making other necessary preparations for the commencement of the building.

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Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

Unto the house of God - i. e., to the place where the house of God had been, and where God was believed still to have His special dwelling.

And appointed the Levites - This is the emphatic clause of the present verse. Though so small a number of Levites had returned from Babylon Ezra 2:40, yet they were especially singled out to be entrusted with the task of superintending and advancing the building of the temple.

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Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

There was a remarkable mixture of affections upon laying the foundation of the temple. Those that only knew the misery of having no temple at all, praised the Lord with shouts of joy. To them, even this foundation seemed great. We ought to be thankful for the beginnings of mercy, though it be not yet perfect. But those who remembered the glory of the first temple, and considered how far inferior this was likely to be, wept with a loud voice. There was reason for it, and if they bewailed the sin that was the cause of this melancholy change, they did well. Yet it was wrong to cast a damp upon the common joys. They despised the day of small things, and were unthankful for the good they enjoyed. Let not the remembrance of former afflictions drown the sense of present mercies.

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SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

8. The second year. If the year of the Jews’ return was 536 b.c. (see on ch. 1:1), the second month of the second year would have fallen in the spring of 535 b.c. The months were numbered beginning with Nisan, the 1st month of the ecclesiastical year, even though the months so designated referred to the civil calendar, which began in the fall with Tishri, the 7th month (see Vol. II, p. 108). The phrase, “of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem,” shows clearly that the second year of their return is meant, and not the second year of Cyrus’ reign, as some commentators have thought.

The second month. Called Iyyar in the postexilic calendar. Some commentators think that this month was chosen for the beginning of building activities in order to coincide with the date chosen by Solomon for beginning the erection of the first Temple (1 Kings 6:1).

Zerubbabel. In v. 2 Jeshua, the high priest, is mentioned before Zerubbabel, the governor, because reference is made to a purely ecclesiastical affair, the beginning of the sacrificial service, in which the high priest naturally had primary authority. In connection with the rebuilding of the Temple, Zerubbabel, representing the authority of the state, is mentioned first. He was the official representative of the Persian king, who had issued the decree to rebuild the Temple; therefore it was his privilege and duty to lead out in the measures to be taken in carrying out the decree.

Appointed the Levites. The few Levites who had returned (see on ch. 2:40) were appointed by the governor to supervise the workmen employed in rebuilding the Temple.

From twenty years. In conformity with a custom that had existed at least since the time of David, that the Levites could serve only after reaching the age of 20 (1 Chron. 23:24, 27; 2 Chron. 31:17). In Moses’ time they were not permitted to serve until the age of 25 (Num. 8:24).

Set forward. That is, “supervised” or “had the oversight.”

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Cross References

twenty years old

The Return of the Jewish Exiles to Judah

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Ezra 3:8