Ezra 3:2
“Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak stood up with his brothers the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his brothers, and built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.”
What does Ezra 3:2 mean?
After returning from exile in Babylon, the Jewish people faced the enormous task of rebuilding their destroyed temple and restoring their worship. Jeshua (the high priest) and Zerubbabel (the political leader) worked together to construct an altar first, before anything else, because they urgently needed to reconnect with God through the prescribed sacrifices. This wasn't just about following rules, it was an act of faith and homecoming, a statement that despite their hardship and displacement, they were committed to restoring their relationship with the Lord. Their quick action to worship according to Moses's ancient instructions shows how deeply they valued continuity with their heritage and their God.