3:1–7 gives the impression that these events followed immediately after chaps. 1–2 and occurred in the first year of the return. Thus in “the seventh month,” or about six months after the exiles’ arrival in Jerusalem, they built the altar. Then another seven months later (3:8) they laid the foundations of the temple

Zerubbabel was a subordinate leader under Sheshbazzar

It was also in the seventh month at Tabernacles that Solomon had gathered the people together to dedicate the first temple (1 Kgs 8:2).

The people assembled “as one man,” demonstrating a strong sense of community. They had a common bond of faith in God and a common purpose to worship and obey him

Furthermore, they followed the instructions of the law of Moses. Thus they built the altar with field stones, not with dressed stones (Exod 20:25; Deut 27:6).

The Hebrew for “despite” can also be translated “because of”;7 but however it is understood, it is clear that the Israelites were afraid. Courage is not lack of fear; it is the will to act in spite of fear. They recognized, if only partially, that their power consisted not in armies but in the knowledge and service of God

The Feast of Tabernacles was one of the three most important religious celebrations in the Jewish religious calendar

During the Feast of Tabernacles the people lived for seven days in tents or booths to remind them of God’s protection of their ancestors in the wilderness, his continuing providential care, and their dependence on him

The community of Jews who returned from exile was careful to set up and continue (not just a momentary impulse) its worship according to Scripture.11 The heart that loves God desires to worship him in a way that pleases him.

When Solomon built the first temple, he hired the Phoenicians of Tyre with wheat, barley, olive oil, and wine (2 Chr 2:10, 15) to send “cedar, pine, and algum logs from Lebanon” to Joppa (2 Chr 2:8, 16). Even the way of describing these arrangements is reminiscent of 2 Chr 2:8–15 and 1 Kgs 5:11, 18

These verses stress unity, cooperation, and enthusiasm for the project. Although Zerubbabel and Jeshua were the principal leaders, they delegated the supervising to the Levites. Ezra-Nehemiah is an excellent sourcebook for administrative principles. The leaders knew how to make decisions, but they also delegated authority to others.

These verses again show the theological interests of the author. He put worship at the center of community life and emphasized God’s goodness and love

” The word translated “sang” is literally “answered,” probably referring to antiphonal choral singing as David had organized. Here there is a conscious effort to restore the elements of worship that David had instituted.

As is usually the case, their perspective and their emotions varied. The older priests, Levites, and family heads, who remembered Solomon’s temple, wept because this temple would be much simpler than the former one.17 Others shouted for joy because their desire and longing of many years was being fulfilled. Thus joy was mixed with sadness, as their enthusiasm was mixed with fear (3:3), suggesting that as wonderful as the experience of God’s grace is, there is yet more to come