The Altar Is Rebuilt and the Temple Foundation Is Laid

When the seventh month came, the people of Israel gathered together in Jerusalem. Jeshua, Zerubbabel, and the priests rebuilt the altar of the God of Israel so burnt offerings could be offered there, as written in the law of Moses. Though they feared the peoples around them, they set the altar on its base and began offering burnt offerings morning and evening.

They kept the Feast of Booths as the law required. They offered the daily sacrifices in the proper number, then the regular burnt offerings, the new moon offerings, the offerings for the Lord’s appointed feasts, and freewill offerings from the people. From the first day of the seventh month they offered burnt offerings, even though the temple foundation had not yet been laid.

They also prepared for the building work. They gave money to masons and carpenters. They also gave food, drink, and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre so cedar trees could be brought from Lebanon by sea to Joppa. They did this according to the grant given by Cyrus king of Persia.

In the second year after their coming to God’s house at Jerusalem, the work began. Zerubbabel, Jeshua, the priests, the Levites, and the others who had come from captivity took part. Levites aged twenty and older were appointed to oversee the work. Jeshua’s family, Kadmiel’s family, and the sons of Henadad stood together to supervise the workers in God’s house.

When the builders laid the foundation of the Lord’s temple, the priests stood in their vestments with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, held cymbals to praise the Lord according to the directions of David king of Israel. They sang praise and thanks to the Lord for his goodness and his enduring loving kindness toward Israel. The people gave a great shout because the foundation had been laid.

But the day sounded different to different people. Many older priests, Levites, and family leaders who had seen the first temple wept loudly when this foundation was laid before them. Many others shouted for joy. The sounds of weeping and rejoicing mingled together, and the noise was heard far away. Why do you think this moment held both gratitude and grief?