What Old Testament laws or traditions are reflected in Ezra 3:3's actions? The Heart of the Verse Ezra 3:3: “They set the altar on its foundation, and they offered burnt offerings upon it to the LORD—both the morning and evening burnt offerings—though fear had come upon them because of the peoples of the lands.” Old Testament Groundwork Behind Their Actions • Centralized Worship on the God-Chosen Site – Deuteronomy 12:5-7 commands Israel to bring sacrifices only “to the place the LORD your God will choose.” – Rebuilding the altar “on its foundation” ties them back to the very spot Solomon’s bronze altar once stood (2 Chronicles 4:1), demonstrating obedience to God’s specified location rather than convenience or personal preference. • Re-establishing the Daily (Tamid) Burnt Offering – Exodus 29:38-42 and Numbers 28:1-8 lay out the perpetual rhythm: one lamb every morning, one every evening, with grain and drink offerings. – By restoring this pattern first, the returnees honor the Law’s priority—continual atonement and fellowship before any other work proceeds. • Building the Altar Before the Temple – Exodus 27:1-8 supplies the original blueprint for the altar; Joshua 8:30-31 shows an altar erected even before a permanent sanctuary existed. – Following that precedent, the exiles secure a means of sacrifice immediately, trusting that right worship will invite God’s favor for the larger temple project. • Burnt Offerings for Atonement and Consecration – Leviticus 1 details the burnt offering (ʿōlâ) as total surrender: the whole animal consumed, symbolizing the worshiper wholly given to God. – In fearful times (“because of the peoples of the lands”), that full dedication becomes a statement of reliance on the LORD’s protection (cf. Psalm 20:1-3). • Keeping the Fire Burning – Leviticus 6:12-13: “The fire on the altar shall be kept burning; it must not be extinguished.” – Reviving the altar fire after decades in exile proclaims that the covenant relationship is still alive and God’s mercy still available. Traditions Reinforced Through Their Obedience – Spiritual Priorities: Worship first, construction second. – Covenant Continuity: Linking post-exilic Israel directly to Sinai’s commands, not a new religion but the revived original. – Corporate Identity: Public, centralized sacrifices unify the people under God’s Law rather than under political or cultural pressures from surrounding nations. – Daily Dependence: Morning-evening rhythm invites constant remembrance that every new day and every nightfall are held in God’s hands (Psalm 141:2). Takeaway By resetting the altar and resuming the daily burnt offerings, the returned exiles in Ezra 3:3 intentionally mirror specific Mosaic commands and long-standing Israelite traditions, declaring, “We are still God’s covenant people, and His Word still stands.” |
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