Exiled Jews Return to their Homeland
January 14, 2026
Commentary
By the time the events of Ezra 3 take place, sometime had clearly passed, though we do not know exactly how long. The first major action recorded is the rebuilding of the altar. Instead of copying altar designs they may have seen in Babylon, the people carefully followed the instructions given in the Law of Moses. This showed their desire to obey God and restore worship according to His Word, not according to current trends or personal ideas. As soon as the altar was finished, sacrifices were offered on it, and the people acted quickly because of fear of the people of those countries. Their neighbors were hostile about their return, which reminded the Jews of their deep need for God’s protection and help. Before building walls or homes, they chose to rebuild their relationship with God. Worship came first, even while they lived with uncertainty, opposition, and challenges, trusting God fully and seeking His guidance daily.
Next, the Feast of Tabernacles was celebrated, and preparations for rebuilding the temple began. Some of the returned Jews had learned skills such as stonework and carpentry while in Babylon. Materials were gathered, including cedar wood from the region that supplied Solomon’s temple long ago. When the foundation of the new temple was laid, a special celebration took place. Younger people shouted with joy, but many older leaders wept because they remembered the former temple. Together, joy and sorrow mixed as God’s work began again. This moment showed faith in action, obedience in weakness, and hope rising as God patiently restored worship, community, and purpose among His people, guiding them forward through faith, perseverance, humility, trust, unity, gratitude, courage, and reliance on Him.
Application
I consider God’s control in my life. Where do I see His hand? Am I trusting Him in hard moments? What small step of obedience can I take now? Who can I encourage or support with what God has given me? I choose to walk in hope and courage, believing God is working even when I cannot see it clearly.
Ezra 1:1–11 (NET)
1 In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, in fulfillment of the Lord’s message spoken through Jeremiah, the Lord motivated King Cyrus of Persia to issue a proclamation throughout his kingdom and also to put it in writing. It read:
2 “This is what King Cyrus of Persia says:
3 Anyone of his people among you (may his God be with him!) may go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and may build the temple of the Lord God of Israel—he is the God who is in Jerusalem. 4 Anyone who survives in any of those places where he is a resident foreigner must be helped by his neighbors with silver, gold, equipment, and animals, along with voluntary offerings for the temple of God which is in Jerusalem.’”
5 Then the leaders of Judah and Benjamin, along with the priests and the Levites—all those whose mind God had stirred—got ready to go up in order to build the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. 6 All their neighbors assisted them with silver utensils, gold, equipment, animals, and expensive gifts, not to mention all the voluntary offerings.
7 Then King Cyrus brought out the vessels of the Lord’s temple which Nebuchadnezzar had brought from Jerusalem and had displayed in the temple of his gods. 8 King Cyrus of Persia entrusted them to Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the leader of the Judahite exiles.
9 The inventory of these items was as follows: 30 gold basins, 1,000 silver basins, 29 silver utensils,
10 30 gold bowls, 410 other silver bowls, and 1,000 other vessels.
11 All these gold and silver vessels totaled 5,400. Sheshbazzar brought them all along when the captives were brought up from Babylon to Jerusalem.