Ezra 3:4 kjv
They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required;
Ezra 3:4 nkjv
They also kept the Feast of Tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings in the number required by ordinance for each day.
Ezra 3:4 niv
Then in accordance with what is written, they celebrated the Festival of Tabernacles with the required number of burnt offerings prescribed for each day.
Ezra 3:4 esv
And they kept the Feast of Booths, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number according to the rule, as each day required,
Ezra 3:4 nlt
They celebrated the Festival of Shelters as prescribed in the Law, sacrificing the number of burnt offerings specified for each day of the festival.
Ezra 3 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 23:34-36 | "On the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the Feast of Tabernacles... for seven days... You shall offer a food offering to the Lord for seven days." | Tabernacles' duration and offerings specified. |
| Lev 23:40-43 | "You shall take for yourselves... branches... and rejoice before the Lord... you shall dwell in booths for seven days... so that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel dwell in booths." | Instructions for celebrating Tabernacles. |
| Deut 16:13-15 | "You shall keep the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days... and you shall rejoice in your feast... for the Lord your God will bless you." | Mandate to keep Tabernacles with joy. |
| Num 29:12-34 | "On the first day... thirteen bullocks... twelve on the second day... eleven on the third day..." (decreasing daily bullocks) | Specific animal count for Tabernacles' offerings. |
| Neh 8:14-18 | "They found it written in the Law that the Lord had commanded... Israel should dwell in booths... and they made booths... since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day, the people of Israel had not done so." | Later faithful observance of Tabernacles. |
| Ezek 45:25 | "In the seventh month, on the fifteenth day... he shall do likewise for the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days, with the same sin offerings, burnt offerings, and food offerings, and the same oil." | Future Temple's Tabernacles observance. |
| Zech 14:16-19 | "Then everyone who survives of all the nations that have come against Jerusalem shall go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles." | Universal future observance of Tabernacles. |
| Ex 29:38-42 | "Now this is what you shall offer on the altar: two lambs a year old day by day continually... a regular burnt offering." | Daily burnt offerings for the regular service. |
| Num 28:3 | "And you shall say to them, 'This is the food offering that you shall offer to the Lord: two male lambs a year old without blemish, day by day, as a regular burnt offering.'" | The perpetual daily offering commanded. |
| 1 Chr 23:30-31 | "to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord, and likewise at evening... and to offer all burnt offerings to the Lord on the Sabbaths, new moons, and the appointed feasts by number." | Levitical duties included prescribed offerings. |
| 2 Chr 8:12-13 | "Then Solomon offered up burnt offerings... according to the daily rule, and according to the command of Moses for the Sabbaths, the new moons, and the three annual feasts—the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Booths." | Historical record of adherence to Moses' command. |
| Ezra 6:18 | "And they set the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God at Jerusalem, as it is written in the Book of Moses." | Obedience to Mosaic Law in Temple service. |
| Josh 1:7-8 | "Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you... This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night." | Emphasizes meditating on and obeying the Law. |
| Deut 17:18-19 | "when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law... so that he may learn to fear the Lord his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes." | Importance of written law for obedience. |
| Psa 1:2 | "but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night." | Righteous delight in God's law. |
| Jer 31:33 | "But this is the covenant that I will make... I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts." | Future new covenant based on internal law. |
| Ezra 7:10 | "For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel." | Ezra's commitment to studying and doing the Law. |
| 2 Kin 23:21-22 | "The king commanded all the people, 'Keep the Passover to the Lord your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant.' For no such Passover had been kept since the days of the judges." | Josiah's reform based on written law. |
| Hag 2:18-19 | "Consider from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, the day when the foundation of the Lord's temple was laid... I will bless you." | Blessings tied to recommencing Temple work. |
| Mal 3:7 | "Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts." | Call to repentance and return to God. |
| Heb 10:5-7 | "Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, 'Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, 'Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.'" | Christ fulfilling the written will of God. |
| Col 2:16-17 | "Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ." | Ceremonial law as a shadow of Christ. |
Ezra 3 verses
Ezra 3 4 Meaning
Ezra 3:4 details the returned exiles' immediate and precise adherence to the Law of Moses regarding the Festival of Tabernacles (Sukkot). Having just rebuilt the altar, they meticulously performed the prescribed burnt offerings daily, according to the specific decreasing number mandated for each of the festival's seven days. This act demonstrated their earnest commitment to re-establishing true worship and obedience to Yahweh following their return from Babylonian captivity.
Ezra 3 4 Context
Ezra 3:4 describes a pivotal act of worship by the returned exiles in Judah. Historically, this occurred in 538 BC, following Cyrus's decree allowing the Jews to return and rebuild the Temple. Under the leadership of Zerubbabel and High Priest Joshua, their initial task upon returning to a desolated land was to reconstruct the altar of burnt offering (Ezra 3:2). This rebuilding symbolized their immediate priority to re-establish communion with God through sacrifices. Verse 4 details their first major corporate religious act: the celebration of the Festival of Tabernacles. This was particularly significant as it marked the first time this national festival had been properly observed in Jerusalem since before the exile, perhaps even since the time of Joshua, as Nehemiah 8:17 records a later celebration stating it had not been kept like that since Joshua's day. Despite lacking a full Temple and facing various challenges, their meticulous observance, particularly the daily decrease in the number of bullocks, underscored their deep commitment to divine instruction and sought to secure God's favor and blessing upon their nascent community.
Ezra 3 4 Word analysis
- They celebrated: (וַיַּעֲשׂוּ - vayya‘aśū) From the root ‘aśah (to do, make, keep, observe, celebrate). This verb emphasizes action and adherence. It indicates that the returned exiles not only acknowledged the festival but actively performed all its requirements. Their "doing" implies intentional obedience, contrasting with past generations who neglected divine commands.
- the Festival of Tabernacles: (חַג הַסֻּכּוֹת - chag haSukkot) Literally, "Festival of Booths." Chag means "feast" or "festival," often implying a pilgrimage. Sukkot (plural of sukkah) means "booths" or "tabernacles," temporary shelters. This festival, one of the three pilgrim festivals (Passover, Weeks, Tabernacles), was deeply significant. It commemorated God's provision and dwelling with Israel during their 40-year wilderness wandering, where they lived in temporary shelters (Lev 23:42-43). Agriculturally, it was a harvest festival, celebrating the ingathering of crops (Ex 23:16; Deut 16:13-15). Spiritually, it prefigured the dwelling of God among His people (John 1:14) and future ingathering (Zech 14:16). Their celebration marked a return to foundational worship, signifying trust in God's past provision and future promises for their new beginnings.
- as it is written: (כַּכָּתוּב - kakkatūv) This phrase, "according to what is written," is a key motif in Ezra-Nehemiah, underscoring the returned community's commitment to the written Torah as their authoritative guide. It signifies their desire for precise obedience to God's revealed will, contrasting with the prior disregard for the Law that led to the exile. This demonstrates a deep reverence for the sacred texts and a resolve to restore a covenant relationship based on divine prescription rather than human innovation or convenience.
- and offered burnt offerings daily: (וְהֶעֱלוּ עוֹלֹת יוֹם בְּיוֹם - vehe‘elū ‘ōlōt yom b'yom)
- offered burnt offerings: (vehe‘elū ‘ōlōt) ‘Ōlōt refers to "whole burnt offerings" or "ascension offerings," so called because they were entirely consumed by fire and went up as a pleasing aroma to God (Lev 1). This offering symbolized complete dedication, atonement, and worship, being the most common communal offering. Its re-establishment signaled their earnest desire for forgiveness and restoration of their covenant with Yahweh.
- daily: (yom b'yom) Literally "day in day" or "day by day." This emphasizes the consistent and uninterrupted nature of their worship, highlighting dedication and endurance. It indicates that even without a fully rebuilt Temple, they prioritized maintaining a regular, prescribed schedule of communal worship.
- according to the number required for each day: (בְּמִסְפַּר כְּמִשְׁפַּט יוֹם בְּיוֹמוֹ - bemispar k'mishpaṭ yom b'yomō)
- according to the number: (bemispar) Refers directly to the specific numerical count of sacrifices.
- required: (k'mishpaṭ) Meaning "according to the ordinance," "judgment," or "due custom/manner." This points to the very precise regulations outlined in the Torah (specifically Num 29:12-34) for the Feast of Tabernacles, where the number of bullocks offered decreased each day (13 on day 1, 12 on day 2, down to 7 on day 7).
- for each day: (yom b'yomō) Reinforces the day-by-day precision.
- This phrase emphasizes meticulous adherence, down to the exact prescribed details. It showcases a profound level of obedience, indicating that they were not merely making an offering but diligently following every aspect of the Law, demonstrating integrity in their worship and their commitment to regaining God's full favor. Such precise observance after the exile suggests a deep understanding that past calamities resulted from laxity and disobedience.
Ezra 3 4 Bonus section
The celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles so early in the restoration period (before the Temple foundation was even laid, which occurred a month later in Ezra 3:8) demonstrates the immense spiritual fervor of the returnees. It also underscores that basic elements of worship, particularly atonement through sacrifice, could and should proceed even without a completed sanctuary. This points to the principle that faithful obedience often precedes visible divine blessings or complete circumstances.
The descending number of bullocks during Tabernacles (from 13 to 7) is unique among Israelite festivals and has invited much interpretive reflection. While the exact theological significance is debated, some scholars suggest it may represent a decreasing emphasis on a sin offering (due to fewer required days of purification) or a unique rhythm within the cycle of worship. Its meticulous observance by the returnees showcases their deep reverence for every detail of the Law.
This verse stands in subtle polemic against the past negligence that resulted in the exile. The repeated emphasis on "as it is written" directly counters the unwritten or self-made practices of their ancestors, which had incurred God's judgment. Their deliberate and precise obedience was a corporate declaration that they had learned from the lessons of the exile and were committed to a pure and undefiled faith.
Ezra 3 4 Commentary
Ezra 3:4 is a powerful declaration of spiritual revival among the returning exiles. More than a simple recounting of liturgical practices, it communicates their profound commitment to obedient worship. The priority given to re-establishing the sacrificial system, especially the elaborate Feast of Tabernacles, underscores their conviction that true restoration must begin with reconciliation to God through His prescribed means. The emphasis on "as it is written" and "according to the number required" highlights a dedication to the Mosaic Law that contrasts sharply with the pre-exilic apostasy and neglect that led to their captivity.
This passage reveals that despite challenging circumstances—a desolate land, limited resources, and an incomplete Temple—their faith led them to scrupulously follow God's commands. Their precise execution of the Feast of Tabernacles, with its specific and diminishing daily sacrifices, was a significant act of corporate humility and submission. This level of detail shows their understanding that true worship requires not just general intention, but precise adherence to God's revealed will. Their obedience was foundational, setting the spiritual tone for the entire restoration period and inviting God's blessing and presence back among His people. It serves as a reminder that genuine repentance and revival are evidenced by a return to God's Word and a faithful performance of His commands, even the most detailed ones.