What's striking here is the intentional choice of how to pay different groups. The returning Jews' own skilled builders received money, but the Phoenicians from Tyre and Sidon, who supplied the valuable cedar from Lebanon, were paid in provisions like food, drink, and oil. This reflects ancient economic practices, where trade and sustenance were often exchanged in kind, especially with foreign suppliers.
So they gave money to the masons and the carpenters, and food, drink, and oil to the Sidonians and the Tyrians to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, according to the grant that they had from Cyrus king of Persia.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After the returned exiles set up an altar and resumed daily sacrifices in Jerusalem, they moved on to preparing for the Temple's reconstruction. This verse details how they procured the necessary materials, paying their own skilled laborers with money and the Phoenician craftsmen from Tyre and Sidon with provisions for hauling cedar from Lebanon to Joppa, acting under Cyrus's decree. This preparation sets the stage for the foundational work of the Temple to begin in the following verses.
Rebuilding the Temple wasn't just an act of faith; it required practical resources and strategic partnerships. How did God's people navigate this in Ezra's day?
The rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem began with a clear demonstration of divine enablement and human agency working together.
The building project starts with wood and stone, but what truly underpins its success? What's the deeper spiritual reality at play here?
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The physical construction of the Temple was built upon a foundation of spiritual obedience and trust.
Understand the original words
rishyon · Hebrew Noun
A formal permission or royal decree granted by a monarch, often referring to a legal or sovereign authorization.
This verse highlights the practical, logistical steps involved in rebuilding the Temple, demonstrating that even sacred work requires careful planning, resource management, and reliance on external help, all done under the authority granted by the Persian king.
c. 538 BC
Cyrus's Edict for Return
Cyrus the Great, king of Persia, issues a decree allowing Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple.
c. 537 BC
First Return of Exiles
A large group of Jewish exiles, led by Zerubbabel, returns to Jerusalem, bringing with them sacred vessels from the Temple and beginning preparations for reconstruction.
c. 537 BC
Rebuilding the Altar
The returned exiles first re-establish the altar for daily sacrifices in Jerusalem, a crucial step before beginning the Temple's foundation.
c. 537 BC
Laying the Temple Foundation
The foundation for the Second Temple is laid, marked by joyous celebration and tears from those who remembered the glory of the first Temple.
c. 537 BC— this verse
Procuring Building Materials
The people arrange for masons and carpenters, paying them in money, and hire Phoenicians from Sidon and Tyre to fell cedar trees in Lebanon and float them to Joppa.
c. 537 BC
Work Begins on Temple
With materials and workers secured, the actual construction of the Second Temple commences.
This passage highlights the historical precedent of hiring Sidonians and Tyrians, and providing them with provisions like grain and oil, mirroring the actions taken in Ezra.
2 Chronicles 2:16This verse shows a similar arrangement where cedar wood was brought from Lebanon to Joppa by sea, illustrating the practical logistics and agreements used for temple construction.
Acts 12:20This New Testament passage mentions the people of Tyre and Sidon seeking provisions, showing their dependence on neighboring regions for food and resources, similar to the payments made in Ezra.
Isaiah 14:8This prophetic passage speaks of Lebanon's cedars rejoicing in their fall, hinting at the use of these magnificent trees in grand building projects, connecting to the material used in the temple.
bensonEzra 3:7: "They gave money also unto the masons, and to the carpenters; and meat, and drink, and oil, unto them of Zidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia."
Ezra 3:7 . Meat, and drink, and oil, unto them of Zidon and Tyre — The inhabitants of those towns wanted provisions more than money, as appears by the history of Solomon’s building, 1 Kings 5:10 . To bring cedar- trees from Lebanon — Tyre…
henryEzra 3:1-7: "And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem."
3:1-7 From the proceedings of the Jews on their arrival, let us learn to begin with God, and to do what we can in the worship of God, when we cannot do what we would. They could not at once have a temple, but they would not be without an altar. Fear of danger should stir us to our duty. Have we many enemies? Then it is good to have Go…
What's striking here is the intentional choice of how to pay different groups. The returning Jews' own skilled builders received money, but the Phoenicians from Tyre and Sidon, who supplied the valuable cedar from Lebanon, were paid in provisions like food, drink, and oil. This reflects ancient economic practices, where trade and sustenance were often exchanged in kind, especially with foreign suppliers.
After the returned exiles set up an altar and resumed daily sacrifices in Jerusalem, they moved on to preparing for the Temple's reconstruction. This verse details how they procured the necessary materials, paying their own skilled laborers with money and the Phoenician craftsmen from Tyre and Sidon with provisions for hauling cedar from Lebanon to Joppa, acting under Cyrus's decree. This preparation sets the stage for the foundational work of the Temple to begin in the following verses.
After the returned exiles set up an altar and resumed daily sacrifices in Jerusalem, they moved on to preparing for the Temple's reconstruction. This verse details how they procured the necessary materials, paying their own skilled laborers with money and the Phoenician craftsmen from Tyre and Sidon with provisions for hauling cedar from Lebanon to Joppa, acting under Cyrus's decree. This preparation sets the stage for the foundational work of the Temple to begin in the following verses.
"So they gave money to the masons and the carpenters, and food, drink, and oil to the Sidonians and the Tyrians to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, according to the grant that they had from Cyrus king of Persia." — What's striking here is the intentional choice of how to pay different groups. The returning Jews' own skilled builders received money, but the Phoenicians from Tyre and Sidon, who supplied the valua…
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Last reviewed October 2026
