Ezra 3:7
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)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Notice how the exiles paid their own skilled workers with money, but the Phoenician laborers who brought the cedar from Lebanon were paid with food and drink. This highlights that for those from the land, tangible resources from their still-scarce community were the priority, while for outsiders, provisions were the more practical form of payment.
After returning to Jerusalem and re-establishing the altar for sacrifices, the people are now turning their attention to rebuilding the Temple. This verse details the practical steps taken to procure the necessary materials, specifically the prized cedarwood from Lebanon, by hiring skilled Phoenician craftsmen and arranging for its transport to Joppa. These preparations are carried out under the authority granted by Cyrus, the Persian king, setting the stage for the foundational work described in the verses that follow.
Rebuilding the Temple was a massive undertaking, especially after exile. Where did the resources come from? This verse reveals a practical, yet profound, truth about God's provision.
Trusting God for the Necessary Means
The people of Israel, returning from exile, were tasked with rebuilding the Temple. This wasn't just a spiritual endeavor; it required tangible resources. Notice how Ezra 3:7 details the practical steps: money for local workers, and food, drink, and oil for the Phoenicians who supplied the crucial cedar from Lebanon.
This echoes the principle seen in Solomon's temple construction and even in the early church (Acts 12:20). When God calls us to a task, whether it's personal growth, serving in ministry, or caring for family, He doesn't leave us without the means to accomplish it. Sometimes, provision comes through our own diligent work and earnings (paying the masons and carpenters with money). Other times, it comes through generosity and exchange, where we provide what we have (food, drink, oil) in return for what we need (timber).
No matter the form, the key is dependency. They relied on a grant from Cyrus, but their ultimate reliance was on God's favor, which made that grant possible and guided their efforts.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Ezra 3:7 is available in the Sola app.
The rebuilding effort wasn't just a spontaneous act of the people. It was authorized and facilitated by earthly powers. What does this tell us about God working through human structures?
Divine Authority in Human Decrees
The permission to gather timber from Lebanon and bring it to Joppa wasn't just a local agreement; it was 'according to the grant that they had from Cyrus king of Persia.' This highlights a crucial aspect of God's work in the world: He often moves and directs through the decrees and authorities of human rulers.
Cyrus's decree, recorded in Ezra chapter 1, was the official green light for the Jewish exiles to return and rebuild their Temple. While this verse focuses on the practical logistics of how they got the materials, it's rooted in that foundational royal authorization. God's sovereignty extends to the hearts of kings and the policies of empires (Proverbs 21:1).
This means that when we engage in God's work, we can be assured that His overarching plan is supported by His authority, even when it works through imperfect human systems. The 'grant' from Cyrus was a human instrument, but it served a divine purpose, enabling the fulfillment of God's promises.
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.
The logistical and financial arrangements for obtaining materials, like the cedar from Lebanon, highlight the practical challenges and the reliance on foreign expertise and resources, echoing the methods used during Solomon's Temple construction.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon
The Persian king Cyrus the Great conquers the Neo-Babylonian Empire, opening the door for exiled peoples, including the Jews, to return to their homelands.
538 BC— this verse
Cyrus's Edict of Restoration
Cyrus issues a decree allowing exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple, even providing resources. This decree is the foundation for the rebuilding efforts described in Ezra.
537 BC
First Return of Exiles
A significant number of Jewish exiles, led by Zerubbabel, return to Jerusalem from Babylon to begin the process of rebuilding their city and Temple.
c. 536 BC
Foundation of the Second Temple Laid
The foundation of the Second Temple is laid, a significant milestone that sparks both joyous celebration among the returnees and opposition from surrounding peoples.
c. 536 BC
Work on Temple Halted
Due to opposition from Samaritans and others, and possibly internal discouragement, the work on the Temple is suspended for many years, despite the foundational steps taken.
This passage describes Solomon's arrangement with Hiram of Tyre, where he provided food and drink in exchange for cedar and fir timber, mirroring the provisions Ezra 3:7 details for the second temple's construction.
2 Chronicles 2:16This verse recounts a similar process of bringing timber from Lebanon to Joppa, highlighting the logistical and collaborative efforts involved in temple building across different eras.
Acts 12:20Although this passage refers to a later historical context, it mentions people from Tyre and Sidon seeking provisions from Herod, demonstrating the ongoing economic relationship and trade between these regions and Judea.
Ezra 1:1-4This earlier decree from Cyrus king of Persia grants permission for the temple's rebuilding and even provides materials, laying the essential groundwork for the actions described in Ezra 3:7.
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…
Notice how the exiles paid their own skilled workers with money, but the Phoenician laborers who brought the cedar from Lebanon were paid with food and drink. This highlights that for those from the land, tangible resources from their still-scarce community were the priority, while for outsiders, provisions were the more practical form of payment.
After returning to Jerusalem and re-establishing the altar for sacrifices, the people are now turning their attention to rebuilding the Temple. This verse details the practical steps taken to procure the necessary materials, specifically the prized cedarwood from Lebanon, by hiring skilled Phoenician craftsmen and arranging for its transport to Joppa. These preparations are carried out under the authority granted by Cyrus, the Persian king, setting the stage for the foundational work described in the verses that follow.
After returning to Jerusalem and re-establishing the altar for sacrifices, the people are now turning their attention to rebuilding the Temple. This verse details the practical steps taken to procure the necessary materials, specifically the prized cedarwood from Lebanon, by hiring skilled Phoenician craftsmen and arranging for its transport to Joppa. These preparations are carried out under the authority granted by Cyrus, the Persian king, setting the stage for the foundational work described in the verses that follow.
"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." — Notice how the exiles paid their own skilled workers with money, but the Phoenician laborers who brought the cedar from Lebanon were paid with food and drink. This highlights that for those from the…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
