Ezra 3:3 - Exposition

They set the altar upon his bases. They built the new altar upon the foundations of the old one, making it exactly conform to them. This was done, no doubt, to indicate that the religion which the exiles brought back from Babylon was in every respect identical with that which they had possessed before they were carried thither. Many moderns hold the contrary; but it has not yet been proved that the sojourn at Babylon modified the religious ideas of the Jews in any important particular. For fear was upon them. Or, " though fear was upon them." Notwithstanding their fear of the surrounding nations, they set up the altar. We must remember that their neigh-hours were not Persians, but descendants of various idolatrous nations—Hamathites, Babylonians, Susianians, Elamites, Cuthaeans, etc.—bitterly opposed to anything like a pure spiritual religion (see 2 Kings 17:24 ; Ezra 4:9 , Ezra 4:10 ). Though the exiles had permission from Cyrus to raise up not only their altar, but their temple, it was not at all certain that his nominal subjects would passively submit. It was as if a modern Turkish Sultan should decree the erection of a Christian altar and a grand Christian cathedral at Kerbela or Bussorah, towards the verge of his empire. There would be great danger in acting on such a decree. Burnt offerings morning and evening . So the law required (see Exodus 29:38 , Exodus 29:39 ; Numbers 28:3 , Numbers 28:4 ).