We see the Second Temple rebuilt and completed around approximately 536 to 516 B.C. There were mixed emotions and sundry responses to the rebuilding of the altar and the foundation of the temple in Ezra 3. Most all of the people of Jerusalem and Israel are joyful and glad but some of the older generation were sad. Sad? The temple had been rebuilt, how could they be sad? Well, let's find out.
It says the Israelites assembled as one man in Jerusalem. Then Jeshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his associates began to build the altar of the God of Israel to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, in accordance with the Law of Moses the man of God. It also says they built the altar on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings in both morning and evening “despite their fear of the peoples around them”. It is clear from this opening of Ezra 3 that there is tension in Jerusalum between Jeshau, Zerubbabel, fellow priests and the “people around them” when they celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.
They then pay craftsman and builders money to build and lay foundation. There are extensive mention during this time again of “sons” and the sons “brothers”. By implication this is an indirect reference to a younger generation as opposed to an older generation. As we move to the end of Ezra 3 we see why there are repeated inferences of a younger generation. After the builders had laid the foundations of the Temple the Levites (“sons” of Asaph) celebrated and praised the Lord. In contrast many of the older priests and Levites, family heads, etc wept aloud while still others shouted for joy. It was quite a cacophony.
Those crying or discouraged by the laying of the new foundations were old (some real old). The date at the time of these foundations being laid was circa 536 BC. Some may have even seen and knew the grandeur of Solomon’s Temple that had been destroyed in 586 B.C. They were either not real happy knowing the “glory days” of Solomon were over or had trouble reconciling in their minds how far Israel (God’s chosen) had fallen from grace.
Apparently these new foundations, meager as they were, were nothing compared to the original and it grieved the older generation for it was their generation that was part of the demise of the Temple 50 years earlier; within a generation). Others of the older generation were clearly happy because “something is better than nothing” as they say. A place to sacrifice to the Lord, a restoration of their identity in the Lord again. Israelites identity since the Egyptian exodus centuries before had been intrinsically wrapped up in the Lord and by not having a temple they almost seemed spiritually orphaned or unanchored spiritually. Not because God had forsaken so much as they had forsaken Him. To have returned to the Lord and His commandments released a load of latent joy for the Israelites. We are all built for a relationship with God and when we don’t have that relationship people become unhappy. When they began to rebuild the foundations of the altar and the temple they were simultaneously rebuilding their spirituality. They were working congruently, simpatico. The God that had allowed them to rebuild to this point would allow them to finish and in this thought there was joy for many. Ironically, we saw the same reaction in 1967 when the Israelis reached the Wailing Wall during the 6-Day War that started on June 5, 1967. Hebrews traditionally showed emotions by weeping aloud.
Judging by the descriptions of the second temple and the models and mock-ups of it that I have seen, it was anything but shabby. The splendor and glory of the first temple constructed under Solomon must have been mind boggling.
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