1 esdras 5:56 - And in the second year after his coming to the temple of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, and Jesus the son of Josedek, and their kindred, and the priests the Levites, and all those who were come to Jerusalem out of the captivity:
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "1 esdras 5:56" mean?
This verse from 1 Esdras 5:56 (which is an apocryphal book and not part of the standard Protestant Bible canon, but is included in some Catholic and Orthodox Bibles) describes the commencement of the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem after the return of Jewish exiles from Babylon. Let's break it down:
"And in the second year after his coming to the temple of God at Jerusalem..." This pinpoints the timeframe. It's two years after the exiles (presumably the author is referring to the main group led by Zerubbabel) arrived back in Jerusalem and took up residence. The phrase "his coming to the temple" is a bit ambiguous, but it likely refers to their initial return to the general area of the temple mount and beginning preliminary work.
"...in the second month..." This further specifies the time of year. The Jewish calendar has different month names than the Gregorian calendar, and the second month is called Iyar or Ziv. This corresponds roughly to April/May.
"...began Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, and Jesus the son of Josedek..." This identifies the key leaders of the rebuilding effort.
Zorobabel (Zerubbabel): The governor of Judah, a descendant of the Davidic line. He was a crucial political leader.
Jesus the son of Josedek (Joshua the son of Jehozadak): The high priest. He was the key religious leader.
"...and their kindred..." This indicates that Zerubbabel and Joshua weren't working alone. They had their families and close associates supporting and assisting them.
"...and the priests the Levites..." These are members of the priestly class who were responsible for religious duties and temple services. They were essential for restoring proper worship.
"...and all those who were come to Jerusalem out of the captivity:" This broadens the scope. It emphasizes that the rebuilding was a collective effort involving all the Jewish people who had returned from exile in Babylon. It wasn't just a leadership initiative; it was a community-wide project.
In essence, the verse is saying that in the spring of the second year after the return from Babylonian exile, under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua, with the support of their families, the priests, the Levites, and the entire community, the work of rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem officially began.
Significance:
Re-establishment of Jewish Life: This verse marks a pivotal moment in Jewish history. It signals the re-establishment of Jewish religious life in their homeland after decades of exile.
Leadership: It highlights the crucial roles played by both political (Zerubbabel) and religious (Joshua) leaders in this endeavor. Successful rebuilding required both.
Community Involvement: It stresses the importance of collective effort and the unity of the Jewish people in achieving their goals. The success depended on the hard work and dedication of everyone who had returned.
Theological Importance: The rebuilding of the temple was seen as essential for restoring God's favor and renewing the covenant between God and the Jewish people.
This verse is a snapshot of a pivotal moment of hope and renewal for the Jewish people. It marks the beginning of a long and challenging process of rebuilding not just a physical structure, but their entire society and faith.
1 esdras 5:56 - And in the second year after his coming to the temple of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, and Jesus the son of Josedek, and their kindred, and the priests the Levites, and all those who were come to Jerusalem out of the captivity:
What does "1 esdras 5:56" mean?
This verse from 1 Esdras 5:56 (which is an apocryphal book and not part of the standard Protestant Bible canon, but is included in some Catholic and Orthodox Bibles) describes the commencement of the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem after the return of Jewish exiles from Babylon. Let's break it down:
"And in the second year after his coming to the temple of God at Jerusalem..." This pinpoints the timeframe. It's two years after the exiles (presumably the author is referring to the main group led by Zerubbabel) arrived back in Jerusalem and took up residence. The phrase "his coming to the temple" is a bit ambiguous, but it likely refers to their initial return to the general area of the temple mount and beginning preliminary work.
"...in the second month..." This further specifies the time of year. The Jewish calendar has different month names than the Gregorian calendar, and the second month is called Iyar or Ziv. This corresponds roughly to April/May.
"...began Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, and Jesus the son of Josedek..." This identifies the key leaders of the rebuilding effort.
Zorobabel (Zerubbabel): The governor of Judah, a descendant of the Davidic line. He was a crucial political leader.
Jesus the son of Josedek (Joshua the son of Jehozadak): The high priest. He was the key religious leader.
"...and their kindred..." This indicates that Zerubbabel and Joshua weren't working alone. They had their families and close associates supporting and assisting them.
"...and the priests the Levites..." These are members of the priestly class who were responsible for religious duties and temple services. They were essential for restoring proper worship.
"...and all those who were come to Jerusalem out of the captivity:" This broadens the scope. It emphasizes that the rebuilding was a collective effort involving all the Jewish people who had returned from exile in Babylon. It wasn't just a leadership initiative; it was a community-wide project.
In essence, the verse is saying that in the spring of the second year after the return from Babylonian exile, under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua, with the support of their families, the priests, the Levites, and the entire community, the work of rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem officially began.
Significance:
Re-establishment of Jewish Life: This verse marks a pivotal moment in Jewish history. It signals the re-establishment of Jewish religious life in their homeland after decades of exile.
Leadership: It highlights the crucial roles played by both political (Zerubbabel) and religious (Joshua) leaders in this endeavor. Successful rebuilding required both.
Community Involvement: It stresses the importance of collective effort and the unity of the Jewish people in achieving their goals. The success depended on the hard work and dedication of everyone who had returned.
Theological Importance: The rebuilding of the temple was seen as essential for restoring God's favor and renewing the covenant between God and the Jewish people.
This verse is a snapshot of a pivotal moment of hope and renewal for the Jewish people. It marks the beginning of a long and challenging process of rebuilding not just a physical structure, but their entire society and faith.