Ezra 3:13 describes the reaction of the people after the foundation of the Second Temple was laid. Here's a breakdown of the meaning:
"so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people": This is the key to understanding the verse. The event evoked mixed emotions.
Shout of joy: The older generation who remembered the grandeur of the First Temple wept with disappointment at the foundation being so much smaller than they remembered.
Weeping: This highlights the contrast in emotions.
"for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard far away": The overall sound, regardless of its components, was extremely loud and carried a great distance. This emphasizes the intensity and significance of the event, despite the mixed emotions.
In essence, the verse means:
The laying of the temple foundation was a moment of immense significance, resulting in a cacophony of sound. The older generation, who remembered the former temple in all its glory, wept with disappointment. The younger generation shouted in joy that the project was proceeding. The result was that you could not distinguish between the weeping and the shouting of the people.
Ezra 3:13 describes the reaction of the people after the foundation of the Second Temple was laid. Here's a breakdown of the meaning:
"so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people": This is the key to understanding the verse. The event evoked mixed emotions.
Shout of joy: The older generation who remembered the grandeur of the First Temple wept with disappointment at the foundation being so much smaller than they remembered.
Weeping: This highlights the contrast in emotions.
"for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard far away": The overall sound, regardless of its components, was extremely loud and carried a great distance. This emphasizes the intensity and significance of the event, despite the mixed emotions.
In essence, the verse means:
The laying of the temple foundation was a moment of immense significance, resulting in a cacophony of sound. The older generation, who remembered the former temple in all its glory, wept with disappointment. The younger generation shouted in joy that the project was proceeding. The result was that you could not distinguish between the weeping and the shouting of the people.