Ezra 3:9 - Then Jeshua stood with his sons and his brothers, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to have the oversight of the workmen in God’s house: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brothers the Levites.

Generated Verse: Ezra 3:9

What does "Ezra 3:9" mean?


Ezra 3:9 describes the organization and assignment of responsibilities in the rebuilding of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Let's break it down:

"Then Jeshua stood with his sons and his brothers...": Jeshua (also known as Joshua), the high priest, took a leadership role in overseeing the temple's reconstruction. He worked alongside his family members. This highlights the priestly line's involvement in the project.

"...Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together...": Kadmiel, along with his sons and descendants of Judah, formed another group responsible for overseeing the workers. This indicates that both Levites (Kadmiel) and members of the tribe of Judah were participating in the supervision. The mention of Judah might be a reference to a specific family within the Levites or a broader alliance.

"...to have the oversight of the workmen in God's house...": This clarifies the primary duty of these individuals and groups: to supervise and manage the laborers involved in constructing the temple. This ensured that the work was done properly and efficiently, according to the plans and requirements.

"...the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brothers the Levites.": The sons of Henadad, another Levitical family, also joined the oversight team, further emphasizing the collaborative effort of the Levites in the temple's reconstruction.

In summary, Ezra 3:9 highlights:

Leadership: The involvement of key leaders like Jeshua the high priest.
Organization: The division of responsibilities among different Levitical families and possibly members of the tribe of Judah.
Supervision: The oversight and management of the workmen involved in rebuilding the temple.
Collaboration: The combined effort of various groups in ensuring the successful completion of the project.
Levitical Involvement: The significant role played by the Levites in the Temple construction, as they were traditionally responsible for its maintenance and services.

The verse is essentially emphasizing that rebuilding the temple was not just a physical task, but required careful organization, leadership, and a coordinated effort by key individuals and families within the community, particularly the Levites. It shows a renewed commitment to the worship of God after the exile in Babylon.

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