But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:
But many of the priests, Levites, and family leaders who were elderly men—those who had seen the original temple—wept loudly when they watched the foundation of this new temple being laid. At the same time, many others shouted with joy.
The writer is describing how the older people who remembered Solomon's magnificent temple wept when they saw the modest new temple's foundation, while others celebrated joyfully.
📚 Historical Context
This occurred around 536 BC when the Jewish exiles returned from Babylon and began rebuilding the temple that had been destroyed 70 years earlier. The elderly priests and leaders who wept had witnessed the glory of Solomon's original temple before its destruction and likely felt the new foundation looked humble in comparison.
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