Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem; and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to set forward the work of the house of the LORD.
In the second year after they returned to God's house in Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak began the work. Along with them were the rest of their fellow priests and Levites, and everyone else who had returned from captivity to Jerusalem. They appointed all the Levites who were twenty years old and older to oversee the work of rebuilding the Lord's temple.
The writer is describing how the Jewish leaders organized everyone who returned from exile to begin rebuilding God's temple in Jerusalem, putting the Levites in charge of overseeing the construction work.
📚 Historical Context
After the Babylonian exile, the Jewish people returned to Jerusalem under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Jeshua, as part of God's promise to restore His nation. This verse highlights the early stages of rebuilding the temple, where the returned exiles organized the Levites, men from twenty years old and upward, to take charge of the sacred construction work. It reflects the community's determination to reestablish worship and obedience to God in their homeland.
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