Revival of Temple Worship (3:1–6)

Jeshua … and Zerubbabel (3:2). Scholars have seen a tension between this statement and that of 5:16, which states that Sheshbazzar laid the foundations for the temple. Moreover Haggai, who mentions Zerubbabel (Hag. 1:1), does not mention Sheshbazzar and dates his prophetic activity to the “second year of Darius” (520 B.C.). Baruch Halpern, citing Mesopotamian parallels, suggests, “In any case, if Sheshbazzar did lay a foundation around 538, years of exposure to the elements and vegetation would have necessitated clearing, reorientation by the builders with regard to directional bearings, extensive repair, and a ceremony invoking the god’s aid in the completion of the project, cursed by a previous failure.”35

Altar of the God of Israel (3:2). During their long stay in Babylon, the Jews were not able to offer any sacrifices, as this could only be done in Jerusalem. Instead, they were surrounded by a myriad of pagan temples. About fifty temples are mentioned in Babylonian texts together with 180 open-air shrines for Ishtar, three hundred daises for the Igigi gods, and twelve hundred daises for the Anunnaki gods.36 Thus, the Jews’ first task in the midst of hostile neighbors was to erect once more an altar to sacrifice to the Lord.

Feast of Tabernacles (3:4). Jeffrey L. Rubenstein observes, “The passage emphasizes that the Sukkot sacrifices inaugurated the regular functioning of the cult; thereafter Sabbaths, New Moons, and other festivals would be observed in the proper way (3:4–5).”37 The English word “tabernacle” is derived from the Latin Vulgate’s tabernaculum (“tent”). The original Hebrew word sukkôt refers to the “huts” constructed for the feast, which is sometimes simply called “the feast” or “the feast of the LORD.”

Four species of the lulav

Yonidebest

Originally a joyous harvest celebration (Ex. 23:14–16; 34:22–23; Num. 29:12–40; Deut. 16:13–16), this feast is possibly referred to in the historical books (1 Sam. 1:1–3; 1 Kings 12:32). Jews later celebrated this feast by building a hut covered with an open roof of branches, decorated with fruits and vegetables. Following Leviticus 23:40, Jews also use the palm, the willow, and the myrtle as the lulav (“a shoot or young branch,” a Mishnaic term applied to all trees, but especially the palm branch used at sukkôt) and the ethrog (a yellow citron known in Israel only from Hellenistic times; its name is of uncertain origin).