All things bear record · Ezra

Ezra 3

1 witness of Christ here, and 3 further echoes from the reading.

Sacrifice as a Similitude of Christ

Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God. Ezra 3:2–3

The first thing the returning exiles rebuild is the altar, before the temple itself. Every burnt offering under the law of Moses pointed to the sacrifice of the Only Begotten Son, so Israel's restored worship begins by looking again to the coming Redeemer.

A readingProphecy or typeAn ordinance that points to Him
  • interpreted by Moses 5:7 — The angel tells Adam that sacrifice is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father.
  • interpreted by Alma 34:14 — The whole meaning of the law points to the great and last sacrifice, the Son of God.
  • a type of what is in Hebrews 10:10-12 — Christ offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, ending the daily offerings.

Great High Priest

Jeshua (Joshua) — "Jehovah saves"; the same name as Jesus

Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God. Ezra 3:2

Jeshua is the high priest of the return, and his name is the Hebrew form of the name Jesus. The prophet Zechariah later crowns this same Joshua as a sign of the coming Branch who will build the temple and be a priest on His throne, so he stands as a type of Jesus Christ, our great High Priest.

A readingProphecy or typeA person who is a type of Him
  • interpreted by Zechariah 6:11-13 — Joshua the high priest is crowned: "Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH... he shall build the temple of the LORD."
  • interpreted by Zechariah 3:8 — Joshua and his fellows are a sign: "I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH."
  • a type of what is in Hebrews 4:14 — Jesus the Son of God is the great high priest.

Zerubbabel, the Davidic Temple-Builder

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. Ezra 3:8–10

Zerubbabel is a prince of David's line (he appears in Matthew's genealogy of Jesus) who lays the foundation of the Lord's house. As a son of David building the temple, he softly foreshadows the Son of David who builds the true house of God.

A readingEchoA person who is a type of Him
  • the same event in Zechariah 4:9 — The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it.

Jehovah

And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel. Ezra 3:10–11

At the foundation of the temple the people sing praise to Jehovah, the premortal Jesus Christ, for His enduring mercy. The mercy they celebrate is the same mercy He would later extend to all through His Atonement.

AttestedJehovah — the LORDA divine name

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4)

  • quotes Psalm 136:1 — "O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever."
  • quotes 1 Chronicles 16:34 — The same refrain sung by David's Levites.