Bible Strands
Ezra 3:10
When the builders had laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their positions to praise the LORD, as David king of Israel had prescribed.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records the moment the returned exiles finish laying the temple foundation, immediately following the organizational work of Jeshua and the Levite supervisors.
The words — The text uses וְיִסְּדוּ (ve./yi.se.Du) for "they founded" and מְלֻבָּשִׁים (me.lu.ba.Shim) for "fully clothed," specifying that priests wore designated garments while taking their positions.
The thread — This structured worship mirrors David’s appointment of musicians in 1 Chronicles 25:1, while the priestly attire recalls the garment instructions in Exodus 28:40.
Why it lands — The passage requires readers to recognize that corporate worship operates under established precedent rather than improvisation, and that religious service demands defined roles and outward order.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- 1 Chronicles 25:1 Additionally, David and the commanders of the army set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to prophesy with the accompaniment of lyres, harps, and cymbals. The following is the list of the men who performed this service:
- Exodus 28:40 Make tunics, sashes, and headbands for Aaron’s sons, to give them glory and splendor.
- 1 Samuel 22:18 So the king ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests!” And Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests himself. On that day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod.
- 1 Chronicles 6:31 These are the men David put in charge of the music in the house of the LORD after the ark rested there.
- 1 Chronicles 15:24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer—the priests—were to blow the trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah were also to be guardians of the ark.
- 1 Chronicles 15:27 Now David was dressed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, as well as the singers and Chenaniah, the director of music for the singers. David also wore a linen ephod.
- 1 Chronicles 16:4 David appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, to celebrate, to give thanks, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel.
- 1 Chronicles 16:37 So David left Asaph and his associates there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to minister there regularly according to the daily requirements,
- 1 Chronicles 16:42 Heman and Jeduthun had with them trumpets and cymbals for the music and instruments for the songs of God. And the sons of Jeduthun were stationed at the gate.
- 1 Chronicles 23:5 4,000 are to be gatekeepers, and 4,000 are to praise the LORD with the instruments I have made for giving praise.”