Ezra 3:8–11

⁸Zerubbabel (who was Shealtiel’s son), Jeshua (who was Jozadak’s son), and the rest of the Jews, (the priests, Levites, and all the others who had come back from exile to Jerusalem) began to rebuild the temple. This happened in the second month of the second year following their return to ⸤the site⸥ of God’s house in Jerusalem. They began by appointing the Levites who were at least 20 years old to direct the work on the Lord’s house. ⁹Then Jeshua with his sons and relatives and Kadmiel with his sons who were Judah’s descendants joined Henadad’s family and their sons and relatives, the Levites, in directing those working on God’s house. 

A Celebration After the Laying of the Temple’s Foundation

¹⁰The builders laid the foundation of the Lord’s temple. Then the priests who were dressed in their robes took their places with trumpets, and the Levites who were Asaph’s descendants took their places with cymbals to praise the Lord according to the instructions of King David of Israel. ¹¹As they praised and gave thanks to the Lord, they sang antiphonally: 

“He is good; his mercy toward Israel endures forever.” 

Then all the people shouted, “Praise the Lord,” because the foundation for the house of the Lord had been laid.