And when the {a} seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem.

(a) Called Tishri which had part of September and part of October.

Wesley's Notes

3:1 Seventh month - This was a sacred kind of month wherein there were divers festivals, for which the people had been preparing themselves, and now came to Jerusalem to the celebration of them.

Scofield Reference Notes

Margin seventh month

i.e. October; also Ezra 3:6.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

CHAPTER 3

Ezr 3:1-13. The Altar Set Up.

1. when the seventh month was come-The departure of the returning exiles from Babylon took place in the spring. For some time after their arrival they were occupied in the necessary work of rearing habitations to themselves amid the ruins of Jerusalem and its neighborhood. This preliminary work being completed, they addressed themselves to rebuild the altar of burnt offering. As the seventh month of the sacred year was at hand-corresponding to the latter end of our September-when the feast of tabernacles (Le 23:34) fell to be observed, they resolved to celebrate that religious festival, just as if the temple had been fully restored.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

3:1-7 From the proceedings of the Jews on their arrival, let us learn to begin with God, and to do what we can in the worship of God, when we cannot do what we would. They could not at once have a temple, but they would not be without an altar. Fear of danger should stir us to our duty. Have we many enemies? Then it is good to have God our Friend, and to keep up communion with him. Our fears should drive us to our knees. The sacrifices for all these solemnities were a heavy expense for so poor a company; yet besides those expressly appointed, many brought free-will offerings to the Lord. And they made preparation for the building of the temple without delay: whatever God calls us to do, we may depend upon his providence to furnish us with the needful means.