The dedication of the Temple was the official consecration of the Temple to God for worship after the completion of its rebuilding (compare Neh 12.27-43). This was the occasion for the reinstitution of Temple worship and marked the restoration of the true community of Israel. A shift is made from the term “Jews,” which has been used in the Aramaic section of the text until now (from Ezra 4.8), to people of Israel to signal the significance of this event. The literal “sons of Israel” (Darby, Osty-Trinquet, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible) or “children of Israel” (King James Version) may be translated with a form equivalent to “Israelites” (Amplified Bible, New Jerusalem Bible). See also the comment on Ezra 2.1.

The people of Israel are divided into three categories: priests, Levites, and the rest of the returned exiles. For comments on priests and Levites, see Ezra 1.5. The rest of the returned exiles were the laity, that is, those who were not the professional workers in the Temple. These were literally “the rest of the sons of the exile.” The participants in the dedication included only those who returned from exile. It is these who are considered in the book of Ezra to be the true people of Israel.

Celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy: Because the occasion is a festive one involving a special event, Revised Standard Version expresses the simple verb “made” of the original text as celebrated with dedication as its object. The event was marked by joy as was the dedication of the first Temple (1 Kgs 8.66). This is the second appearance of the theme of joy (see also Ezra 3.12-13; 6.22; Neh 8.10; 12.43). In some cultures there is a similar opening ceremony designated by a special term that may be used here for dedication, such as “inauguration” (Chouraqui). Alternatively, it may be necessary to use a descriptive phrase such as “putting the Temple in God’s hands.” New Century Version has “gave the Temple to God to honor him.”

Quoted with permission from Noss, Philip A. and Thomas, Kenneth J. A Handbook on Ezra. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2005. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .