Section 3:7–13

The people laid the foundation of the temple and celebrated

3:7a They gave money to the masons and carpenters,

¶ So they gave/paid money to stoneworkers/stonecutters and craftsmen.
-or-
¶ Then the people ⌊of Israel/Judah⌋ hired men who were skilled in working/building with stone and wood.

3:7b and food and drink and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre

Then they gave food, drinks, and oil to the people of ⌊the cities of⌋ Tyre and Sidon,
-or-
And they ⌊also⌋ gave grain/wheat and wine and olive oil to the people of ⌊the town of⌋ Tyre and ⌊the town of⌋ Sidon.

3:7c to bring cedar logs from Lebanon to Joppa by sea,

so that they would bring/send logs of cedar wood/trees by sea from Lebanon to ⌊the town⌋ of Joppa.
-or-
⌊They did this⌋ in exchange for the wood of/from cedar trees. The people of those towns should send the wood by sea from ⌊the province/region of⌋ Lebanon to ⌊the town⌋ of Joppa ⌊for the building work/project⌋.

3:7d as authorized by Cyrus king of Persia.

This was done by the authority of King/Chief Cyrus of Persia.
-or-
Cyrus, who ruled Persia, had given them the permission to do this.
-or-
⌊The exchange/trade of the wood and payment⌋ was according to the word/instructions of Cyrus, king/ruler of Persia.

3:7b–d (reordered)

Cyrus King of Persia had said that the people of Lebanon should send cedar trees/logs by sea to Joppa. So the Jews sent food, drink and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre in Lebanon in exchange/payment for these trees/logs.

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