John Gill Commentary Ezra 3:1

"And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem." — Ezra 3:1 (ASV)

And when the seventh month had come
The month Tisri, which answers to part of September and October; or when it "was approaching" ^F16 , for before it was actually come some following things were done, the people met, and an altar was built; for on the first day of it sacrifices were offered, (Ezra 3:6) ,

and the children of Israel were in the cities ;
their respective cities, settling their domestic affairs:

the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem ;
the thing was universal, and done with as much dispatch as if only one man was concerned; and it seems to denote as if they were under a divine impulse, and came together without any consultation, or knowledge of each other's designs, and without summons.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F16: (egyw) "cum appropinquaret", Piscator.