But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, [who were] ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:
Ver. 12. Who were ancient men] From seventy years of age and upwards; for it was but seventy years before this that the temple was burnt.
Wept with a loud voice] Considering the disproportion. Let us do the like when we compare our state of creation with our state of corruption.