Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.
Joshua - was the grandson of Seraiah, the high priest put to death by Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah (2 Kings 25:18-21). His father, Josedech, had been carried captive to Babylon, and died there, sometime before this.
Zerubbabel - was, according to the order of nature, son of Pedaiah (1 Chronicles 3:17-19), but having been brought up by Salathiel, was called his son.
Builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon. This was of urgent and immediate necessity-in order, first, to make atonement for their sins; secondly, to obtain the divine blessing on their preparations for the temple, as well as to animate their feelings of piety and patriotism for the prosecution of that national work.