Returning to Jerusalem to renew the sacred service is a complex and dangerous undertaking for the exiles. Surrounded by hostile neighboring nations, they live under a constant cloud of threat. Their very first act is restoring the altar upon its original foundations [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. To ensure absolute accuracy, they rely on the testimony of a prophet who had returned with them from exile to pinpoint the exact location [מלבי״ם].
A deep fear of the surrounding peoples heavily influences their actions, though commentators differ on exactly how this terror shapes their approach. One perspective suggests that the danger makes them highly cautious. They intentionally wait for the entire nation to gather before beginning construction, fearing that a small, isolated group would be easily stopped [מלבי״ם]. Furthermore, they limit their work strictly to the altar, avoiding any large-scale rebuilding of Jerusalem that might make them appear too prominent or threatening to their neighbors [ביאור שטיינזלץ].
Conversely, others view this intense fear as a reason to rush. The looming threat drives them to build the altar as quickly as possible so they can offer sacrifices and plead for God's protection during such a vulnerable time [מצודת דוד, אבן עזרא]. A third approach frames the swift construction as a calculated political strategy. By visibly offering sacrifices right away, they signal to the surrounding nations that they are operating officially under royal authority. This public display is intended to deter the neighbors from sending slanderous reports to the king and halting the future construction of the Temple [רש״י].
Once the altar is in place, the people reinstate the regular daily offerings, which consist of the permanent sacrifices brought consistently every morning and afternoon. A subtle shift in the tradition of how the text is written and read reveals the dynamics of the leadership during this moment [מנחת שי]. Joshua the Priest is the one who personally initiates and performs the first offerings, while his fellow priests actively assist him in the sacred work [אבן עזרא].