The passage also makes two motivations explicit: (1) they act “as it is written in the law of Moses,” and (2) they proceed even while fearing surrounding peoples. Their worship is described as orderly and ongoing, marked by the “morning and evening” rhythm.

Where interpretation differs (only where needed)

Two details draw different readings.

First, “they set the altar on its base” can be read as restoring it on the earlier, established site (continuity with pre-exile worship), or as setting it securely on a newly prepared foundation (stability and readiness, without claiming the exact old footprint).

Second, “fear was on them because of the peoples of the countries” can be read as fear of direct hostility (including possible violence) or as broader insecurity and pressure from surrounding populations (political, social, or economic).

Why the disagreement exists

The Hebrew phrase behind “on its base” is brief and can describe either reusing an older platform or setting something firmly in place. Similarly, the line about fear names the source (surrounding peoples) but does not spell out the specific form the threat took.

What this passage clearly contributes

Explicitly, the passage shows the community re-centering life around altar worship before any large construction project is described. It also frames this as obedience to “what is written” in Moses’ law and as a public act carried out under real vulnerability. Theologically by inference, it suggests that restored worship—structured, communal, and led by recognized leaders—was treated as foundational for the return, even when external circumstances felt unstable.