Ezra 3: The Beginning of Sacrifice

By 520 B.C.E., despite the fact that the Temple had still not been rebuilt, sacrifice began, as explained in this excerpt from the book of Ezra.

3-1 When the seventh month arrived—the Israelites being settled in their towns—the entire people assembled as one man in Jerusalem. 2 Then Jeshua son of Jozadak 52 and his brother priests, and Zerubabbel son of Shealtiel and his brothers set to and built the altar of the God of Israel to offer burnt offerings upon it as is written in the Teaching of Moses (Torah), the man of God. 3 They set up the altar on its site because they were in fear of the peoples of the land, and they offered burnt offerings each morning and evening. 4 Then they celebrated the festival of Tabernacles as is written, with its daily burnt offerings in the proper quantities, on each day as is prescribed for it, 5 followed by the regular burnt offering and the offerings of the new moons and for all the sacred fixed times of the Lord, and whatever freewill offerings were made to the Lord. 6 From the first day of the seventh month they began to make burnt offerings to the Lord, though the foundation of the Temple of the Lord had not been laid. 7 They paid the hewers and craftsmen with money, and the Sidonians and Tyrians with food, drink, and oil to bring cedarwood from Lebanon by sea to Joppa, in accord with the authorization granted them by King Cyrus of Persia.

52. The high priest.