Ezra 4 (résumé): Opposition to the rebuilding of the Temple

When the enemies of Judah heard about the rebuilding of the temple they offered to help, but they were turned down. So the enemies set about to discourage the people of Judah and to make them afraid of continuing to build, and they bribed officials to try and thwart the work.

Later on at the beginning of the reign of Xerxes these enemies made an accusation against Judah to King Artaxerxes saying that the returned exiles were trouble makers and rebellious and that the royal revenues would suffer if they were allowed to reestablish themselves. King Artaxerxes reviewed the matter and agreed with the complaint. He therefore commanded the Jews to halt their rebuilding work and it stopped until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.