Upon returning to Jerusalem, Ezra and his band of returning exiles rebuild the altar of God and offer burnt offerings upon it. They then celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles, then commenced to rebuild the temple itself. The foundation was laid and the people rejoiced. Many who had seen Solomon's temple before it was destroyed by Babylon wept because this new temple could not compare in size or beauty. But a temple was established to worship God again from Jerusalem!
Those in neighboring kingdoms asked to build alongside Ezra; but these were refused. These pesky neighbors tried to halt the building process by filing law suits against Ezra ... and the work stopped. During the time of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, the people once again began building. Further legal claims were made against the validity of this project; but the people refused to be budged from their labors. A formal request was made of King Darius to see if Cyrus had actually decreed that the temple be rebuilt.
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