In Ezra 4, adversaries of the Jews attempted to hinder the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. When the people of Judah and Benjamin began construction, the neighboring inhabitants, who claimed to worship the same God, approached them and offered assistance. However, the leaders of the Jews discerned their true intentions and declined their support.
The adversaries then conspired against the people of Judah and troubled them throughout the reign of Cyrus, the king of Persia, until the reign of Darius. During this time, they wrote letters to the king, falsely accusing the Jews of rebellion and insurrection. As a result, the work on the temple ceased.
The king, upon receiving the accusations, ordered an investigation into the matter. After examining the records, it was discovered that indeed the Jews had a history of rebellion, which led to the destruction of Jerusalem in the past. Consequently, the king commanded that the construction of the temple be stopped until further notice.
The opposition of the adversaries successfully halted the rebuilding of the temple for many years, causing great distress to the Jewish community.