Ezra 4:2

Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chiefe of the fathers, and said vnto them, Let vs build with you, for wee seeke your God, as yee doe, and we doe sacrifice vnto him, since the dayes of Esar-Haddon king of Assur, which brought vs vp hither. Ezra 4:2 (KJV)

Context: The book of Ezra recounts the events that took place after the Israelites were allowed to return from exile in Babylon to Jerusalem. The people of Judah, under the leadership of Zerubbabel, had begun the task of rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem, but they faced opposition from the people living in the land.

Request to Join: In this verse, a group of local inhabitants approaches Zerubbabel, who was leading the rebuilding effort, along with the other leaders. They expressed their desire to join the Israelites in the construction project, saying, “Let us build with you.”

Claiming a Common Faith: The people who approached Zerubbabel claimed that they sought the same God as the Israelites and offered sacrifices to Him. They mentioned that they have sacrificed unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, the king who brought them up hither.

Background and Identity of the People: These individuals were not Israelites but were residents of the region—some possibly descended from peoples who had settled there earlier. The Scripture does not specify that they were descendants of those resettled by Esarhaddon.

The Reaction of Zerubbabel and the Leaders: The leaders responded by stating that they would build a house for their own God, saying, “Ye have nothing to do with us to build a house unto our God, but we ourselves together will build unto the Lord God of Israel” (Ezra 4:3, KJV), effectively declining the offer.