The construction of the Second Temple, a pivotal event in Jewish history, began after the return of the Jewish exiles from Babylonian captivity. This monumental task was initiated under the leadership of Zerubbabel, the appointed governor of Judah, and Jeshua the high priest, during the reign of King Cyrus of Persia. The foundation of the temple was laid amidst great celebration and worship, as recorded in the book of Ezra.

The initial enthusiasm, however, faced significant challenges, leading to a suspension of the building efforts. The primary cause of this interruption was the opposition from the surrounding peoples, particularly the Samaritans. These adversaries sought to hinder the progress by discouraging the builders and by hiring counselors to frustrate their plans. Ezra 4:4-5 states, "Then the people of the land set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to build. They hired counselors against them to frustrate their plans throughout the reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia."

The opposition intensified during the reign of Ahasuerus (Xerxes) and Artaxerxes, as the adversaries wrote accusations against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. In a letter to King Artaxerxes, they claimed that the Jews were rebuilding a rebellious and wicked city, which would lead to the king's loss of control over the region. As a result, Artaxerxes issued a decree to halt the construction, as detailed in Ezra 4:21 : "Now issue an order for these men to stop work, so that this city will not be rebuilt until I so order."

The suspension of the temple's construction lasted for several years, during which the Jewish community faced discouragement and a loss of focus on their divine mission. The prophets Haggai and Zechariah played crucial roles in reigniting the zeal for the temple's completion. Haggai 1:4-5 captures the divine rebuke and call to action: "Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? Now this is what the LORD of Hosts says: 'Think carefully about your ways.'"

Under the prophetic encouragement and the renewed leadership of Zerubbabel and Jeshua, the Jewish people resumed the construction of the temple. The work was eventually completed during the reign of Darius the Great, marking a significant moment of restoration and worship for the Jewish nation.Ezra 4:1
Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity built the temple to the LORD God of Israel;
Nave's Topical Index

In the Meantime, those Jews, Who, as we have Said Above...
... Since he ordered the building of the Jewish city and temple to be stopped,
the work was suspended to the second year of king Darius. ...
/.../severus/life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter ix in the meantime.htm

The Second vision "On Earth"
... verb must be supplied for the second noun, properly ... measuring, while quite appropriate
to building, is incongruous ... is without the Naos (or Temple) cast without ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the second vision on earth.htm

The Shaking of the Heavens and the Earth
... shook the earth; but under the second temple, He would ... But every member of this mystical
temple, being by ... All that they have been building in religion, until ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 1/sermon iii the shaking of.htm

Jesus Defends Disciples who Pluck Grain on the Sabbath.
... From Second Passover Until Third.(Time: One Year.) XXXVIII. ... cleaning of the animals,
and the building of the ... laws of worship in the temple suspended the lower ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xxxviii jesus defends disciples who.htm

Hebrew Captives; Or, Mordecai and Esther.
... and, accordingly, the foundations of the second temple were then ... a community of worship
in the new temple. ... of the prophet Haggai; and the building was resumed ...
/.../headley/half hours in bible lands volume 2/hebrew captives or mordecai and.htm

The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
... the Indian and Iranian, and in the second to account for ... a stable foundation to a
monarch ambitious of building up a ... in the task of completing the temple of E ...
/.../chapter iiithe medes and the.htm

Synagogues: their Origin, Structure and Outward Arrangements
... etc., had been purchased for the building, these could ... and Moses were saved), or
the "hechal" (little temple). ... Sometimes there was also a second press for the ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 16 synagogues their origin.htm

The Patient Workman
... that he can mean by this 'very thing' the second of the ... as a proof that we have
'a building of God ... and intended to have been transported to some great temple. ...
/.../maclaren/romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/the patient workman.htm

A Sermon on Isaiah xxvi. By John Knox.
... appear that Knox was actually suspended from preaching.". ... all things necessary for
the building of the ... Messiah, the glory of the second temple, came, manifested ...
/.../knox/the pulpit of the reformation nos 1 2 and 3 /a sermon on isaiah xxvi.htm

'Until that Day'
... I saw no temple therein.' Temples ... of its own being pulled down when the building
is reared ... griefs and limitations of the present are perhaps our second-best way ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/until that day.htm

What is the temple tax? | GotQuestions.org

How many times did Jesus cleanse the temple? Why did He cleanse the temple? | GotQuestions.org

What was the significance of the temple veil being torn in two when Jesus died? | GotQuestions.org

Temple: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus