Ezra 4:3-5

Expanded Bible

³ But Zerubbabel, Jeshua [3:2], and the ·leaders [^Lheads of the fathers] of Israel answered, “You will ·not help us build [have no part in building] a ·Temple [^Lhouse] to our God. We will build it ·ourselves [alone] for the Lord, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia, commanded us to do [1:2–4].”

⁴ Then the people around them tried to discourage the people of Judah by making them afraid to build. ⁵ Their enemies ·hired others [bribed officials] to ·delay [frustrate] the building plans ·during [throughout] the time Cyrus was king of Persia. And it continued to the time Darius was king of Persia [^C522–486 bc].