66
We also obey your Lord, and we have been giving offerings to him ever since the days of Assyria's King Esarhaddon, who transported us here."
67
Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the leaders of the family houses in Israel, however, said to them, "We will have nothing to do with each other in building the house for the Lord our God.
68
We alone will build it for the Lord of Israel, just as Persia's King Cyrus commanded us."
69
But the neighboring peoples harassed the Judeans and hindered their rebuilding.
70
By scheming, spreading lies among the people, and stirring up trouble, they prevented the completion of the rebuilding as long as King Cyrus lived.