64
But many with trumpets and joy shouted with loud voice,
65
insomuch that the trumpets might not be heard for the weeping of the people; yet the multitude sounded marvelously, so that it was heard afar off.
66
Therefore when the enemies of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin heard it, they came to know what that noise of trumpets should mean.
67
And they perceived that those who were of the captivity were building the temple unto the Lord God of Israel.
68
So they went to Zerubbabel and Jeshua and to the chief of the families, and said unto them, "We will build together with you.
69
For we likewise, as ye, do obey your Lord, and do sacrifice unto Him from the days of Esarhaddon the king of the Assyrians, who brought us hither."
70
Then Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the chief of the families of Israel said unto them, "It is not for us and you to build together a house unto the Lord our God.
71
We ourselves alone will build unto the Lord of Israel, according as Cyrus the king of the Persians hath commanded us."
72
But the heathen of the land, laying heavily upon the inhabitants of Judea and holding them straitened, hindered their building;
73
and by their secret plots and popular persuasions and commotions, they hindered the finishing of the building all the time that King Cyrus lived. So they were hindered from building for the space of two years, until the reign of Darius.