Ezra 1-4

It took me about 15 minutes to read this passage. The beginning of Ezra's story is an emotional rolller-coaster. Though the exact time frames isn't laid out, I can see the anticipation for the work of rebuilding the temple by the people of Israel, and the anxiety about this effort by the peoples surrounding Jerusalem. Eventually the work of rebuilding was halted by the political talk of those opposed to God's command. Though the text doesn't say so, the returned exiles apparently complied to this order without an appeal to the king. Maybe they were intimidated by the show of physical force by their enemies. Regardless, it resulted in a halt to the work.
Stuart