66. The enemies of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin heard the sound of the trumpets and came to see what it meant.
67. When they learnt that those who had returned from exile were rebuilding the Temple of the Lord, the God of Israel,
68. they went to Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the heads of the clans, and said, “Let us join you in building the Temple.
69. We worship the same Lord you worship and we have been offering sacrifices to him ever since Esarhaddon, emperor of Assyria, sent us here to live.”
70. Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the heads of clans said to them, “We don't need your help in building the Temple for the Lord our God.
71. We will build it ourselves, just as Cyrus, emperor of Persia, commanded us.”