The messages delivered by Haggai and Zechariah roused the people to put forth every possible effort for the rebuilding of the temple; but, as they worked, they were sadly harassed by the Samaritans and others who devised many hindrances. On one occasion the provincial officers of the Medo-Persian realm visited Jerusalem and requested the name of the one who had authorized the restoration of the building. If at that time the Jews had not been trusting in the Lord for guidance, this inquiry might have resulted disastrously to them. "But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius." Ezra 5:5. The officers were answered so wisely that they decided to write a letter to Darius Hystaspes, then the ruler of Medo-Persia, directing his attention to the original decree made by Cyrus, which commanded that the house of God at Jerusalem be rebuilt, and that the expenses for the same be paid from the king's treasury. 579

De budskaber, som Haggaj og Zakarias overbragte folket, ruskede dem op og fik dem til at sætte alt ind på at genopbygge templet. Mens de var beskæftiget med dette arbejde, lagde samaritanerne og deres øvrige fjender uafbrudt hindringer i vejen. Ved en bestemt lejlighed aflagde nogle medo-persiske embedsmænd besøg i Jerusalem og bad om at få opgivet navnet på den person, der havde givet folket tilladelse til at genopbygge templet. Hvis jøderne ikke havde stolet på Herrens ledelse i dette øjeblik, kunne denne henvendelse være blevet skæbnesvanger for dem. "Men over jødernes ældste vågede deres Guds øje, så de ikke standsede dem i arbejdet, før sagen var forelagt Darius." Ezra 5,5. Embedsmændene fik et så forstandigt svar, at de besluttede at skrive et brev til Medo-Persiens daværende konge Darius Hystaspes for at henlede hans opmærksomhed på Kyros oprindelige befaling om, at Guds hus i Jerusalem skulle genopbygges og omkostningerne udredes af kongens hus.