Ezra 3:3

3:3 They established the altar on its foundations, even though they were in terror of the local peoples, ¹  and they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord, both the morning and the evening offerings.

Ezra 4:5

4:5 They were hiring advisers to oppose them, so as to frustrate their plans, throughout the time ²  of King Cyrus of Persia until the reign of King Darius ³  of Persia. ⁴ 

[3:3]  ¹ tn Heb “the peoples of the lands.”

[4:5]  ² tn Heb “all the days of.”

[4:5]  ³ sn Darius ruled Persia ca. 522-486 B.C.

[4:5]  ⁴ sn The purpose of the opening verses of this chapter is to summarize why the Jews returning from the exile were unable to complete the rebuilding of the temple more quickly than they did. The delay was due not to disinterest on their part but to the repeated obstacles that had been placed in their path by determined foes.