41 Now when the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the people of the exile were building a temple to the Lord God of Israel , 2 they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of fathers' households, and said to them, "Let us build with you, for we, like you, seek your God ; and we have been sacrificing to Him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria , who brought us up here ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ezra 4:1-2
Commentary on Ezra 4:1-5
(Read Ezra 4:1-5)
Every attempt to revive true religion will stir up the opposition of Satan, and of those in whom he works. The adversaries were the Samaritans, who had been planted in the land of Israel, 2 Kings 17. It was plain that they did not mean to unite in the worship of the Lord, according to his word. Let those who discourage a good work, and weaken them that are employed in it, see whose pattern they follow.