The neighboring peoples harassed them.
Because the prophet Haggai told them, in the name of God, to do so.
Haggai was a prophet who along with Zechariah encouraged the returned Jewish exiles to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile 2500 years ago. Based on verse 2:3 in the book of Haggai, he may have directly witnessed the destruction of Solomon's temple.
Apparently, zero. He was accompanied by Jewish exiles who returned with him, but not by troops (Ezra ch.8).
He encouraged the returned Jewish exiles to finish rebuilding the Temple. He also provided fore-gleams of the Messiah's coming and rule.
The tradition is that it was Cyrus the Great, king of Persia. Additionally: King Cyrus of Persia made a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple. The construction of the Temple continued under King Darius and was completed in 516 BCE. (Ezra 6:15).
Babylonian Exile.
Cyrus the Great.
Around 455 miles.
They were persecuted by the local foreign nations and the Samaritans.
Zerubbabel returned to Jerusalem in 538 BCE, following the decree of Cyrus the Great, which allowed the Jewish exiles to return to their homeland after the Babylonian captivity. He played a crucial role in the rebuilding of the Temple, often referred to as the Second Temple, which began shortly after his arrival. Zerubbabel is a key figure in the post-exilic period of Jewish history.
King Artaxerxes, a ruler of the Persian Empire, is best known for his decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their temple, as recorded in the biblical book of Ezra. This order, issued around 458 BCE, aimed to restore the Jewish community and their religious practices following the Babylonian exile. It marked a significant moment in Jewish history, as it facilitated the re-establishment of their identity and worship in their ancestral homeland.
The letter granting permission to continue the construction of the Second Temple was written by King Cyrus the Great of Persia. After conquering Babylon, Cyrus issued a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple, as recorded in the biblical book of Ezra. This act was pivotal in the restoration of Jewish worship and community in their homeland.