Jerusalem, at this time, was in ruins. The Chaldeans from Babylon had broken down the walls, destroyed the palaces, and burnt the temple. The inhabitants had been carried away captive. For seventy years the land had been desolate. Now, a relatively small number of the exiles had returned. They set up an altar and began to worship God again in Jerusalem. They started to build the temple, but became discouraged. They were few in number. They had nothing like the resources which Solomon had when he built the first temple. They were surrounded by enemies who tried to frighten them and stop the work.