Who built the second temple in Jerusalem and what problems did they face? How does the book of Esther relate?

Question

Please help... I don't understand the first part, and I can't tell how Esther has anything to do with the restoration of Jews in Jerusalem.

Answer 1

The second temple was constructed by the Jews who returned from the Babylonian captivity. The first attempt came to nothing because of crop failures and bitter feelings between the returning exiles and those who lived on the land during that time.

Another group of exiles arrived led by Zerubbabel last of the line of King David and they built the second temple. Their success probably lay in the fact they had more skilled craftsmen and engineers with them. They also ran into problems fromt he Samaritans who offered to help but when rebuked sought to hinder construction.

Don't know how Esther relates as she lived after the Temple was completed. She did help to save Jews living in Persia from a massacre.