Ezra 3-4

“But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers' houses in Israel said to them, "You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God; but we alone will build to the LORD” (4:3). The leaders of the Jewish exiles understood that the rebuilding of God’s temple was a spiritual as well as physical project.  They had been exiled from Israel because of disobedience to God; they had only returned because of God’s mercy.  Therefore, they did not want “help” from unreliable, ungodly sources (v2-4).  

“And all the people shouted with a great shout,” because God was still at work among His people.  His steadfast love endures forever (3:11).