When the exiles came back from Babylon the first order of business in the mind of the prophets was re-building of the temple. Let the governor and the elders of the Jews continue the work on that house of God; they are to rebuild it on its former site. However, the returning exiles had as their priority to re-build their lives, to create a new home, to plant their own garden, to have a place to raise their children. Re-building the temple was a luxury that they thought they could get to in time. The prophets thought otherwise — they thought that placing everything in God’s hands was the best way to create safe environment for the people. There is some evidence that the resources to rebuild the temple came, in large part, from those exiles who stayed in Babylon, whose homes and livelihoods were secure. Did they feel guilty about not returning to Israel? In any case the second temple was dedicated within 25 years of the return.
