1;  The adversaries, being not accepted in the building of the
     temple with the Jews, endeavour to hinder it.
  7;  Their letter to Artaxerxes.
 17;  The answer and decree of Artaxerxes.
 23;  The building is hindered.

 * the adversaries.
   These were the Samaritans, the descendants of the various
   nations with which the kings of Assyria had peopled Israel,
   when they had carried the original inhabitants captive.

  7:9  1Ki 5:4,5  1Ch 22:9,10  Ne 4:1-11  Da 9:25  1Co 16:9 
 * children of the captivity.  Heb. sons of the transportation.
  1:11  *marg: 
  6:16,19,20  10:7,16  Da 5:13