Ezra 4:2
Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esar-haddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither. Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esar-haddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.
The verse records the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin, the Samaritans, coming to Zerubbabel and the chief of the fathers while the returned exiles, the children of the captivity, were building the temple unto the Lord God of Israel. They asked to build with them, claiming that they seek Israel's God as Israel does and have sacrificed to Him since Esar-haddon king of Assyria brought them up there to the land. Their profession of seeking and worshiping God was insincere, for their professed friendship did not make them true worshipers or faithful servants. They were adversaries and enemies, having other gods before the Lord, whose faith remained mixed with idolatry. While still reverencing the true God they represented Him by images of wood and stone before which they bowed, and their sacrifices were the sacrifice of wickedness which God does not ask for nor accept, for He does not accept offerings from those who worship other gods.
They had once belonged to Israel but became separated through transgression in neglecting God's statutes, and the Lord let them be overcome by an idolatrous nation whose religion corrupted their own. After disaster and destruction they saw themselves under a curse for apostasy, sought teachers from the Jews, gained clearer views of God and His requirements, and made their service more like that of the Jews. Yet they still clung to idolatry in degree, remained out of harmony with the Jews, disrespected the temple at Jerusalem, and denied it was the true place of worship. Zerubbabel and Joshua and the chief fathers refused the offer of friendship and help and answered that they themselves together would build unto the Lord God of Israel. They chose obedience to God's commands over an alliance that might appear beneficial, for God's people are to trust in Him alone and have nothing to do with those who do not serve Him in building a house unto God. They dared not unite with them in anything relating to His worship, because the Creator needs not the help of His enemies to establish His worship, and He does not accept offerings from those who worship other gods; His servants must trust Him by prayer to defend and prosper them in serving Him.
A claim to worship God does not by itself make an alliance faithful, safe, or right. This flattering offer and flattering inducement from people opposed to God's truth appeared to bring an advantage, but accepting it would have opened the way for idolatry and led to spiritual ruin. The refusal brought weakened hands, trouble in building, hired counsellors to frustrate their purpose, and other obstruction of the work. It deepened hostility into bitter animosity between the two peoples. The Samaritans later built a rival temple on Mount Gerizim where they kept the ceremonies God gave through Moses mixed with idolatry and continued to reject Jerusalem's temple and the Jews' claim to superior worship.