Ezra 4:24
Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia. Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
The work of the house of God at Jerusalem ceased completely and so remained stopped unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia. The stoppage was forced by Samaritan opposition employing hostility, slander, and discouragement, carried on under a pretense of loyalty to Persia's king, to secure discontinuance of the work. The earlier rebuilding efforts had also failed through the Jews' own lack of true faith and united effort.
The suspension took place under Smerdis the usurper. When Darius came to the throne he removed the prohibition against the work. Even after the prohibition was lifted the people still delayed rebuilding, wrongly saying the appointed time had not come while they built houses for themselves.