Charles Ellicott Commentary Ezra 4:24

"Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem; and it ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia." — Ezra 4:24 (ASV)

The second year. —The record here returns to Ezra 4:5, with more specific indication of time. The suspension of the general enterprise—called “the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem”—lasted nearly two years. But it must be remembered that the altar was still the centre of a certain amount of worship.