The Ecclesiastical History of Sozomen by Hermias Sozomen

Besides this motive, the Jews themselves were impelled by the consideration that the time had arrived for rebuilding their Temple. Although the pagans were not well-disposed towards the Jews, yet they assisted them in this enterprise, because they reckoned upon its ultimate success, and hoped by this means to falsify the prophecies of Christ. The emperor, the other pagans, and all the Jews, regarded every other undertaking as secondary in importance to this.

They sought for the most skillful artisans, collected materials, cleared the ground, and entered so earnestly upon the task, that even the women carried heaps of earth, and brought their necklaces and other female ornaments towards defraying the expense. The Jews entered upon the undertaking, without reflecting that, according to the prediction of the holy prophets, it could not be accomplished. On their replying that because the Temple in Jerusalem was overturned, it was neither lawful nor ancestral to do this in another place than the metropolis out of which they had been cast, he gave them public money, commanded them to rebuild the Temple, and to practice the cult similar to that of their ancestors, by sacrificing after the ancient way. Events proved that this was his real motive for he sent for some of the chiefs of the race and exhorted them to return to the observance of the laws of Moses and the customs of their fathers. But perhaps he also calculated upon persuading the Jews to embrace paganism and sacrifices for they were only acquainted with the mere letter of Scripture, and could not, like the Christians and a few of the wisest among the Hebrews, discern the hidden meaning. In taking this step he was not actuated, I am convinced, by any respect for their religion for he was aware that it is, so to speak, the mother of the Christian religion, and he knew that both religions rest upon the authority of the patriarchs and the prophets but he thought to grieve the Christians by favoring the Jews, who are their most inveterate enemies. He wrote to the Jewish patriarchs and leaders, as well as to the people, requesting them to pray for him, and for the prosperity of the empire. Though the emperor hated and opressed the Christians, he manifested benevolence and humanity towards the Jews.

The Ecclesiastical History of Sozomen by Hermias Sozomen