Why was the temple built by Ezra and Nehemiah not as beautiful as Solomon's temple?
The restored temple built by Ezra and Nehemiah was not as beautiful as Solomon's because Ezra and Nehemiah had only limited resources. With what they possessed, they could not construct a temple matching Solomon's earlier splendor. It remained a restored but less magnificent structure until King Herod later remodeled and enlarged it.
Les explains that after the Babylonian captivity, a remnant returned, and by 400 B.C. the temple was restored under Ezra and Nehemiah. Because they worked with limited resources, they could not make a beautiful temple like Solomon did. Later King Herod, though not a believer, was known as a tremendous builder in antiquity. He took it upon himself to remodel and enlarge that little ramshackle temple of Ezra and Nehemiah, making it a wonder of the ancient world on Mount Moriah.