Haggai 1
A Call to Build the House of the LORD
1In the second year of King Darius,a on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggaib to Zerubbabelc son of Shealtiel, governord of Judah, and to Joshuae son of Jozadak,,f the high priest:g
2This is what the LORD Almightyh says: “These peoplei say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the LORD’s house.j’ ”
3Then the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai:k 4“Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses,l while this house remains a ruin?m”
5Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thoughtn to your ways. 6You have planted much, but harvested little.o You eat, but never have enough.p You drink, but never have your fill.q You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages,r only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”
7This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thoughts to your ways. 8Go up into the mountains and bring down timbert and build my house, so that I may take pleasureu in it and be honored,v” says the LORD. 9“You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little.w What you brought home, I blewx away. Why?” declares the LORD Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin,y while each of you is busy with your own house. 10Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheldz their dewa and the earth its crops.b 11I called for a droughtc on the fields and the mountains,d on the grain, the new wine,e the olive oilf and everything else the ground produces, on people and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.g”
12Then Zerubbabelh son of Shealtiel, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and the whole remnanti of the people obeyedj the voice of the LORD their God and the message of the prophet Haggai, because the LORD their God had sent him. And the people fearedk the LORD.
13Then Haggai,l the LORD’s messenger,m gave this message of the LORD to the people: “I am withn you,” declares the LORD. 14So the LORD stirred upo the spirit of Zerubbabelp son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jozadak,q the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnantr of the people. They came and began to work on the house of the LORD Almighty, their God, 15on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month.s
The Promised Glory of the New House
In the second year of King Darius,t
Haggai 2
1on the twenty-first day of the seventh month,a the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai:b 2“Speak to Zerubbabelc son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jozadak,,d the high priest, and to the remnante of the people. Ask them, 3‘Who of you is left who saw this housef in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing?g 4But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the LORD. ‘Be strong,h Joshua son of Jozadak,i the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the LORD, ‘and work. For I am withj you,’ declares the LORD Almighty. 5‘This is what I covenantedk with you when you came out of Egypt.l And my Spiritm remains among you. Do not fear.’n
6“This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘In a little whileo I will once more shake the heavens and the earth,p the sea and the dry land. 7I will shake all nations, and what is desiredq by all nations will come, and I will fill this houser with glory,s’ says the LORD Almighty. 8‘The silver is mine and the goldt is mine,’ declares the LORD Almighty. 9‘The gloryu of this present housev will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,w’ declares the LORD Almighty.”
Blessings for a Defiled People
10On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month,x in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Haggai: 11“This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Ask the priestsy what the law says: 12If someone carries consecrated meatz in the fold of their garment, and that fold touches some bread or stew, some wine, olive oil or other food, does it become consecrated?a’ ”
The priests answered, “No.”
13Then Haggai said, “If a person defiled by contact with a dead body touches one of these things, does it become defiled?”
“Yes,” the priests replied, “it becomes defiled.b”
14Then Haggai said, “ ‘So it is with this peoplec and this nation in my sight,’ declares the LORD. ‘Whatever they do and whatever they offerd there is defiled.
15“ ‘Now give careful thoughte to this from this day on—consider how things were before one stone was laidf on another in the LORD’s temple.g 16When anyone came to a heaph of twenty measures, there were only ten. When anyone went to a wine vati to draw fifty measures, there were only twenty.j 17I struck all the work of your handsk with blight,l mildew and hail,m yet you did not returnn to me,’ declares the LORD.o 18‘From this day on, from this twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, give careful thoughtp to the day when the foundationq of the LORD’s temple was laid. Give careful thought: 19Is there yet any seed left in the barn? Until now, the vine and the fig tree, the pomegranater and the olive tree have not borne fruit.s
“ ‘From this day on I will blesst you.’ ”
Zerubbabel the LORD’s Signet Ring
20The word of the LORD came to Haggaiu a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month:v 21“Tell Zerubbabelw governor of Judah that I am going to shakex the heavens and the earth. 22I will overturny royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms.z I will overthrow chariotsa and their drivers; horses and their ridersb will fall, each by the sword of his brother.c
23“ ‘On that day,d’ declares the LORD Almighty, ‘I will take you, my servante Zerubbabelf son of Shealtiel,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will make you like my signet ring,g for I have chosen you,’ declares the LORD Almighty.”
1 1:1 Hebrew Jehozadak, a variant of Jozadak; also in verses 12 and 14
1 2:2 Hebrew Jehozadak, a variant of Jozadak; also in verse 4
2 2:15 Or to the days past
1:1 second year . . . first day . . . sixth month. Aug. 29, 520 bc. King Darius. Darius Hystaspes ruled Persia from 522 to 486 bc (see chart). It was he who prepared the trilingual inscription on the Behistun cliff wall (located in modern Iran), through which cuneiform inscriptions were deciphered and the culture and history of ancient Mesopotamia were brought to light. first day. The New Moon was the day on which prophets were sometimes consulted (see 2Ki 4:22–23 and note on 4:23; see also note on Isa 1:14). word of the LORD. See v. 3; 2:2; Hos 1:1 and note. prophet. See note on Zec 1:1. Zerubbabel. See note on Ezr 1:8 (“Sheshbazzar”). son of Shealtiel. See 1Ch 3:17–19 and note on 3:19. governor . . . high priest. The civil and religious leaders of the restored Jewish community. Joshua. See note on Ezr 2:2; mentioned with Zerubbabel also in vv. 12,14; 2:2,4. Jozadak. Had been taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar (1Ch 6:15).
1:2 LORD Almighty. Used more than 90 times in Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi. See notes on 1Sa 1:3; Isa 13:4. These people. See 2:14. Because of their sin, the nation is not called “my people” (see Isa 6:9–10; 8:6,11–12; Jer 14:10–11; see also notes on Ex 17:4; Hos 1:9). time has not yet come. After the foundation of the temple had been laid in 536 bc (Ezr 3:8–10), the people became discouraged and halted the work until 520 (Ezr 4:1–5,24).
1:4 paneled houses. Usually connected with royal dwellings, which had cedar paneling (see 1Ki 7:3, 7; Jer 22:14–15 and note on 22:14). They had wrong priorities.
1:5 Give careful thought. Repeated in v. 7; 2:15,18.
1:6 planted much . . . harvested little. A “futility” curse for disobedience (Dt 28:38–39). Lev 26:20 also describes the unfruitfulness of a land judged by God. The people experience futility in all their activities, legitimate or illegitimate (cf. Hos 4:10–11; Mic 6:13–15). purse with holes. Famine causes prices to rise sharply.
1:8 mountains . . . timber. Perhaps wood from nearby hills was to supplement the cedar wood already purchased from Lebanon (Ezr 3:7). take pleasure in it. And in the sacrifices offered there (contrast Isa 1:11). be honored. An obedient nation would bring praise and honor to God (Jer 13:11).
1:10 dew. Normally abundant in the growing season, and often as valuable as rain (see 2Sa 1:21; 1Ki 17:1).
1:11 mountains. The hills were cultivated, especially through terracing (Ps 104:13–15; Isa 7:25; Joel 3:18). the grain, the new wine, the olive oil. The three basic crops of the land, often mentioned in a context of blessing or cursing (see Dt 7:13; Joel 1:10 and notes). Olive oil was used as food, ointment and medicine. people and livestock. The drought affected people and cattle and so could be said to be “on” them too.
1:14 stirred up the spirit. The Hebrew for this expression is translated “(whose) heart (God) had moved” in Ezr 1:5, where God stirred up many of these same people to return home and rebuild the temple.
1:15 twenty-fourth day of the sixth month. Sept. 21, 520 bc.
2:1 twenty-first day of the seventh month. Oct. 17, 520 bc, the last day of the Festival of Tabernacles. It was a time to celebrate the summer harvest (Lev 23:34–43), though the crops were meager (see 1:11; cf. Jn 7:37). Solomon had dedicated his temple during this festival (see 1Ki 8:2 and note).
2:3 is left. Some of the older exiles (perhaps including Haggai himself) had seen Solomon’s magnificent temple, destroyed by the Babylonians 66 years earlier. this house in its former glory. See vv. 7,9. Zerubbabel’s temple was considered a continuation of Solomon’s. seem . . . like nothing. Cf. the reaction when the foundation of the temple was finished (Ezr 3:12). They had a wrong perspective.
2:4 be strong . . . work. David used these words in 1Ch 28:20 when he encouraged Solomon to build the temple. The Lord had exhorted Joshua, son of Nun, with similar words (Jos 1:6–7, 9,18). be strong . . . Be strong. . . . Be strong. See note on Jer 7:4. I am with you. See 1:13 and note; 1Ch 28:20. The same God who helped Solomon will empower Zerubbabel and the people.
2:5 what I covenanted. The promise of God’s presence is at the heart of his covenant with Israel (see Ex 40:34 and note). my Spirit. The Holy Spirit had rested on Moses and the 70 elders as they had led the people out of Egypt and through the wilderness (Nu 11:16–17, 25; Isa 63:11). See also Ps 51:11; Zec 4:6 and notes. Do not fear. See notes on v. 4; Jos 1:18; Isa 41:10.
2:6 An announcement of the coming day of God’s judgment on the nations—which the fall of Persia to Alexander the Great (333–330 bc) would foreshadow. Heb 12:26–27 relates this verse to the judgment of the nations at the second coming of Christ. The background for the shaking of the nations here and in vv. 21–22 is the judgment on Egypt at the “Red Sea.” Cf. also Isa 14:16–17.
2:7 desired . . . will come. “Desired” can refer to individuals, as in Da 9:23 (where the same Hebrew verb is translated “highly esteemed”); cf. 1Sa 9:20. Thus it may have Messianic significance (see Da 11:37 and note; Mal 3:1). The same Hebrew word can also refer to articles of value, however (2Ch 20:25; 32:27)—such as the contribution of King Darius to the temple (Ezr 6:8). If that is the intent here, the bringing of the “riches of the nations” to Zion in Isa 60:5 is a close parallel (see note there). fill . . . with glory. “Glory” can refer to material splendor (see Isa 60:7,13 and notes) or to the presence of God (Ex 40:34–35; 1Ki 8:10–11; Eze 10:4). The latter references connect the glory of the Lord with the cloud that filled the sanctuary. When Christ came to the earthly temple in Jerusalem, God’s presence was evident as never before (Mk 11:1–11,15–19; cf. Jn 1:1–18; 2:19–22; and notes on Eze 1:28; 43:2).
2:8 silver . . . gold. Provided for Solomon’s temple (1Ch 29:2,7) and for Zerubbabel’s (Ezr 6:5).
2:9 glory . . . greater. Ultimately because the Messiah would be present there (see v. 7 and note). former house. Solomon’s temple. this place. Perhaps Jerusalem (see Zep 1:4 and note). I will grant peace. Perhaps an allusion to the priestly benediction (see Nu 6:26 and note).
2:10 twenty-fourth day . . . ninth month. Dec. 18, 520 bc—when winter crops were planted.
2:12 consecrated meat. Meat from an animal set apart for a sacrifice. does it become consecrated? A question about transmitting holiness. Consecrated meat made the garment “holy” because it was in direct contact with that garment (Lev 6:27), but the garment could not pass on that holiness to a third object.
2:13 does it become defiled? Ceremonial uncleanness is transmitted much more easily than holiness. Anything touched by an unclean person becomes unclean (Nu 19:11–13,22).
2:14 this people. See 1:2 and note. Whatever they do . . . is defiled. Even though the people were back in the holy land, that holiness did not make them pure. They needed to obey the Lord, particularly with regard to rebuilding the temple. See notes on vv. 12–13.
2:15 before one stone was laid. Before the 24th day of the sixth month (1:14–15).
2:16 heap. Probably of grain (Jer 50:26). only ten . . . only twenty. The poor harvests were related to the sin of the people (see 1:11; Isa 5:10 and note). wine vat. Usually a shallow pit cut into solid rock, into which grape juice flowed when the grapes were trodden and where it was retained until fermentation had begun. The juice was later transferred to jars or skins for further fermentation and storage. See photos here and here.
2:17 blight, mildew. Mentioned as a curse for disobedience in Dt 28:22 (see also 1Ki 8:37; Am 4:9). The blight was probably caused by a scorching east wind (see Ge 41:6 and note). hail. Like that sent to destroy the fields and livestock of Egypt (Ex 9:25; Ps 78:47–48). you did not return. See Am 4:6,8–11.
2:18 when the foundation . . . was laid. The same potential for blessing had existed at the time when the foundation of the temple was laid in 536 bc (Ezr 3:11). This is a warning not to fail again.
2:19 vine . . . fig tree . . . pomegranate . . . olive tree. Grapes, figs and pomegranates ripened in August and September, and olives from September to November. These harvests, like the earlier grain crops, had produced little (see 1:11 and note). I will bless you. Because of their positive response to Haggai’s message, future abundance is assured. Cf. Mal 3:10.
2:21 shake . . . the earth. See v. 6 and note.
2:22 chariots . . . horses . . . riders. Cf. the destruction of the pharaoh’s army at the “Red Sea” (Ex 15:1, 4,19,21). each by . . . his brother. The plight of the armies of Midian (see Jdg 7:22 and note), Gog (see Eze 38:21 and note) and the nations fighting against Jerusalem in the last days (Zec 14:13).
2:23 On that day. The day of the Lord (see Isa 2:11, 17,20; 10:20,27; Joel 1:15; Zec 2:11 and notes). my servant. A term applied to prophets (see Isa 20:3 and note), political leaders (Isa 22:20) and the Messiah (see Isa 41:8–9; 42:1 and notes). signet ring. A kind of seal that functioned as a signature (Est 8:8) and was worn on one’s finger (Est 3:10). Like other seals (see Ge 38:18 and note), it could be used as a pledge or guarantee of full payment. See photo. Its mention here apparently reverses the curse placed on King Jehoiachin in Jer 22:24 (see also Jdg 17:2 and note). Zerubbabel would then be a guarantee that indeed the future glory of the temple will be realized (see vv. 6–7,9; Zec 4:6–7 and notes). chosen you. See Isa 41:8–9; 42:1 and notes.