Bible Commentaries
Haggai 1

Verse 1

In the second year. See note on p. 1276.

Darius = Darius (Hystaspis). See App-67 ; and notes on Ezra and Nehemiah.

the king. In Aramaic and later books these words follow the name. In the earlier O.T. books they nearly always precede it. Compare "king David", "king Hezekiah", &c.

sixth month. Elul, our August-September.

the first day, &c. Therefore the feast-day or Sabbath of the full moon.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

by = by the hand of. The Hebrew idiom for God speaking "by the prophets". Reference to Pentateuch, where the expression occurs thirteen times (Exodus 9:35 ; Exodus 35:29 . Leviticus 8:36 ; Leviticus 10:11 ; Leviticus 26:46 . Numbers 4:37 , Numbers 4:45 ; Numbers 9:23 ; Numbers 10:13 ; Numbers 15:23 ; Numbers 16:40 ; Numbers 27:23 ; Numbers 36:13 ). Compare the five occurrences in Joshua ( Hag 14:2 ; Hag 20:2 ; Hag 21:2 , Hag 21:8 ; Hag 22:9 ). Judges 3:4 . 2 Samuel 12:25 . 1Ki 8:53 , 1 Kings 8:56 ; 1 Kings 12:15 ; 1Ki 14:18 ; 1 Kings 15:29 ; 1 Kings 16:7 ; 1Ki 17:16 . 2 Kings 14:25 . 2 Chronicles 10:15 ; 2 Chronicles 23:18 ; 2 Chronicles 29:25 .Nehemiah 9:14 .Isaiah 20:2 .Jeremiah 37:2 , &c.

Haggai. Hebrew. Haggai from Hag = feast, or festival.

Zerubbabel. Hebrew = sown in Babylon; because he was of the royal seed of Judah born (or seed sown) in Babylon. Compare 1 Chronicles 3:19 . Ezra 2:2 ; Ezra 3:2 . See App-99 .

son. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Genus), App-6 , for grandson.

Shealtiel. Hebrew = asked for from God. The son of Jeconiah (= Jehoiachin), who was taken captive to Babylon (2 Kings 24:15 . 1 Chronicles 3:17 ). Compare Ezra 3:2 , Ezra 3:8 ; Ezra 5:2 .Nehemiah 12:1 .Matthew 1:12 .Luke 3:27 . See App-99 .

governor. Ruling Judea as a Persian province, with a Persian title pechah, from which we have the modern pasha = prefect, or satrap.

Joshua. The first high priest after the return. See Haggai 1:12 , Haggai 1:14 ; Haggai 2:2 , Haggai 2:4 .Zechariah 3:1 , Zechariah 3:3 , Zechariah 3:8 , Zechariah 3:9 ; Zechariah 6:11 . Spelled "Josuah" in the 1611 edition of the Authorized Version.

Josedech. Hebrew = Jehovah is righteous.

Verse 2

the LORD of hosts. See note on 1 Samuel 1:3 .

This People. Not Zerubbabel or Joshua.

time. Repeated here and in Haggai 1:4 for emphasis.

not. Septuagint reads "not yet".

Verse 4

you, O ye . Hebrew Figure of speech Epizeuxis ( App-6 ), for emphasis = you, even you, or that ye yourselves.

ceiled = panelled. Used of the lining of an arched roof. Occurs in 1Ki 6:9 ; 1 Kings 7:3 , 1 Kings 7:7 . Jeremiah 22:14 . Showing that their houses were not only roofed, but wainscotted or decorated. Hebrew = "in your houses [and that too] panelled". Compare David (2 Samuel 7:2 .Psalms 132:3; Psalms 132:3 ). This proves that the Temple had not then been commenced. Compare Haggai 1:9 . See notes on Nehemiah 7:4 , and longer note on Nehemiah 2:1 , Nehemiah 5:14 , Nehemiah 13:4 . Also App-58 .

Verse 5

Consider = Set your heart on, or give your attention to. Occurs five times m this hook (Haggai 1:5 , Haggai 1:7 ; Haggai 2:15 , Haggai 2:18 , Haggai 2:18 ). Compare Job 1:8 ; Job 2:3 .Isaiah 41:22 .

your ways: i.e. the ways in which ye have been led, your experiences which are detailed in the next verse.

Verse 6

Ye have sown, &c Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 28:38 , Deuteronomy 28:39 ). App-92 .

have not enough = are not satisfied. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:26 ). App-92 .

Verse 8

mountain = hill country.

take pleasure = he pleased therewith.

I will be glorified = I will get Me honour. Hebrew text has 'ekkabda. This is one in a list of twenty-nine words which are without the letter He (= H) at the end (see Ginshurg's Massorah, vol. I, p. 281). App-30 . This letter = five ( App-10 ), and later Talmudists regard it as betokening the fact that five things were lacking in the second Temple, viz.: (1) the ark; (2) the sacred fire; (3) the Shekinah; (4) the Urim and Thummim; and (5) the spirit of prophecy. This list is to safeguard ( App-93 ) the other occurrences of the word, which have this letter at the end, among them being Exodus 14:4 , Exodus 14:17 . These constitute a reference to Pent, with Leviticus 10:3 (which, like Haggai 1:8 , is without the). App-92 .

saith the LORD = hath said Jehovah.

Verse 9

saith the LORD of hosts = [is] the oracle of Jehovah Sabaioth.

Verse 10

the heaven, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:19 . Deuteronomy 28:23 ). App-92 .

dew. See note on Psalms 133:3 .

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ), emphasizing each item which is particularized here, and in Haggai 1:11 .

Verse 11

new wine. Hebrew. tirosh. App-27 .

that which. Some codices, with Aram, and Syriac, read "all which".

Verse 12

the remnant: which had returned from Babylon. Compare Haggai 1:14 ; Haggai 2:2 , &c.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

as = according as. Some codices, with a special various reading called Sevir ( App-34 ), one early printed edition, and Syriac, read "with which".

sent him. Some codices, with Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulg, read "sent him unto them". Compare Jeremiah 43:1 .

Verse 13

the LORD'Smessenger, &c. = the messenger of Jehovah in the message of Jehovah.

message. Hebrew word Occurs only here.

Verse 14

spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 . Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for the state of mind and feeling, &c. Compare 1 Chronicles 5:26 . 2Ch 21:16 ; 2 Chronicles 36:22 (= Ezra 1:1 ). Jeremiah 51:11 .

they came. See Ezra 3:1 , &c.

Verse 15

In the, &c. This reads on from Haggai 1:14 , giving the date when Haggai's message took effect about three weeks later. It is not the commencement of another message, as some have supposed. See note on p. 1276.