Bible Commentaries
Haggai 1

Verses 1-2

CHART

HAGGAI

Book of Challenge To Temple Builders

(Five addresses)

I. A Message of Rebuke and Warning, Haggai 1:1-11.

II. A Message of Commendation, Haggai 1:12-15.

III.A Message of Encouragement, Haggai 2:1-9.

IV.A Message of Purity and Patience, Haggai 2:10-19.

V. A Message Concerning Safety, Haggai 2:20-23.

CHRONOLOGY OF THE REBUILDING OF THE TEMPLE

(The Post-Exile Prophets, Haggai, Zachariah and Malachi)

(A Foreshadow of the More Glorious Temple Yet To Be)

The first step in restoration of Israel’s national life, after her 70 years of captivity in Babylon, 606-586 B.C., was the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem, which began 536 B.C. Ezra 3:10.

Judah had been conquered, Jerusalem burned, the Temple destroyed when the people were carried into captivity; After the 70 years of captivity about 50,000 Jews, by an edict of King Cyrus, returned to their homeland 536 B.C..and began rebuilding the­Temple. But their enemy neighbors caused the work to be interrupted before the foundation had hardly been finished. Fifteen (15) years later Darius, a new King, ascended the Persian throne. Under the preaching of the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah, the Temple work was resumed and completed in four years, 520-516 B.C. About 70 years later the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt by Nehemiah, perhaps in association with Malachi.

Chronology: (Of Temple Reconstruction)

536 B.C. - 50,000 Jews returned to Jerusalem, under governor Zerubbabel.

536 B.C. - 7th month, the altar rebuilt---sacrifice offered.

535 B.C. - 2nd month, Temple work begins, then interrupted.

520 B.C. - 6th month, (Sept.) 1st day, Haggai challenge to resume building.

6th month, 24th day, building resumed.

7th month, (Oct.) 21st day, Haggai’s second message of appeal.

8th month, (Nov.) Zechariah’s opening address.

9th month, (Dec.) 24th day, Haggai’s 3rd and 4th messages.

11th month, (Feb. 24th day, Zechariah’s vision related.

518 B.C. - 9th month, (Dec.) 4th day, Zechariah’s further vision. 516 B.C. - 12th month (Mr) 3rd day, completion of Temple.

515 B.C. - 1st month (Apr.) 14-21, joyful passover observed.

457 B.C. - Ezra came to Jerusalem, instituted numerous reforms.

444 B.C. - Nehemiah rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem--Period of Malachi.

HAGGAI---GENERAL ANALYSIS

WHO SPEAKS?

This book was written by Haggai, tenth of the minor prophets, and first of the three post-exile or post-captivity prophets. Zechariah and Malachi are the other two. His name means "festal one" or "my feast." He is mentioned in 5:1 and 6:4 simply as "Haggai the prophet." He is one of the Jewish exiles who returned to Jerusalem and Judea under Zerubbabel, after 70 years of captivity of the people of Judah, by consent and assistance from Cyrus, king of Persia, about 536 B.C., Isaiah 44:28; Isaiah 45:1. Prophecies and Jewish influence motivated Cyrus to grant a remnant of the Jews to return to Jerusalem and Judea and furnished them people and material to restore the temple, 2 Chronicles 36:23; Ezra 1:1; Ezra 2:2. Little is known of his personal history except that recounted Haggai 1:1; Haggai 2:1; Haggai 2:10; Haggai 2:20; Ezra 5:1; Ezra 6:14.

TO WHOM?

Haggai addressed five messages to Zerubbabel, governor of Judea, and Joshua the high priest and a remnant of exile Jews who were permitted by Cyrus to return to their homeland, about 520 B.C. These messages were delivered over a period of about three months, to hearten, rebuke, and instruct the low morale of the feeble and divided remnant to proceed with the rebuilding of their Temple of worship.

ABOUT WHAT?

The theme of His message was the rebuilding of the Temple forthwith, without further delay, as the chosen, future glory people of God who were destined for a day of victory.

WHEN?

The time was in the second year and sixth month and first day of the reign of Darius, king of Persia, about 520 B.C. Haggai certified "the word of the Lord came to him," that he was delivering it to Zerubbabel, then civil ruler of Judah, and to Joshua, high priest and appointed religious leader of the religious activities of the returned Jewish remnant in Israel, Haggai 1:1.

WHAT WAS THE OCCASION?

Sixteen years had passed since the Jews, under Zerubbabel returned to Jerusalem, 536 B.C., began repairing the Temple, then interrupted it after seven months. Then in the 6th month (September) 520 B.C. he began challenging the people to rebuild the Temple with Holy Pride.

HAGGAI - CHAPTER 1

OCCASION AND THEME OF THE BOOK

Verses 1, 2:

Verse 1 sets forth the specific time of the events of the rebuilding of the Temple. It was about 520 B.C., in the second year of the reign of Darius, king of Medo-Persia; This was second of the world empires. Cyrus had overthrown Babylon, to establish the Persian Empire. On the first day of the sixth month (Dec.), the word of the Lord came to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua, the high priest of the Jews, by the mouth of Haggai, the prophet of the Lord, Jehovah. God was the real speaker. Haggai was His spokesman, Acts 7:35; Galatians 3:19. Zerubabbel is also known as Sheshbazzar, Ezra 1:8; Ezra 5:14-15. Thus Haggai the prophet, Joshua the priest, and Zerubbabel the civil ruler, were jointly testifying in God’s name as they led the Jews in rebuilding the Temple, Haggai 2:10; Ezra 4:24; Zechariah 1:1; Zechariah 1:7; See also Ezra 5:1; Ezra 6:14; 1 Chronicles 3:19; Ezra 2:2; Zechariah 4:6; Matthew 1:12-13; Ezra 3:2; Nehemiah 12:1; Zechariah 3:1-5; Zechariah 6:11-12. These extended passages give further information about Haggai, Zerubabbel, and Joshua.

Verse 2 subtly refers to the Jews as "this people", not "my people," because they had selfishly neglected the service of God, though they had been back in Jerusalem some 15 years. Two years of the seventy of their predicted captivity were yet unexpired, dating from the destruction of the temple, 588 B.C., Jeremiah 25:11-12; 2 Kings 25:9. They (this Jewish remnant) of the 50,000 who had earlier returned to the Jerusalem area), had turned aside to selfish material, pursuits, delaying rebuilding their Temple, saying that the time was not right. So many people today, like them, will not renounce religious worship, but take the attitude "it is not the right time now," thus they drift, James 4:17;

Verses 3-11

Verses 3-11:

Divine Chastening Because Of Delayed Temple Work

Verse 3 asserts that the "word of the Lord," which is "true from the beginning," came to Haggai the prophet, as related by the prophet, by divine inspiration in this book, Psalms 119:160; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Hebrews 1:1-2; Revelation 19:10.

Verse 4 chides the Jews for resting comfortably in ceiled houses while the "house of the Lord," the Temple, lie in ruins. It is still a shameful disgrace for one to live at ease, in luxury, comfortably, in his own residence, while the sanctuary of God, his place of worship, is a place of run-down condition. David could not rest comfortably in an house of cedar, while the ark of God dwelt only behind curtains, in a much poorer state, 2 Samuel 7:1. See also 1 Samuel 25:24; Zechariah 7:5.

Verse 5 is a direct challenge from Haggai for the selfish, careless Jewish remnant to amend their ways, to get their priorities of life right with God. They were to examine their hearts, their divided affections, concerning both what they had done and what they had been neglecting, as a priority duty to God, Haggai 2:15; Haggai 2:18; Lamentations 3:10; Colossians 3:1-2; James 4:17. Man gains nothing, in the light of eternity, when he serves self, at the sacrifice of duty and service to God, Romans 12:1-2.

Verse 6 describes the vain results of putting the worship and work of God second place in ones life. To know to do good toward God, and ones fellow man, and not do it, merely neglect it, is a sin, James 4:17. Poverty comes to the slothful and sluggard, and spiritual anemia comes to every child of God who is dilatory or negligent in worship and service to God. What is more, God chastens His children as surely for sins of neglect as for other sins, Proverbs 13:7; Proverbs 11:24. Obedience to God is the way to both spiritual and material prosperity, Matthew 6:33. To seek prosperity and service, out of the worship and service of God, is to seek it in vain, where it may not be found, like seeking fish in a desert, or wild beasts in the sea, Zechariah 8:10; Isaiah 55:2; Jeremiah 2:13; Luke 12:33. To put money in a bag "with holes in it" was spending it for no profit, like dropping it down a drain.

Verse 7 repeats the refrain of v. 5, from the Lord, (Jehovah) for His remnant of covenant Jews to reexamine or reevaluate their ways, their course, or conduct of life; Such is also admonished upon all believers, 2 Corinthians 13:5; 1 John 3:20; Ephesians 5:14-20.

Verse 8 calls upon these Jews who had put their hand to rebuild the Temple, then turned aside, to arise and go forward with the Temple construction. They were directed to go up to the mountain or mountain range of Lebanon and secure wood to rebuild the house of God of finest cedar, Ezra 3:7; Ezra 6:3-4. They were assured that the pleasure and blessings of Jehovah would be upon them in the task, and that He would be glorified in what they did, 1 Kings 8:30; Just as He is now glorified in what His church does, Ephesians 3:21; As Israel’s Temple reflected the glory of Jehovah, so the church reflects the glory of God today, 1 Kings 8:30.

Verse 9 observes that this selfish, restored Jewish remnant had continuously looked, longed for, glued their minds and souls on, material prosperity while coming to want, because they left God out of their ways, Exodus 16:10. God told them that He had "blown upon" the little that they did make, with His dissipating displeasure, because they had been self-centered, lived like hogs, for self alone, given Him no honor in what they were doing. One should run God’s ways, not his own, Proverbs 1:16; Psalms 119:32.

Verse 10 explains that because of their selfish, covetous, disobedient ways, God had stayed (stopped)the dew from heaven, caused a drought, so that the land produced little or no fruit; Of such chastisement His people had been graciously warned in their own law, Leviticus 26:18-20; Deuteronomy 11:17; Deuteronomy 28:15; Deuteronomy 28:23-24; 1 Kings 8:36-37; Jeremiah 3:3; Jeremiah 14:1-6; Joel 1:18-20; Amos 4:7. The disobedience of God’s people causes Him, like a loving father or mother, to withhold His blessings from them, and chasten them for repeated wrong, Hebrews 12:5-12; Jeremiah 2:12-13.

Verse 11 asserts that the Lord called for or called down a drought upon the restored remnant of Jews upon the land (the fields) and the mountains (the forests). It affected their corn, new wine, and oil, and all crops the fields normally produced. This affected all the people and their cattle or livestock. Against this too He had given perfect warning in His law, which they were ignoring or snubbing, Deuteronomy 28:22; 1 Kings 17:1; 2 Kings 8:1; Job 34:29; Lamentations 1:21; Amos 5:8; Amos 7:4. The chastening of the Lord also affected the labor of their hands, their jobs, Haggai 2:17; Amos 4:9. All happened because they had forsaken the house of God.

Verses 12-15

Verses 12-15:

The Work Commenced

Verse 12 relates a desirable response from the Jewish people, to whom Haggai so forcefully delivered this message from the Lord of hosts, from Jehovah. Zerubbabel the civil governor of Judah, son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the high priest, son of Josedech, with all the remnant of the people, feared and obeyed the call of God, much as Cornelius the Gentile centurion did years later, when Peter preached the story of salvation that all the prophets had preached to them, Acts 10:43-45; See also Ezra 5:2; Isaiah 55:11; Psalms 111:10; Proverbs 1:7; Proverbs 16:6; Ecclesiastes 12:13; Jeremiah 32:40. Fear and obedience are true fruits of hearing the word of the Lord.

Verse 13 relates the Lord’s response to the fear and penitent obedience of the Jewish remnant, at the preaching of Haggai, the prophet of the Lord. Haggai carried them the responsive message from the Lord, saying, "I am (exist) with you, saith the Lord," Deuteronomy 31:6, even as He is with and in the midst of His church in her deeds of obedient worship and service today, to bless, Matthew 28:20; Romans 8:21; Hebrews 13:5; Revelation 1:13; Revelation 1:20; Matthew 18:20. God responds to the earnest prayers of His people, with Divine help, Malachi 2:7; Galatians 4:14.

Verse 14 affirms that the Lord stirred up the spirit of: 1) The governor, Zerubbabel, and 2) the spirit of the high priest, Joshua , , 3) the spirit of all the remnant of the people. He made them ready to go on in building the Temple, 1 Chronicles 5:26; 2 Chronicles 21:16; Ezra 1:1-5. God took the initiative, because of His love for, and covenant with, this people, Zechariah 8:6-12; Isaiah 1:9; Romans 11:5. Then they came (in harmony or concord) and did work in and upon building the house of the Lord, some in timber, some in stone, some in the gathering of the material; But all did work in unity, a lesson for servants of the Lord, in His church today, Ezra 5:1; Ezra 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:58; Galatians 6:9.

Verse 15 certifies that twenty three days after Haggai received his message from the Lord, for the Jewish remnant and their civil and religious leaders, v. 1. He had delivered it with such power of the spirit, that the people were stirred up by the spirit of the Lord, to begin the building of the Temple again, to give God priority, or first place in their hearts and lives, Matthew 6:33; Ezra 1:1-5.