Bible Commentaries
Haggai 1

Verse 1

Hag 1:1. The reader should consult the book of Ezra, especially the last part of the 4th and first part of the 5th chapter; that will throw much light on the book we are studying. the Jews had been given authority by the king of Persia to rebuild the house of God In Jerusalem but they had let the work cease for various reasons. Then the prophets were used by the Lord to stir up the people and shame them for theIr selfishness in being more concerned with their own affairs than they were with those of the Lord. After the prodding by these prophets the workers upon the building resumed their task. The reference in Ezra is very brief but our present book will give us a fuller view of the situation. The date of the book is given as the second year of Darius who was king in the Medo·Persian Empire at lhat time.

Verse 2

Hag 1:2. This verse reveals the excuse that was given by the people why they were not going on with the work of the temple. It was the age·old attempt at defence by saying it was not the right time yet, or that "there is plenty of time yet."

Verse 3

Hag 1:3. This was the word of the Lord although the people received it at the mouth of the prophet who was His inspired spokesman.

Verse 4

Hag 1:4. Haggai chides them with their inconsistency because they were interested in their own personal affairs instead of the Lord's. They were building homes for their personal uae and allowing the Lord's house to lie waste.

Verse 5

Hag 1:5. As a means of arousing them to a sense ot their real position before God, the prophet calls their attention to some circumstances in their affairs that should have Indicated to them that something was wrong.

Verse 6

Hag 1:6. The general subject of this verse is that almost everything in their personal occupations was having very little success. Those were the years when God sometimes punished his people with temporal reverses of various kinds. and their experiences were along that line.

Verse 7

Hag 1:7. Calling attention to their unrighteous ways, the prophet proceeds to tell his people what they should do to regaIn the good will of the Lord.

Verse 8

Hag 1:8. The temple was constructed of various materials such as slone. metal and wood. The wood was to be obtained from the mountains because the valleys did not produce it. They were told that by taking this interest in the work of the Lord they would glorify Him and their conduct would be pleasing in the divine sight.

Verse 9

Hag 1:9. The prophet backs up the exhortation of the preceding verse by resuming the thought expressed in verse 6. The key to the subject is in the words because of mine house that is waste. They could not make the plea of inability for work, for they were at that very time running every man unto his own house.

Verse 10

Hag 1:10. Moisture from above and fertility from the earth had been withheld from their crops as a punishment for their neglect of duty.

Verse 11

Hag 1:11. This verse sums up the general shortages they had suffered in about all the departments of their industrial and agricultural life. Of course they knew they had been thus restricted but they acted as it they thought it had been by accident. Hence the Lord informs them that He had called for all of their afflictions.

Verse 12

Hag 1:12. The exhortation of the prophet had the desired effect. It is interesting to note that in their obedience it Includes the words of the prophet with those of God. It was as it should be for when God inspires a man to deliver an order to the people it comes with as much authority as if He spoke directly to them.

Verse 13

Hag 1:13. When the people showed a willingness to obey the Lord the prophet encouraged them bv assuring them that the Lord was with them.

Verse 14

Hag 1:14. The Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel. The context shows what means the Lord used to do this stirring, for it was through the mouth of the prophet. When God does anything through lhe words of an inspired spokesman it is equivalent to doing it direct and will have the same result as if done in such a manner.

Verse 15

Hag 1:15. The date of the events of this chapter is made more specific than it was in the first verse by giving the particular day of the month; the 24th,