HAGGAI

Author:
The prophet Haggai is referred to in Ezra 5:1-2; 6:14, but we know almost nothing about
him. He was a contemporary of Zechariah.
Date:
About 520 BC, during the second year of the reign of King Darius.
Theme:
In his second year as king of Persia Cyrus permitted the Jews to return to Jerusalem
(538 BC). Under the leadership of Zerubbabel they began the construction of the temple,
but after completing the foundation they stopped the work. Haggai encouraged them to
work and finish the temple, warning them of loss if they did not and promising God’s
blessing if they did.
Contents:
The excuses the people gave for not finishing
the work, the loss their indifference brought ............................. 1:2-11
The people listen and show reverence for God ................................ 1:12
God’s promise, beginning the work again ....................................... 1:13-15
God encourages the leaders ............................................................ 2:1-5
God will shake all nations,
but bring great glory to His temple ............................................ 2:6-9
Sinful efforts produce uncleanness.................................................. 2:10-14
The produce of the people had vanished ......................................... 2:15-19
God’s judgment on the nations ....................................................... 2:20-22
A blessed promise to Zerubbabel .................................................... 2:23
Haggai 1:1 1368

1 In the second year of Darius the king,

in the sixth month, on the first day of
the month, the word of the LORD came by
pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, says the
LORD. 9 You looked for much, and, see, it
came to little. And when you brought it home,
Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of I blew on it. Why? says the LORD of hosts.
Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua Because of my house, which lies in ruins,
the son of Johozadak, the high priest, saying, while every one of you runs to his own house.
2 “This is what the LORD of hosts has 10 Therefore the heavens above you withhold

spoken, saying: This people say, ‘The time the dew, and the earth withholds her fruit.
has not come, the time for building the 11 And I called for a drought on the land, and

LORD’s house.’ ” on the mountains, and on the grain, and on

3 Then the word of the LORD came by the new wine, and on the oil, and on all that
Haggai the prophet, saying, 4 “Is it time for you the ground produces, and on men, and on
yourselves to live in your paneled houses, and cattle, and on all the labour of your hands”.
this house lie in ruins? 5 “Now therefore thus 12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel,

says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways. and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high
6 You have sown much, but have harvested priest, with all the rest of the people, obeyed
little. You eat, but do not have enough. You the voice of the LORD their God, and the
drink, but never have your fill. You clothe words of Haggai the prophet, because the
yourselves, but no one is warm. And the wage LORD their God had sent him, and the
earner earns wages to put into a bag with holes. people feared the LORD.
7 “Thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider 13 Then Haggai, the LORD’s messenger,

your ways. 8 Go up to the mountain, and bring spoke the LORD’s message to the people,
timber and build the house, and I will take saying, “I am with you, says the LORD”.
1:1 “Darius”– Ezra 4:24. The second year of his it and it seemed to be going for nothing. All this
reign was in 520 BC. This Darius was not the was God’s punishment for their sin of forgetting
same as the Darius of Daniel chapter 6. His work (compare Deut 28:38-40; Lev 26:18-20).
“Word of the LORD came”– Jer 1:2; Hos 1:1; 1:7-8 He wants them to realize the cause of
Joel 1:1. their poverty and do something about it. If they
“Zerubbabel”– Ezra 2:2; 3:2; 4:2; 5:2; Neh 7:7; would try to please God He would please them.
12:1; Zech 4:6-10. He was governor of Judah after If they would honor Him He would honor them
the Jews returned from captivity in Babylon. (v 13; 2:19; 1 Sam 2:30; Isa 58:13-14; John 12:26;
“Joshua”– Zech 3:1-9. 2 Cor 9:6-8). We have no right to expect God’s
“Priest”– notes at Ex 28:1. blessings if we care nothing for His pleasure and
1:2 “LORD of hosts”– note at 1 Sam 1:3. honor, and think only of our own.
“Has spoken, saying”– the prophets knew they 1:9 “I blew on it”– that is, blew it away. Because
had a message from God and they spoke in His of their selfish, thoughtless ways God arranged
name with His authority. conditions so that they would not prosper.
“This people”– people of Judah. 1:10-11 It is the one true God Who gives rain,
“For building”– the Jews had laid the foundation and sometimes He withholds it as a punishment
of the temple sixteen years before, but had not for people’s sins. Compare Lev 26:4,19;
continued the work – Ezra 3:8-10; 4:1-5,24. Deut 28:22-24; 1 Kings 17:1; Jer 14:1,22.
1:3-4 They had built good houses for themselves 1:12 “Remnant”– those who had returned from
but left God’s house a ruin (it had been destroyed captivity in Babylon. They were a small number
about seventy years before – 2 Kings 25:8-15). compared to the many people who had once
Like so many Christians today the people put lived in Judah.
themselves first and neglected God’s work. They “Obeyed”– Deut 6:3,24; 11:13-15; 28:1-6;
had time for themselves, but not for Him. John 14:15.
1:5 “Consider”– v 7; 2:15,18; Lam 3:40; 2 Cor 13:5; “Feared the LORD”– notes at Gen 20:11;
1 Pet 1:13. God wanted His people to think about Ps 34:11-14; 111:10; Prov 1:7.
their condition and understand the reason why 1:13 “LORD’s messenger”– this is what a prophet
certain things were happening. By understanding was. He got a message from God and delivered
our own ways we can understand something it to the people.
of God’s ways with us (compare Ps 18:25-26; “I am with you”– because of their obedience
Lev 26:23-24). and reverence He would bless and prosper them.
1:6 This was the result of their self-centered ways. The promise of the Lord’s presence has been
They got little from their hard labour and were enough in all ages to spur God’s people on to great
sinking into poverty. Their purses had “holes” – efforts and accomplishments – Ex 33:14; Josh 1:5;
as fast as they earned money they had to spend Jud 6:16; 1 Chron 28:20; Jer 1:8; Matt 28:20.
1369 Haggai 2:12
14 And the LORD stirred up the spirit of strong, all you people of the land, says the
Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor LORD, and work, for I am with you, says
of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of the LORD of hosts, 5 in accordance with the
Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of word that I covenanted with you when you
all the rest of the people; and they came to came out of Egypt; for my Spirit remains
work on the house of the LORD of hosts, among you. Do not fear.
their God, 15 on the twenty-fourth day of the 6 “For thus says the LORD of hosts: Once

sixth month, in the second year of Darius more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens
the king. and the earth and the sea and the dry land,
7 and I will shake all nations, and the desire

2 In the seventh month, on the twenty-

first day of the month, the word of
the LORD came by the prophet Haggai,
of all nations will come, and I will fill this
house with glory, says the LORD of hosts.
8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says

saying, 2 “Speak now to Zerubbabel the the LORD of hosts. 9 The glory of this latter
son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to house will be greater than that of the former,
Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, says the LORD of hosts. And in this place
and to the rest of the people, saying, 3 who I will give peace, says the LORD of hosts”.
is left among you who saw this house in its 10 In the twenty-fourth day of the ninth

former glory? And how do you see it now? In month, in the second year of Darius, the word
comparison with that is it not in your eyes as of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet,
nothing? 4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saying, 11 “Thus says the LORD of hosts:
says the LORD, and be strong, O Joshua, Now ask the priests concerning the law,
son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and be and say, 12 If someone carries consecrated
1:14 “Stirred up”– compare Ezra 1:1,5; Phil 2:13. which men value. This may be the meaning
2:1-3 Some of the people had been living here and it may be significant that God speaks
when Solomon’s temple was destroyed by the of silver and gold in the next verse. Compare
Babylonian army many years before this – Isa 60:5.
Ezra 3:12. That temple was very magnificent. “Glory”– Ex 40:34-35; 1 Kings 8:10-11. If
See 1 Kings 6:1-37; 7:13-51. The temple they were God’s glory is in a building it needs no other
now building was small and plain by comparison. magnificence; if it is not there no magnificence
But see Zech 4:10. will mean anything.
2:4 “Be strong”– Josh 1:6-9; 23:6; Jud 5:21; Ps 27:14; 2:8 Compare Ps 50:10-12. God is well able to
31:24; Dan 10:19; Eph 6:10. provide His people with all they need for any
“Work”– Eccl 9:10; John 6:37; 9:4; 1 Cor 15:58. work He calls them to do – 2 Cor 9:8.
“With you”– 1:13. 2:9 The glory of Solomon’s temple was coming
2:5 His covenant was that they would be His to an end when Judah was conquered and exiled.
people and He would dwell in their midst The temple had become a place of idolatry and
– Ex 29:44-46. God abandoned it – Ezekiel chapters 8–11. Now
“My Spirit”– Ex 31:3; Num 11:16-17,25; Ps 51:11; the people had left idols and false gods and
106:33; Isa 63:11-14. God would fill the new temple with His glory.
“Do not fear”– if God is with us there can be Though there would not be in the new one as
nothing to fear. If He is not with us there is good much physical splendor as in the old one there
reason to fear many things. would be more of God’s glory.
2:6 “Heavens and the earth”– Heb 12:26 refers to “This place”– Jerusalem.
these words and puts their fulfillment in the “Peace”– Isa 60:17; Luke 1:79; 2:14; John 14:27;
future. At the second coming of Christ there Col 1:20.
will be a great shaking of heaven and earth and 2:10-14 Two months had passed since the previous
all the nations of earth – Rev 6:12-17; 16:14-21. message (v 1). This new message was this:
2:7 “All nations”– God can and does do what He because of their disobedience, thoughtlessness
wills among all the nations of the earth. He can and carelessness in God’s work the people were
and does use them all for His glory and the good unclean. Being in the holy land and in the holy
of His people. Compare Dan 4:34-35. city and planning to build God’s holy temple
“Desire of all nations”– some scholars think this did not make them holy. Holiness cannot be
refers to the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. It transmitted like that. Holiness is a matter of the
may be so but we cannot be sure. Actually all heart, of the character, of the behavior, and results
nations do not desire Him, but some from among from obedience to God (compare Rom 6:22). And
all nations do. The same Hebrew word translated those without true holiness defile everything
here “desired” can also mean material things they touch.
Haggai 2:13 1370

meat in the fold of his garment, and with the now from this day onward. Consider things
fold touches bread, or stew, or wine, or oil, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth
or any meat, will it become consecrated?” month, from the day that the foundation of
And the priests answered and said, “No”. the LORD’s temple was laid. 19 Is the seed
13 Then Haggai said, “If someone who is still in the barn? And as yet the vine, and
unclean by touching a dead body touches the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the
any of those, will it become unclean?” olive tree have not yielded fruit. From this
And the priests answered and said, “It will day on I will bless you”.
become unclean”. 20 And again the word of the LORD came
14 Then answered Haggai, and said, “So is to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the
this people, and so is this nation before me, month, saying, 21 “Speak to Zerubbabel,
says the LORD, and so is every work of their governor of Judah, saying, I will shake
hands, and what they offer there is unclean. the heavens and the earth. 22 And I will
15 “And now, carefully consider from this overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and
day onward. Before a stone was laid on destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the
stone in the temple of the LORD, 16 from nations. And I will overthrow the chariots
the time of those days, when someone and those who ride in them, and the horses
came to a heap of twenty bushels, there and their riders will come down, each one
were only ten; when someone came to the by the sword of his brother.
wine vat to draw fifty measures out of the 23 “In that day, says the LORD of hosts,

vat, there were only twenty. 17 I struck you I will take you, O Zerubbabel, my servant,
with blight and mildew and with hail on the son of Shealtiel, says the LORD, and
all the labours of your hands. Yet you did will make you like my signet ring; for I
not turn to me, says the LORD. 18 Consider have chosen you, says the LORD of hosts”.

2:12 “Consecrated meat”– was meat brought as reason for it, so that they might learn His ways
an offering to God. with them.
2:13 Lev 5:2; Num 19:11-13,22. 2:20-23 On the same day that God sent a message
2:15 1:5. to the people he sent a personal message of
2:16-17 1:6,9. encouragement to the leader of the people.
2:17 “Did not turn to me”– Isa 9:13; Jer 3:10; 2:21 “Shake”– 2:6.
Amos 4:6-9. 2:22 Zerubbabel had nothing to fear from
2:19 “I will bless you”– compare Mal 3:10; enemies either far or near. The Commander
Ps 128:1-2; Joel 2:13-14. Because the people of the armies of heaven and the Controller
began to believe the prophet and to obey and of all earth’s armies was in charge of events.
honor God, He promises them there would be Compare Ex 15:1,4,19,21; Josh 21:43-44; Jud 7:22;
a great and sudden change in their condition. Ezek 38:21; Dan 2:34-35,44,45; 4:35.
Instead of punishing them He would bless them, 2:23 “Signet ring”– Ex 3:10; 8:8. In those days
starting immediately. And He wanted them this was a sign of authority. God would execute
to mark down the date of this change and the His decisions through Zerubbabel.