Study Notes
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.
1:12 remnant. See note on Isa 1:9. feared the LORD. Showing reverence, respect and obedience (see Ge 20:11 and note; Dt 31:12–13; Mal 1:6; 3:5,16).
1:13 messenger. A title for prophets (see 2Ch 36:15–16; Isa 42:19 and note) or priests (see Mal 2:7 and note). I am with you. A sure indication of success (see 2:4; Ge 26:3; Nu 14:9 and notes).
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.
2:11 priests. They were consulted about the precise meaning of the law (see Dt 31:11; Jer 18:18; Mal 2:7–9 and notes).
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.