Title
Nothing is known of Haggai’s life or background. He appears on the biblical scene without introduction and disappears just as quickly. Haggai (Heb. “feast of Yahweh”) may have been born on a special feast day and thus given this name to commemorate that event. According to ancient Jewish tradition, Haggai saw Solomon’s temple before the Exile (Hag. 2:3) and so was quite old as he returned to the land. Ancient Christian tradition holds that Haggai was born in exile and was young when he returned to Jerusalem. Others believe that Haggai never went into exile but instead stayed in the land. In any case, Haggai was well acquainted with the situation of his day and spoke with such effectiveness that the people were moved to action. Haggai was a contemporary of Zechariah (Ezra 5:1; 6:14), although neither prophet mentioned the other.
Date
All utterances in this prophecy are given specific dates in the year 520 B.C.; so Haggai’s recorded ministry lasted only four months. The compilation of the prophet’s oracles may have been done in that year or at a later time.
Background
Setting
In 539 B.C., Cyrus, king of Persia, decreed that all exiled Jews could return from Babylon to Jerusalem to rebuild that devastated city and the temple of the Lord. This decree by Cyrus is corroborated as authentic by extrabiblical sources such as the Cyrus Cylinder, now housed in the British Museum. Enough people returned for the rebuilding project to proceed. However, due to opposition by the Samaritans, work on the temple ceased after the foundation was laid (536 B.C.). The city and temple remained in ruins. By 520 B.C., a new king, Darius I, brought stability to the Persian Empire and to Judah as well. This new political situation allowed the work of rebuilding Jerusalem to resume. In 520 B.C., Haggai encouraged the people to resume the building.
Purpose
Haggai admonished the people to obey the Lord by rebuilding the temple. Haggai also announced renewed promises for the future.
Audience
Haggai’s message was directed specifically to Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah; to Joshua, the high priest; and to the Jewish community that had returned from the Exile.
Literary Characteristics
Haggai, the second shortest book of the Old Testament, is concise and simple in style. Rhetorical questions are used repeatedly (Hag. 1:4; 2:3, 12, 13, 19). Affirmation that Haggai’s words are the words of the Lord is repeated about 30 times.
Themes
The Jews returning from the Exile needed reassurance that they were still God’s people and still in covenant with Him. Haggai provided hope for the future in his message reaffirming God’s covenant, His choice of Jerusalem as the place where His name would dwell forever, and His eternal promise concerning David’s throne.
Outline
I. The Temple (1:1–2:9)
A. A rebuke for not rebuilding the temple (1:1, 2)
B. Covenant curses for not rebuilding (1:3–11)
C. Repentance and covenant blessing (1:12–15)
D. Promises for the temple (2:1–9)
II. God’s Promise and Haggai’s Prophecy (2:10–19)
A. A rebuke for being unclean (2:10–14)
B. Covenant curses for being unclean (2:15–17)
C. Repentance and covenant blessing (2:18, 19)
III. The Restoration of David’s Throne (2:20–23)