Haggai’s First Oracle (1:1–1:12)

Second year of King Darius (1:1). Darius was the third king of the Persian empire, who came into power under difficult conditions, insofar as there was a major rival for the throne contesting his rule. Cambyses, son of the empire’s founder Cyrus the Great, died under mysterious circumstances in 522 B.C. while in Syria. About the time of his death, a man named Bardiya claimed the throne in Persia. A group of Persian aristocrats joined with Darius to defeat Bardiya, but while the central portion of the empire was consumed in the question of who would succeed Cambyses, many outlying parts of the empire rebelled against Persian rule. It was not until the second year of Darius’s rule that he was able to consolidate his control over the far-flung ends of the empire (from Egypt to the borders of modern India).2

Darius

Rob Verhoeven

Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah (1:1). One of the major changes for the Jewish community in this period was the imposition of a “governor” over the community, appointed by the Persian king. Eventually under Darius the Persian empire developed a system in which the empire was broken down into large regions (“satrapies”), and the satrap was the primary supervisor of the “governors” of the smaller districts (“medina”). Having a royal appointee as the primary administrator over the community underscored the lack of political self-determination of the community.

Satrapies of the Persian Empire

While Zerubbabel bears a Babylonian name, he was in all likelihood Jewish. A Zerubbabel appears in the list of descendents of David at 1 Chronicles 3:17, but in that list he is the son of Pedaiah, who was a son of Shealtiel. Numerous suggestions have been offered for this difference between genealogies, none of which has the consensus of scholars.3 The prophet makes it clear that Zerubbabel was the legitimate political figurehead. His role in invigorating the effort to rebuild the temple is also recounted in Ezra 3.

Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest (1:1). This word is not addressed to the entire community but only to its primary leaders, the governor representing the political sphere and the high priest representing the religious sphere. Since the subject is the temple, both leaders needed to work jointly to ensure the rebuilding since both governmental funds and gifts for the temple would be called upon to pay for the effort. Joshua’s lineage is more fully described at 1 Chronicles 6:14–15, where Jehozadak’s father is given as Seraiah, the high priest at the time of the destruction of Jerusalem. Seraiah was executed by Nebuchadnezzar following the sacking of the city (2 Kings 25:18–21), and Jehozadak, presumably his eldest son and next in succession to the high priesthood, was taken into exile. Joshua was undoubtedly born in captivity, but was raised with the expectation of functioning as high priest should the temple be rebuilt.

Lord Almighty (1:2). Many English translations render this Hebrew title as “Lord of hosts,” the “hosts” representing the vast powers God has at his disposal (for a classic example of this aspect of God’s character, see 2 Kings 6:15–17). This title for God, repeatedly used in Haggai, serves as a reminder that while the community may feel powerless in the control of a great empire, God commands unimaginable forces.

Paneled houses (1:4). The Hebrew term translated “paneled” presents some difficulty. Paneled buildings would have been extraordinary in the ancient Near East and certainly would rarely be used in private homes of this period. But the use of “your” may indicate the charge is intended for the governor and high priest, two high status officials who may well have enjoyed some touches of luxury in their private dwellings. Some suggest the term has more of a sense of “finished,” that the prophet’s concerns here relate more to the idea that the leading officials have ensured their personal homes are finished, while not taking the necessary steps to ensure the temple (God’s house) would be finished.

You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes (1:6). Though coinage was introduced under the Persian empire, it was not common in the region around Jerusalem until late in the empire’s history. Wages in Haggai’s day were likely paid in grain, and the reference to persons who earn wages may well relate to those working for the government in various public works projects. The image being offered is an intensification of the earlier phrases: Not only are primary producers (i.e., farmers) unable to satisfy their basic needs, but those earning steady pay only see it eroded by higher costs for goods and services in tight market conditions.

Go up into the mountains and bring down timber (1:8). Indications are clear that the temple was rebuilt with cut stone (Ezra 5:8). Timber beams would be used as additional support elements, as well as for spanning the interior for a roof. There is some ambiguity here in terms of what “mountains” the timber is to be obtained from. Structural elements for stone buildings were usually of cedar, gained from the mountains of the Lebanon (1 Kings 5:6–9). Some suggest the “timber” of this command relates to local resources used as scaffolding or other apparatus.