Darius Hystaspes. (Calmet) --- When the Jews had no king, the prophets dated from the reign of the monarch on whom they were dependent. (Theodoret) --- Sixth; Elul, the last of the civil year, corresponding with our September. The harvest had been bad, and Aggeus assigns the reason. (Calmet) --- Gov... [ Continue Reading ]
_Yet come. God's service must be restored without delay, and manners reformed; as otherwise many will be lost eternally. (Worthington) --- The Jews refrained from commencing the temple till the time marked out by Jeremias xxv. 11., and Zacharias i. 7. (Calmet) --- From the beginning of the last sieg... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ceiled: superbly adorned. Hebrew, "covered." You are not content with what is merely necessary, while the temple lies in ruins. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ways. Sound the real motives of your neglect. (Haydock) --- See if your misfortunes do not originate in this cause, and if God does not require you to build the temple, ver. 9. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Filled. Literally, "inebriated," (Haydock) so as to become cheerful. (St. Jerome)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_The mountain Libanus. Wood had been purchased before, but had been used for other purposes, 1 Esdras iii. 7. Now the people went to procure more. The following year Darius confirmed the decree of Cyrus, which was a change plainly effected by Providence. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Drought. Hebrew choreb, (Haydock) is rendered the sword, by the Septuagint and may best signify "a burning wind," according to the different pronunciation. (St. Jerome) --- This was not then determined by the vowel points (Calmet) of the Masora, Sophonias ii. 14. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Messenger. To excite the people's attention, Aggeus declares that he is sent by God, (Worthington) like the prophets of old. Some Jews have asserted (Calmet) that he, Malachias, [John] the Baptist, and Jacob, were angels incarnate. But let us leave (St. Jerome) these learned dreams. (Calmet) --- Th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Work. Septuagint, "works." (Haydock) --- They prepared materials, and began the temple on the 24th of the ninth month, chap. ii. 16, 19. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER I.... [ Continue Reading ]