Haggai 2:9

The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.

Ver. 9. The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former] Because Christ shall appear and preach in it, as Hag 2:7 who is the brightness of his Father's glory, ac consequenter urbis et orbis; any relation to whom heighteneth and ennobleth both places and persons. Bethlehem, though it be the least, Mic 3:6 is yet not the least among the princes of Judah, Mat 2:6 because Christ was born there. The tribe of Naphtali is first reckoned of those by Rachel's side; because at Capernaum, in this tribe, Christ inhabited, Revelation 7:6, in which respect also this town is said to be lifted up to heaven, Matthew 11:2,3. Benjamin is called the beloved of the Lord, Genesis 42:4, God's darling (as their father Benjamin was old Jacob's), because God dwelt between his shoulders, sc. in his temple built upon those two mountains, Moriah and Zion, Deuteronomy 33:12. The glory of that first temple was, that the majesty of God appeared in it, covering itself in a cloud. The glory of this latter house was greater, because therein the same Divine majesty appeared, not covered with a cloud but really incarnated. "For the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth," John 1:14. In this flesh of ours, and under this second temple, Christ not only uttered oracles, did miracles, and finished the great work of our redemption, but also laid the foundation of the Christian Church. For the law (that perfect law of liberty, the gospel, Jam 1:25) came out of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem, to all the ends of the earth, Isa 2:3 Psalms 110:1. From hence it was that the Lord of glory, whom the blind Jews had crucified, sent out his apostles, those messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ, as they are called, 2 Corinthians 8:23, to gather together unto him those desirable ones his elect, Hag 2:7 See Trapp on " Hag 2:7 " whom he calleth the glory, Isaiah 46:13, the house of his glory, Isaiah 60:7, a crown of glory, Isaiah 62:3, the throne of glory, Jeremiah 14:21, the ornament of God, Ezekiel 7:20, the beauty of his ornament, and that set in majesty, a royal diadem in the hand of Jehovah, Isaiah 62:3 .

And in this place will I give peace] Even the Prince of peace, and with him all things also, Romans 8:32, pacem Pectoris et Temporis, Peace of country and of conscience; this latter especially seemeth here to be meant. For the former (viz. outward peace) was not long enjoyed by these Jews; and their second temple was often spoiled by the enemies, and at length burned and overturned. But the "peace of God that passeth all understanding" is that legacy which the world can neither give nor take from God's people, John 14:27. And of this inward peace the Septuagint (according to the Roman edition) taketh the text, and so doth Ambrose; Haec est pax super pacem, This is peace above peace. saith he. Christ, as he Was brought from heaven, with that song of peace, Luke 2:14 "On earth peace, good will toward men" (which is the same with that salutation of St Paul, who learned it, belike, of those angels, "Grace be to you, and peace"), so he returned up again with that farewell of peace, John 14:27, and left to the world the doctrine of peace, the gospel of peace, Ephesians 2:17, whose author is the God of peace, 1 Corinthians 14:33, whose ministers are ministers of peace, Romans 10:15, whose followers are the children of peace, Luke 10:6, whose unity is in the bond of peace, Ephesians 4:3, whose duty is the study of peace, Romans 12:18; and whose end is, to enter into peace, to rest in their beds, their souls resting in heaven, their bodies in the grave till the joyful resurrection, even every one walking in his uprightness, Isa 57:2 Psalms 37:33 .