_In the seventh month_, &c. For the further encouragement of the people to proceed in rebuilding the temple, Haggai was sent again to them, about a month after he had been sent the first time, to assure them from God, that the glory of this latter temple, how little appearance soever there might be... [ Continue Reading ]
_Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel_ Do thou and all the rest of you exert yourselves, and proceed in rebuilding the temple with spirit and pleasure; _for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts_ And will enable you to bring the work to a happy issue. _According to the word that I covenanted with you_ I... [ Continue Reading ]
_Yet once_ Or, _once more_, ετι απαξ, as the LXX. render it, whom St. Paul follows, Hebrews 12:26. The phrase implies such an alteration, or change of things, as should be permanent, and should not give place to any other, as the apostle there expounds it. The expression, says Bishop Newcome, “has a... [ Continue Reading ]
_The silver is mine_ Solomon's temple was more richly adorned with silver and gold than this, and I, that am the Lord of all the world, could easily command the riches of it, and bring them together for beautifying this my house, if I took delight in, or wanted any thing of this sort. A like express... [ Continue Reading ]
_In the four and twentieth day of the ninth month_ At which time, as appears from Haggai 2:16; Haggai 2:19, (the materials being collected,) they began to go on again with the building of the temple. _Ask now concerning the law_ What the law saith in this case. The question was put to the priests, w... [ Continue Reading ]
_And now, consider from this day_, &c. Reflect on what has happened to you, from the time that a stop was put to the building of the temple, after the first foundation of it was laid, till you began again to rebuild it. _And upward_ Or, _forward._ He had bid them look back, Haggai 1:5; Haggai 1:7; n... [ Continue Reading ]
_Consider now, from this day and upward_ That is, _forward._ In the 15th verse the prophet exhorted them to reflect upon the calamities they had suffered, from the time the rebuilding of the temple was intermitted. Now he bids them look forward, from the day the building was recommenced, (see Haggai... [ Continue Reading ]
_Again the word of the Lord came unto Haggai_ Probably on the same day that he uttered what precedes, from Haggai 2:10; _speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah_ The same title which is given to him chap. Haggai 1:1; in which character he was the type of the Messiah, to whom the following words chief... [ Continue Reading ]
_In that day will I take thee, O Zerubbabel_, &c. Amidst the commotions which I will cause in the world, I will so order it, that Judea shall remain safe under thy government, O Zerubbabel, and thy successors, and be molested by none. A signet, or seal, particularly a royal one, is kept with great c... [ Continue Reading ]