_HE ENCOURAGETH THE PEOPLE TO THE WORK, BY A PROMISE OF GREATER GLORY
TO THE SECOND TEMPLE, THAN WAS IN THE FIRST. IN THE TYPE OF HOLY
THINGS AND UNCLEAN, HE SHEWETH THAT THEIR SINS HINDERED THE WORK.
GOD'S PROMISE TO ZERUBBABEL._
_Before Christ 520._... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO IS LEFT AMONG YOU, &C.— See the note on Ezra 3:12. The
foundation of this house was laid in the second year of Cyrus; the
second year of Cyrus was fifty-three years after the destruction of
the first temple; so that the oldest men among those who returned
might very well remember it; and though... [ Continue Reading ]
ACCORDING TO THE WORD THAT I COVENANTED— Houbigant begins this verse
with the last clause of the fourth, _For I, saith the Lord of Hosts,
will bring to you that which I covenanted with you, when ye came out
of Egypt; and my Spirit shall remain with you: fear ye not._ What was
that covenant? says Bis... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD— The excellent Bishop Chandler has, with his
usual learning and judgment, explained this remarkable prophesy; and
it is from him that we have chiefly extracted what follows. The
occasion of this prophesy, says he, was the dejection of the Jews at
the unhopeful appearance of t... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE FOUR-AND-TWENTIETH DAY, &C.— Three months after they had
begun to build the temple, Haggai receives orders from the Lord, to go
and propose two questions to the priests, respecting the ceremonies of
the law; in order from their answer to draw instruction for the
princes and the people. He fir... [ Continue Reading ]
SINCE THOSE DAYS, &C.— The prophet is here speaking of the dearth
and famine consequent upon their neglect of building the temple. The
present verse is very elliptical; if the first clause were to be
explained by the second, which it reasonably may, it should be
rendered, _When one came to an heap f... [ Continue Reading ]
UPWARD— _Forward._... [ Continue Reading ]
YEA, AS YET THE VINE, &C.— _Have the vine,_ &c. _yet brought forth
nothing._ Houbigant. _From this day have I blessed you._ The prophet
makes a comparison between the dearth which preceded the building of
the temple, and the fertility following, while the temple was
building; and if there were not a... [ Continue Reading ]
SPEAK TO ZERUBBABEL, &C.— See this passage explained in the note on
Haggai 2:6, &c.
REFLECTIONS.—1st, Having set themselves heartily to their work, God
encourages them by a second message, about a month after the former,
to proceed in the building. Some, probably who had seen the former
temple, whi... [ Continue Reading ]