2 Words of Encouragement. The Glory of the Second Temple 1-9. An encouraging message in counteraction of disparaging comments upon the Temple structure, setting forth the significance and glory of the new Temple.... [ Continue Reading ]
SEVENTH _month_] i.e. Tishri, September-October. This message was delivered just four weeks after the beginning of the work. So heartily had every one united in it that the general outline and character of the new edifice had become apparent. The Feast of Tabernacles was in progress. Haggai spoke to... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO _is_ LEFT AMONG YOU] More than 66 years had passed since the destruction of the first Temple, but it was quite possible that there were some who could describe that glorious structure as they had known it. These elders referred to the newer Temple with disparagement, to the dejection and dismay... [ Continue Reading ]
MY SPIRIT REMAINETH] RM 'abideth,' is standing in your presence. What a basis for continuing courage! cp. Zechariah 4:6. Jehovah was in their midst, as He had always been in times of need. Moreover, they would soon have adequate proof of His presence.... [ Continue Reading ]
YET ONCE, IT _is_ A LITTLE WHILE] This is literal, but it evidently means 'But a little while.' It seems to refer to the shaking, which might be soon expected.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHAKE ALL NATIONS] This clearly refers to political overturnings. The prophet expected that the great empire, all aflame with rebellion, would be broken up, and that the Jewish community would have its coveted opportunity. His language, probably figurative, implies corresponding convulsions of natur... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GLORY OF THIS LATTER HOUSE] RV 'The latter glory of this house.. than the former,' a prediction involving courage and foresight. It was spoken to a community politically insignificant, without resources, tributary to the powerful monarch of Persia, engaged in erecting a simple building for relig... [ Continue Reading ]
NINTH _month_] i.e. Chislev, or Nov.-Dec. The work on the Temple had now been under way for three months.... [ Continue Reading ]
ASK NOW THE PRIESTS.. THE LAW] better, 'ask of the priests a thorah,' or deliverance. In the absence of a definite statement in the written Law covering a case it was the custom to submit a question of usage to the priests (Deuteronomy 17:8). Their reply was a 'thorah' or law. The passage in the wri... [ Continue Reading ]
HOLY FLESH] flesh that has been offered in sacrifice and is being taken home to be consumed. SHALL IT BE HOLY?] i.e. is the garment in which such holy food is being carried capable of giving holiness to other food? The priests replied that holiness could not be communicated in that way.... [ Continue Reading ]
UNCLEAN BY A DEAD BODY] A corpse was regarded as making every one who came in contact with it ceremonially unclean. The priests declared that this pollution would extend to whatever these infected persons touched. Uncleanness, then, could be propagated readily; holiness could not.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT WHICH THEY OFFER THERE] An effective application of these decisions to the situation. The restoration of the ritual service, as described in Ezra 3, was good in its way but insufficient to make them holy as a people, while their actual neglect of the Temple was enough to pollute everything they... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM THIS DAY AND UPWARD] better, 'and onward.' He then bids them think of their past sufferings and resumes the thought here begun in Haggai 2:18. There should be a full stop after UPWARD. FROM BEFORE, etc.] A better translation is that of Nowack, 'Before a stone was laid upon a stone in the Temple... [ Continue Reading ]
TWENTY _measures_] Realisations were but half the expectations. PRESSFAT] winevat. FIFTY _vessels_] rather, 'measures.'... [ Continue Reading ]
AND UPWARD] better, 'onwards.' THE DAY THAT THE FOUNDATION OF THE LORD'S TEMPLE WAS LAID] Probably the day on which he was speaking. Haggai refers to their bitter experience up to the day of active work.... [ Continue Reading ]
IS THE SEED YET IN THE BARN?] Evidently he means to draw out a negative reply. Yet his word is encouraging. God is going to bless them. It takes time to recover from the ill effects of selfishness, but a brighter future was before them. 20-23. An inspiring declaration to Zerubbabel that in him rest... [ Continue Reading ]
FOUR AND TWENTIETH _day_] the same great festal day.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE THRONE OF KINGDOMS] LXX 'thrones.' Haggai looked forward to a disruption of the great Persian empire into its tributary nations and to struggles between them, which would give Israel its opportunity.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THAT DAY] The day of general political convulsion, would be the day of Messianic advance, and of the establishment of Jehovah's kingdom. The forwarding of Israel's spiritual hopes seemed to Haggai, as to earlier prophets, to necessitate the opening of political freedom. MAKE THEE AS A SIGNET] the... [ Continue Reading ]