Haggai (Ezra 4:24; Ezra 5:1–2; Ezra 6:14–15; Haggai 1:1–11; Haggai 1:12–15; Haggai 2:1–9; Haggai 2:10–14; Haggai 2:15–19; Haggai 2:20–23)

Haggai the prophet, the LORD's messenger in the LORD's message

The prophet through whom the word of the LORD came to Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest in the second year of Darius, calling the people to build the house that lay waste; they obeyed, and the house was finished through the prophesying of Haggai and Zechariah.

Scripture gives Haggai no father, tribe or birthplace; he is simply “Haggai the prophet” (Haggai 1:1). Ezra tells that the work on the house of God at Jerusalem “ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia” (Ezra 4:24), and that then “the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem” (Ezra 5:1). The book that bears his name opens in that second year: “came the word of Jehovah by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest” (Haggai 1:1).

Nearly all that Haggai speaks is introduced as the LORD's message. The people say it is not the time to build, and the word answers, “Consider your ways” (Haggai 1:5). Zerubbabel, Joshua and the remnant of the people “obeyed the voice of Jehovah their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet” (Haggai 1:12), and the LORD stirred up their spirits so that they came and did work on the house. Further words follow on dated days: “be strong … and work: for I am with you” (Haggai 2:4), a question put to the priests about the law (Haggai 2:11-14), a promise of blessing “from this day” (Haggai 2:19), and a second word that day to Zerubbabel (Haggai 2:20-23).

Ezra closes the account: “the elders of the Jews builded and prospered, through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo” (Ezra 6:14), and the house was finished “in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king” (Ezra 6:15). The text does not say when Haggai died or whether he prophesied after the last date recorded in his book. Outside his own book, only Ezra names him.

Strengths

• Helping the builders

Themes

• The house that lay waste
• Consider your ways
• Be strong and work
• The LORD with his people
• The word of the LORD by a prophet

The prophets help the building resume (Ezra 4:24–5:2)

The work on the house of God ceases until the second year of Darius; then Haggai and Zechariah prophesy to the Jews, and Zerubbabel and Jeshua begin to build, with the prophets helping them.

The word on the house that lieth waste (Haggai 1:1–11)

The word of the LORD comes by Haggai to Zerubbabel and Joshua; the people's saying that the time has not come is answered with a call to consider their ways and the LORD's call for a drought.

The word on the house that lieth waste

“In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of Jehovah by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest” (Haggai 1:1). The message names what the people were saying: “This people say, It is not the time for us to come, the time for Jehovah’s house to be built” (Haggai 1:2).

“Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your ceiled houses, while this house lieth waste?” (Haggai 1:4). Twice the word says, “Consider your ways” (Haggai 1:5), and it bids them: “Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith Jehovah” (Haggai 1:8).

The word tells what had come on them: “Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little” (Haggai 1:9), and “I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the grain, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil” (Haggai 1:11).

The leaders and the people obey (Haggai 1:12–15)

Zerubbabel, Joshua and the remnant obey the voice of the LORD and the words of Haggai; the LORD stirs their spirits and they begin work on the house.

The leaders and the people obey

“Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of Jehovah their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as Jehovah their God had sent him; and the people did fear before Jehovah” (Haggai 1:12).

“Then spake Haggai Jehovah’s messenger in Jehovah’s message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith Jehovah” (Haggai 1:13).

“And Jehovah stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work on the house of Jehovah of hosts, their God, in the four and twentieth day of the month, in the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king” (Haggai 1:14-15).

Be strong and work (Haggai 2:1–9)

In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, the word asks who remembers the former house, bids Zerubbabel, Joshua and the people be strong and work, and says the latter glory shall be greater than the former.

Be strong and work

“In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, came the word of Jehovah by Haggai the prophet” (Haggai 2:1): “Speak now to Zerubbabel … and to Joshua … and to the remnant of the people” (Haggai 2:2). It asks, “Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes as nothing?” (Haggai 2:3).

“Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith Jehovah; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith Jehovah, and work: for I am with you, saith Jehovah of hosts” (Haggai 2:4).

“The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, saith Jehovah of hosts; and in this place will I give peace” (Haggai 2:9).

Asking the priests about the law (Haggai 2:10–14)

In the four and twentieth day of the ninth month the word bids Haggai ask the priests about holy and unclean things, and he applies their answers to the people.

Consider from this day and backward (Haggai 2:15–19)

The people are told to consider the time before a stone was laid upon a stone, when the LORD smote their work with blasting and mildew; from that day he will bless them.

A second word to Zerubbabel (Haggai 2:20–23)

The same day the word comes a second time to Haggai: the LORD will shake the heavens and the earth, and will take Zerubbabel his servant and make him as a signet, for he has chosen him.

Built and finished through the prophesying (Ezra 6:14–15)

The elders of the Jews build and prosper through the prophesying of Haggai and Zechariah, and the house is finished in the sixth year of Darius.

Built and finished through the prophesying

“And the elders of the Jews builded and prospered, through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the decree of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia” (Ezra 6:14).

“And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king” (Ezra 6:15). Ezra records nothing further of Haggai.

Zerubbabel (Haggai 1:1; Haggai 1:12; Haggai 2:20–23)

The word of the LORD came by Haggai to Zerubbabel, who obeyed it and whom the LORD promised to make as a signet because he had chosen him.

Joshua son of Jehozadak (Haggai 1:1; Haggai 2:4; Ezra 5:2)

The high priest, to whom with Zerubbabel the word came by Haggai; he obeyed and is called Jeshua the son of Jozadak in Ezra.

Zechariah (Ezra 5:1; Ezra 6:14)

Zechariah the son of Iddo prophesied with Haggai to the Jews, and the elders prospered through the prophesying of both.

The remnant of the people (Haggai 1:12–14; Haggai 2:4)

They obeyed the voice of the LORD and the words of Haggai, and were bidden to be strong and work.

The LORD (Haggai 1:1; Haggai 1:13; Ezra 5:1)

The word of the LORD came by Haggai, and Haggai is called the LORD's messenger in the LORD's message.

Major sections

• Ezra 4:24–6:15
• Haggai 1–2

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