Another Bible Commentary: Haggai

The prophet Haggai is mentioned in Ezra 5:1 and Ezra 6:14. He basically said, “Rebuild the Temple, already!” in the context of Ezra 4:1-5,21. Artaxerxes had said to stop.

1:1 Darius means “rich and kingly” and was the regnal name of several Persian rulers. For example, it seems that Darius I (522-486 BC) differs from Darius the Mede of Daniel 5 and 6 who differs from Darius II of Nehemiah 12:22, etc. This book of prophecy is specifically addressed to Zerubbabel and to Joshua.

1:10-11 These are Old Covenant Deuteronomy 28 curses.

2:3 These would have been persons older than the age of 75, which would have been a rarity back then compared to societies with more stable conditions, more consistent nutrition, access to healthcare, etc.

2:7-8 was fulfilled in Ezra 6:8; it resembles the more general collection of the wealth of nations seen in Isaiah 60. Christian, a person on a gold couch, whether a television personality or selected in conclave, does not need your rent money. I’ll explain more in the New Testament. In the Bible, to “shake” signifies transformation, like shaking an Etch-A-Sketch leaving only what is unchanging. Such shifts include Hebrews 12:26-27 (from idols to Law), Matthew 27:51 (from Law to the Gospel), and Hebrews 12:28 (from the temporal to the eternal).

2:9 Even though it wasn’t Ezekiel’s Temple, Jesus (the Glory of God according to John 1:14) visited after Herod did lots of expensive remodeling. Now, Christians are an even greater Temple (1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 1 Peter 2:5) with Christ living in us.

2:13 like Numbers 19:11.

2:14 “this people…this nation…defiled” God’s nice; He blessed them anyway in verse 19. Is it any wonder that John the Baptist set up shop in the wilderness and started trying to wash that stink off of them?

2:23 “signet ring” like in Esther 3:10 and Esther 8:2, signifying royal authority. “Governor” Zerubbabel is treated like a Davidic monarch, reversing the curse on his family (Jeremiah 22:24-30) if any such thing persisted beyond Jehoiachin’s lifetime. Zerubbabel is in Jesus’ family tree (Matthew 1:12).

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