1 On the twenty-first day of the seventh month of the second year of the reign of Darius, this word of Yahweh was sent through the prophet Haggai,
2 “Give this message to Zerubbabel, the go vernor of Judah, and to Joshua, the high priest, and to all the people:
The glory of the new temple
3 Is there left among you one of those who saw this house long ago in the time of its glory? What do they think of what they see now? Is it not a very little thing?
4 But I say to you, Zerubbabel, Joshua and my people: do not be discouraged. Begin to work, for I am with you, says Yahweh.
5 Do not be afraid, for my spirit is in your midst.
6 Thus says Yahweh of hosts, within a short while I will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the continents.
7 Then I will shake all the nations and bring in the treasures of the whole world. I will fill this House with glory, says Yahweh.
8 I will have as much silver and gold as I wish.
9 The renown of this Tem ple will be greater than before, and in this place I will give peace,” says Yah weh of hosts.
10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of Yahweh was directed again to the prophet Hag gai.
11 He should ask the priests to resolve the following case in accordance with the Law:
12 “If someone brings consecrated meat wrapped in his cloak, and the edge of his cloak touches bread, cooked food, wine, oil, or any other food, will all these be come consecrated food?” They immediately answered, “No.”
13 Haggai went on to say, “But if someone becomes unclean by having touched a dead body, and then touches any of these things, will all these become unclean?” This time the priests said, “Yes.”
14 Then Haggai addressed them, “So it is with this people and this nation before me, says Yahweh, so with everything they do and all they offer here: all is unclean.
15 Pay attention to this from now on: how was it with you before the rebuilding of the Temple was be gun?
16 You expected twenty sacks of wheat, but there were only ten. You thought of drawing out fifty measures of wine but there were only twenty.
17 I spoiled all your work with blight, mildew and hail. Yet none returned to me, says the Lord.
18 Pay attention, then, from now on, since the first stone of the Sanctuary of Yahweh was laid.
19 See if the wheat, the vine, the fig tree and the pomegranate go on yielding little! From this day on I will bless your olive trees.”
Promises to Zerubbabel
20 The word of Yahweh came again to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the same month,
21 “Say to Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah:
22 I will overthrow the thrones of the kings and destroy the power of the nations. I will overturn the chariot and its driver; the horses and their riders shall tumble down to the ground. They will kill one another.
23 On that day I will take you, Zerub babel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, and for me you will be like a ring on my finger with my initials on it. For I have chosen you, says Yah weh of hosts.”
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Comments Haggai, Chapter 2
• 2.3 With utter frankness, Haggai points out how modest was the work they have achieved. It was better that way, since they did not build the Temple for the sake of the Temple to be proud of it, but rather to show that they had surrendered to Yahweh.
“Do not be afraid, for my spirit is in your midst:” (2:5). We already pointed out that Spirit achieves union. Here the prophet em phasizes that Spirit removes our fears.
I will fill this House with glory (v. 7): the very poverty of the Temple invites God to hasten the time of his visitation to fill it with his glory. In a short time, Yahweh will end this transitory world in which the Jews are living and will establish his kingdom.
• 10. The question posed to the priests was in line with the mentality of those days (see commentary on Lev 8:1 and 11:1): there are “clean” or “holy” things and persons that may come into contact with God and others which are “unclean” or “profane” that cannot enter the Tem ple. Besides, “uncleanliness” is seen as some thing which can be transmitted through contact.
The conclusion is the following: These people are unclean as long as they do not provide for their God a house worthy of him; thus all their prayers and offerings are un clean simply for having passed through their hands.
• 20. Just like Zechariah (Zec 6:12), Haggai thinks that Zerubbabel, a descendant of David, might be the Messiah who will restore the nation of Israel. He does not clearly say so, but suggests it in interpreting a word of God as congratulating Zerub babel. The prophet was wrong in that; his mistake shows how divine truth and human interpretation – always fallible – can be intertwined even in the words of an authentic prophet.