Haggai is the first of the postexilic prophets. These three: Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi proclaim the word of God in an entirely new age. The former prophets denounced Israel’s sins and announced the imminent Judgment. Now, after the trial of the destruction of Jerusalem and the Exile in Babylon, the Jewish community must rebuild the nation, and this is when the prophets demand that first, the Temple must be rebuilt. It is a fact that the Jews (and this is true for us, too) had to serve God before asking him for the solution to their problems.

Haggai’s message is prophetic in another sense: it initiates a new stage in Sacred History in which the growth of the Jewish people will depend on their faithfulness to the Law and on their worship. The Temple is already the Dwelling place of God among his people. They have to wait also for a mysterious coming of God: that day when he will come to visit his people.

Against those who think only of their own house

1 In the second year of the reign of Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, a word of Yahweh was directed to the prophet Haggai for the benefit of Zerub babel, the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest.

2 “So says Yahweh of hosts: This people claim that the time to rebuild the House of Yahweh has not yet come.

3 Well now, hear what I have to say through the prophet Haggai:

4 Is this the time for you to live in your well-built houses while this House is a heap of ruins?

5 Think about your ways:

6 you have sown much but harvested little, you eat and drink but are not satisfied, you clothe yourselves but still feel cold, and the laborer puts the money he earned in a tattered purse.

7 Now think about what you must do:

8 go to the mountain and look for wood to rebuild the House. This will make me happy and I will feel deeply honored, says Yahweh.

9 You expected much but it turned out to be very little. I blew away what you had piled up. Why? Because my House lies in ruins while each of you goes running home.

10 Therefore the heavens have withheld rain, and the earth has not pro duced anything.

11 I sent drought upon the valley and the hills, upon the wheat and the vines, the oil and whatever the soil produces, upon people and animals, and upon any work of your hands.”

12 Now, when Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest,

13 and all the people heard these words of the prophet Haggai whom Yahweh had sent to speak to them, they paid attention to what Yahweh had told them and the people were filled with respect for God.

14 Then Haggai, the messenger of Yahweh, passed on to the people this word of Yahweh, “I am with you.” Then Yahweh moved the heart of Zerubbabel, Joshua and all the people, and they began rebuilding the House of Yahweh of hosts, their God.

15 It was the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month.

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.