Haggai Chapter One

 (Now) Weekly From the Prophets

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The Book of the Prophet Haggai - is two chapters, and is third from the last book of the Old/Ancient Testament.

     Background (we last studied Daniel) — 586bc Nebuchadnezzar sacked Jerusalem, carried many off to Babylon.. Babylon later falls to Persia.

    Belshazzar, Nebuchadnezzar’s son succeeded him. He was the last Babylonian king, and was the “writing on the wall” king. He was followed by Darius the Mede (of Media-Persia) ..He was otherwise known as Nabonidus? He “received the kingdom” (under?) Cyrus the Great of Persia (remember how Persia “rose higher”?) Darius the Mede ruled only two years - Darius and Cyrus ruled concurrently, and Darius was likely appointed viceroy over Babylon by his nephew, King Cyrus who ruled from 550bc to 538bc. Darius (the Mede) promoted Daniel (the prophet) to a high position and then was tricked into casting him into the lions’ den. When he saw Daniel was unhurt, Darius decreed “people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. For he is the living God who endures forever. His kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end!” And as viceroy he was, and had been, favorable to Israel.

     Cyrus had decreed all Israel in all his kingdom could, and should go home, and some/many did, led by Zerubbabel (who was a descendent of King David) and they began to “rebuild the TEMPLE” (and, side note: at the time of Cyrus’ proclamation, the massive empire included once again Assyria where the northern tribes had been carried off into captivity). [This proclamation is not the one that began the countdown prophesied by Daniel called “70 weeks”.]

     Adapted from commentary:

The name Haggai means "my feast" perhaps meaning in anticipation of the joyous return from exile. He was likely one of the Jewish exiles (of Judah, Benjamin, and Levi) who returned to the land of Israel under Zerubbabel, civil head of Isreal during the return, with Joshua the high priest. It was 536 BCE, when Cyrus (as prophecied in Isa 44:28 and 45:1) granted Israel their freedom, and supplied them with what they needed for restoring the temple (2Ch 36:23; Ezr 1:1; 2:2). The work of rebuilding went on under Cyrus and his successor Cambyses (called Ahasuerus in Ezr 4:6).

     Haggai Chapter One

1:1 - In the second year of King Darius — this is Darius the Great, not Darius the Mede who co-ruled for two years. Some time has passed, this Darius (of Persia) is listed as third after Cyrus. — In the second year of Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month [on the new moon, always a festival with a community “with God” meal] the word (message) of the Lord/Yhvh came to Haggai the prophet, to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua, the high priest, son of Jehozadak: 2 “Thus says Yhvh of hosts: It’s said by the people, the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.” 3 And continued the word to Haggai, 4 “Is it a time for you to dwell in your nicely built houses, while mine lies in ruins? 5 Now, therefore, says Yhvh of hosts - Consider your ways. 6 You have sown much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but you are not warm, and the workers wages go as into a bag with holes.”

     (In other words, oh nation, where are you going wrong?)

     7 “Thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways. 8 Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be remembered, says the Lord. 9 You looked for much, but behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, it blew away. Why? It is because of my house. It lies in ruins, and all are busy with only their own house. 10 Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. 11 Summoned is a drought on the land and hills, and on the grain, the new wine, upon the oil, and what the earth brings forth, upon man and upon beast, and upon all your labors.” (God iS life, and every blessing.)

     12 Then Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of Yhvh their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent. And the people remembered and revered Yhvh. 13 Then Haggai, messenger of the Lord, spoke to the people with the Lord's message, “I am with you, says Yhvh.” 14 And he stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the high priest, son of Jehozadak, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and began work on the house of Yhvh, their God, 15 on the twenty-fourth day of the month, of the sixth month, in the second year of King Darius called the Great.