_HE ENCOURAGETH THE PEOPLE TO THE WORK, BY A PROMISE OF GREATER GLORY TO THE SECOND TEMPLE, THAN WAS IN THE FIRST. IN THE TYPE OF HOLY THINGS AND UNCLEAN, HE SHEWETH THAT THEIR SINS HINDERED THE WORK. GOD'S PROMISE TO ZERUBBABEL._ _Before Christ 520._... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO IS LEFT AMONG YOU, &C.— See the note on Ezra 3:12. The foundation of this house was laid in the second year of Cyrus; the second year of Cyrus was fifty-three years after the destruction of the first temple; so that the oldest men among those who returned might very well remember it; and though... [ Continue Reading ]
ACCORDING TO THE WORD THAT I COVENANTED— Houbigant begins this verse with the last clause of the fourth, _For I, saith the Lord of Hosts, will bring to you that which I covenanted with you, when ye came out of Egypt; and my Spirit shall remain with you: fear ye not._ What was that covenant? says Bis... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD— The excellent Bishop Chandler has, with his usual learning and judgment, explained this remarkable prophesy; and it is from him that we have chiefly extracted what follows. The occasion of this prophesy, says he, was the dejection of the Jews at the unhopeful appearance of t... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE FOUR-AND-TWENTIETH DAY, &C.— Three months after they had begun to build the temple, Haggai receives orders from the Lord, to go and propose two questions to the priests, respecting the ceremonies of the law; in order from their answer to draw instruction for the princes and the people. He fir... [ Continue Reading ]
SINCE THOSE DAYS, &C.— The prophet is here speaking of the dearth and famine consequent upon their neglect of building the temple. The present verse is very elliptical; if the first clause were to be explained by the second, which it reasonably may, it should be rendered, _When one came to an heap f... [ Continue Reading ]
UPWARD— _Forward._... [ Continue Reading ]
YEA, AS YET THE VINE, &C.— _Have the vine,_ &c. _yet brought forth nothing._ Houbigant. _From this day have I blessed you._ The prophet makes a comparison between the dearth which preceded the building of the temple, and the fertility following, while the temple was building; and if there were not a... [ Continue Reading ]
SPEAK TO ZERUBBABEL, &C.— See this passage explained in the note on Haggai 2:6, &c. REFLECTIONS.—1st, Having set themselves heartily to their work, God encourages them by a second message, about a month after the former, to proceed in the building. Some, probably who had seen the former temple, whi... [ Continue Reading ]