II. (1-9) _The Third Utterance._ — This utterance treats of the glory which, in a later time, is to attach itself to the sacred spot whereon the returned exiles are labouring. It was intended more especially as a message of consolation to those who remembered Solomon’s magnificent structure, and wh... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE ONE AND TWENTIETH DAY. — Here, again, the day selected is significant. The twenty-first day of the seventh month (Tisri) was the seventh and last day of the Feast of Tabernacles. This was the festival of harvest thanksgiving, and its occurrence had always been marked by observances of a pecul... [ Continue Reading ]
THE RESIDUE. — See Haggai 1:12, Note.... [ Continue Reading ]
IS IT NOT... — Better, _is not such a_ (Temple) _as this like nothing in your eyes? _... [ Continue Reading ]
ACCORDING TO THE WORD. — Better, _with the word._ The clause is connected with the closing words of Haggai 2:4. Jehovah is present with them, and so is His Promise made by solemn covenant in the days of old. SO MY SPIRIT. — Better, _and my spirit._ Besides such promises of God’s abiding favour as E... [ Continue Reading ]
YET ONCE, IT IS A LITTLE WHILE. — The construction is very difficult. The best rendering appears to be, _Yet one season more_ (supplying _êth_ before _achath_)_, it is but a little while, and, &c._ The meaning of these clauses is then that given by Keil — viz., “that the period between the present a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE DESIRE OF ALL NATIONS SHALL COME. — Better, _and the precious things of all the nations shall come_ — _scil.,_ shall be brought as offerings. (Comp. Zephaniah 3:10; Zechariah 14:16.) So apparently the LXX., ἥξει τὰ ἐκλεκτὰ πάντων τῶν ἐθνῶν. The rendering of the Authorised Version, which is b... [ Continue Reading ]
SILVER... GOLD. — It is unnatural to suppose that this is said in the sense of Ps. 1:10, as implying “I have no need of silver or gold.” Clearly what is meant is that the treasures of earth are at God’s disposal, and that He will incite the Gentiles to offer their silver and gold in His Temple. A ri... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GLORY... — Better, _The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former._ The new sanctuary is regarded as identical with that reared by Solomon. It shall have a claim to celebrity unrivalled even in the palmiest days of olden time, when Jehovah shall turn the attention of all nation... [ Continue Reading ]
(10-19) _The Fourth Utterance. — _The recent season of scarcity is again accounted for and immediate blessings are announced. This address dates about two months later than its predecessor — viz., from the ninth month — _scil.,_ Chisleu (November — December), when the early rain would be looked for... [ Continue Reading ]
HOLY FLESH. — The flesh of the sacrifice hallowed the person who touched it (Leviticus 6:27), but this sanctification was not conveyed to anything he might afterwards touch. On the other hand (Haggai 2:13), he who was defiled by such a pollution as contact with a dead body, _conveyed defilement_ eve... [ Continue Reading ]
UNCLEAN. — The defilement incurred by contact with a dead body was one of the deepest. (See Numbers 19:11.) On the force of the term _tmê nephesh,_ compare the passages Leviticus 21:11; Leviticus 22:4; Numbers 6:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT WHICH THEY OFFER THERE — _i.e.,_ probably, “on yon altar,” but the expression is singular. In Ezra 3:3 we read, “And they set the altar upon his bases.... and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the Lord, even burnt offerings morning and evening.”... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM THIS DAY AND UPWARD — _i.e.,_ backward. BEFORE A STONE WAS LAID... — Alluding to the recent resumption of building, not to the laying of the foundations fifteen years previously.... [ Continue Reading ]
SINCE THOSE DAYS WERE. — Better, _from the time when things were_ so, or, _since such things were_ — _i.e.,_ throughout that whole period of neglect up to the date when they resumed the work of restoration. Throughout that period the harvests had grievously disappointed expectation. A heap of sheave... [ Continue Reading ]
I SMOTE YOU WITH BLASTING AND WITH MILDEW... — This is a reminiscence of Amos 4:9, “I have smitten you with blasting and mildew... yet have not ye returned unto me, saith the Lord.” “Blasting” and “mildew” are two diseases on corn enumerated by Moses (Deuteronomy 28:22) among the curses on disobedie... [ Continue Reading ]
EVEN FROM THE DAY. — Better, _even to the day._ The rendering of the Authorised Version makes the passage quite unintelligible, for in no sense can the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month coincide with the day “that the foundation of the Lord’s Temple was laid.” The Temple had been founded fifteen... [ Continue Reading ]
IS THE SEED YET IN THE BARN? — _i.e.,_ There is no grain as yet in the barn, the harvest having been blighted in the last season. The term rendered in the Authorised Version “seed” does not imply grain for sowing, but grain for provision. The fruit harvest was as defective as that of cereals, having... [ Continue Reading ]
(20-23) _THE FIFTH UTTERANCE._ — The promise of Haggai 2:6 is enlarged. The heathen powers shall be consumed one of another, but the line of Zerubbabel shall stand secure, and be a witness to Jehovah’s faithfulness. Here, as in Haggai 2:6, the only satisfactory interpretation is that Haggai was char... [ Continue Reading ]
SIGNET. — On the figure of the signet-ring applied to one on whom confidence and affection are bestowed, see Song of Solomon 8:6; Jeremiah 22:24.... [ Continue Reading ]