Haggai 2:10

In the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying, Sacrifices without obedience (in respect to God's command to build the temple) could not sanctify. Now that they are obedient, God will bless them, though no sign is seen of fertility as yet. Verse 10. IN THE FOUR AND TWENTIETH DAY OF THE NINTH MONTH - three days more than two months from the second prophecy (); in the month Chisleu, the lunar one about the time of our December. The Jews seem to have made considerable progress in the work in the interval (Haggai 2:15). Verse 11. ASK NOW THE PRIESTS - propose this question to them on the law. The priests were the authorized expounders of the law ...

Though interpreters seem to perceive the meaning of the Prophet, yet no one really and clearly expresses what he means and intends to teach us: nay, they adduce nothing but what is jejune and frigid; for they refer all these things to this point,—that sacrifices were not acceptable to God before the people had begun to build the Temple, but that from that time they were pleasing to God, because the people, in offering sacrifices in a waste place, proved by such negligence that they disregarded the command of God: but when their hands were applied to the work, God was appeased, and thus he began to accept their sacrifices which before he had rejected. This is, indeed, a part of what is meant, but not the whole; and the Prophet’s main object seems to me to be wholly different. He has been hitherto exhorting the people to build the Temple; he now exhorts them to build from a pure motive, an...

10-19 Many spoiled this good work, by going about it with unholy hearts and hands, and were likely to gain no advantage by it. The sum of these two rules of the law is, that sin is more easily learned from others than holiness. The impurity of their hearts and lives shall make the work of their hands, and all their offerings, unclean before God. The case is the same with us. When employed in any good work, we should watch over ourselves, lest we render it unclean by our corruptions. When we begin to make conscience of duty to God, we may expect his blessing; and whoso is wise will understand the loving-kindness of the Lord. God will curse the blessings of the wicked, and make bitter the prosperity of the careless; but he will sweeten the cup of affliction to those who diligently serve him....

Verse Haggai 2:10. _IN THE FOUR AND TWENTIETH_ DAY _OF THE NINTH MONTH_] Three months after they had begun to rebuild the temple, Haggai is ordered to go and put _two questions_ to the priests. 1. If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and he touch any thing with his skirt, is that thing made holy? The priests answered, No! Haggai 2:12. 2. If one has touched a _dead body_, and thereby become unclean, does he communicate his uncleanness to whatever he may _touch_? And the priests answered, YES! Haggai 2:13....

EXPOSITION HAGGAI 2:1 Part II. THE SECOND ADDRESS: THE GLORY OF THE NEW TEMPLE. Haggai 2:1—§ 1. _The prophet comforts whose who grieve at the comparative poverty of the new building with the assurance of the Divine protection and favour._ HAGGAI 2:1 IN THE SEVENTH MONTH, IN THE ONE AND TWENTIETH DAY OF THE MONTH. The seventh month is Ethanim or Tisri, answering to parts of September and Ootober. The twenty-first was the last and great day of the Feast of Tabernacles ...

IN THE FOUR AND TWENTIETH [DAY] OF THE NINTH [MONTH],.... The month Chisleu, which answers to part of November, and part of December: this was two months and three days after the former discourse or prophecy, and just three months from the time the Jews began to work in the house of the Lord, Haggai 1:14 IN THE SECOND YEAR OF DARIUS; the same year that all the former discourses and prophecies were delivered in: CAME THE WORD OF THE LORD BY HAGGAI THE PROPHET; for what he delivered was not his own, but from the Lord; he was only his minister and messenger. The Vulgate Latin version, and so Munster, render it, "unto Haggai the prophet"; and indeed what is said following seems to be directed to him, and he is the only person that put the questions directed to: SAYING; as follows:...

Haggai 2:1. _In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, came the word of the LORD by the prophet Haggai, saying,_ God's people need to be spoken to very often; and every time God speaks to them, he takes account of it. Let us do the same: let us not think it is such an unimportant matter for us to hear a gospel sermon that we need not take note when we hear it. Oh, that the Word of the Lord were more precious to us in these days! Let us praise God for it, and not reckon it to be so common a thing that we take no more notice of it than we do of eating our breakfast or sitting down to our supper. Haggai 2:2. Speak now to Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the residue of the people, saying Who is

CHAPTER 2:10-19 The Fourth Address A few months later Haggai delivered another address of moral instruction and admonition. The question the prophet asks first is answered by the priests negatively. This is followed by a second question, “If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean?” This they answered affirmatively; for he that is defiled puts defilement upon everything he handles. When they had given the right answers, the prophet makes the moral application. “So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith Jehovah; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer thereon is unclean.” All their works and offerings were unclean, because they were in that condition. They had to be cleansed first. Separation from evil, from that which defiles, was therefore demanded. So it is today. The order is “cease to do evil” and then “learn...

HAGGAI'S SERMON ON DEC. 24. Haggai bases his exhortation on a pronouncement of the priests concerning the infecting power of holiness and uncleanness respectively. In the question put to the priests, holiness has its primitive sense of a physical state (_i.e._ taboo); but in the argument which Haggai bases on their answer a more spiritual sense of the word is intended. The law (Haggai 2:11) is a mistranslation; render Ask now the priests concerning _tomb. Torah_ (p. 121, Deuteronomy 1:5 *, Proverbs 3:1 *) means strictly instruction as to right and wrong, and though with the definite article it may mean _the_ instruction _par excellence_, viz. the Law, it never loses its more general meaning. The priests a

IN THE, &C. Nearly two months after the preceding message. See note on p. 1276. BY. Many codices, with eight early printed editions, Septuagint, and Vulgate, read "unto"; but in Codex Hillel (quoted in the _Massorah,_ App-30) and others, with two early printed editions, Aramaean, and Syriac, read "by the hand of", as elsewhere in this book. See note on Haggai 1:1....