Haggai 2:18

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 ...

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 2:18. _CONSIDER NOW FROM THIS DAY_] I will now change my conduct towards you: _from, this day_ that ye have begun heartily to rebuild my temple, and restore my worship, _I will bless you_. Whatever you _sow_, whatever you _plant_, shall be blessed; your land shall be fruitful, and ye shall have abundant crops of all sorts....

FROM THE DAY THAT THE FOUNDATION OF THE LORD’S HOUSE - Zechariah, in a passage corresponding to this, uses the same words Zechariah 8:9, “the day that the foundation of the house of the Lord of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built,” not of the first foundation, but of the work as resumed in obedience to the words by “the mouth of the prophets,” Haggai and himself, which, Ezra also says, was Ezra 4:24; Ezra 5:1. “in the second year of Darius.” But that work was resumed, not now at the time of this prophecy, but three months before, on the 24th of the sixth month. Since then the word translated here, from, is in no case used of the present time, Haggai gives two dates, the resumption of the work, as m

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 ...

CONSIDER NOW FROM THIS DAY AND UPWARD,.... Or forward; for time to come, as the Vulgate Latin version: FROM THE FOUR AND TWENTIETH DAY OF THE NINTH [MONTH]; before observed, Haggai 2:10: EVEN FROM THE DAY THAT THE FOUNDATION OF THE LORD'S TEMPLE WAS LAID, CONSIDER [IT]; not from the time it was first laid after their return upon the proclamation of Cyrus, but from the time they began to clear that foundation, and to build upon it; and which having lain so long neglected, the renewal of it is represented as a fresh laying of it: now the prophet, as he had directed them to consider what adversity and calamities had attended them from the time of their neglect unto this time; so he would have them particularly observe what blessings they would enjoy from henceforward; by which it would appear how pleasing it was to the Lord that they had begun and were going

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

CONSIDER... CONSIDER. Figure of speech _Anadiplosis._ App-6. FROM THIS DAY: i.e. from the day the foundation of the Temple was laid. From this time, subsequently, things would be different, and Jehovah would bless them, as promised in Haggai 2:19....