---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Haggai 1"
description: "CHAPTER 1   :-. HAGGAI CALLS
THE PEOPLE TO
CONSIDER THEIR
WAYS IN NEGLECTING
TO BUILD GOD"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/haggai/1"
---

CHAPTER 1

. HAGGAI CALLS
THE PEOPLE TO
CONSIDER THEIR
WAYS IN NEGLECTING
TO BUILD GOD'S
HOUSE: THE
EVIL OF THIS
NEGLECT TO THEMSELVES:
THE HONOR
TO GOD OF ATTENDING
TO IT: THE
PEOPLE'S PENITENT
OBEDIENCE UNDER ZERUBBABEL
FOLLOWED BY GOD'S
GRACIOUS ASSURANCE.

**1. second year of Darius**—Hystaspes,
the king of Medo-Persia, the second of the world empires, Babylon
having been overthrown by the Persian Cyrus. The Jews having no king
of their own, dated by the reign of the world kings to whom they were
subject. Darius was a common name of the Persian kings, as Pharaoh of
those of Egypt, and Cæsar of those of Rome. The name in the
cuneiform inscriptions at Persepolis is written *Daryawus,* from
the root *Darh,* "to preserve," the *Conservator*
[LASSEN]. HERODOTUS
[6.98] explains it *Coercer.* Often opposite attributes are
assigned to the same god; in which light the Persians viewed their
king. [Ezra 4:24](../../../kjv/ezra/4/24) harmonizes with
Haggai in making this year the date of the resumption of the
building.
**sixth month**—of the
Hebrew year, not of Darius' reign (compare [Zechariah 1:7](../../../kjv/zechariah/1/7);
[Zechariah 7:1](../../../kjv/zechariah/7/1); [Zechariah 7:3](../../../kjv/zechariah/7/3);
[Zechariah 8:19](../../../kjv/zechariah/8/19)). Two months later ("the
eighth month," [Zechariah 1:1](../../../kjv/zechariah/1/1))
Zechariah began to prophesy, seconding Haggai.
**the Lord**—*Hebrew,*
JEHOVAH: God's covenant
title, implying His unchangeableness, the guarantee of His
faithfulness in keeping His promises to His people.
**by Haggai**—*Hebrew,*
"in the hand of Haggai"; God being the real speaker, His
prophet but the instrument (compare [Acts 7:35](../../../kjv/acts/7/35);
[Galatians 3:19](../../../kjv/galatians/3/19)).
**Zerubbabel**—called also
Shesh-bazzar in [Ezra 1:8](../../../kjv/ezra/1/8); [Ezra 5:14](../../../kjv/ezra/5/14);
[Ezra 5:16](../../../kjv/ezra/5/16), where the same work is
attributed to Shesh-bazzar that in [Ezra 5:16](../../../kjv/ezra/5/16) is attributed to Zerubbabel. Shesh-bazzar is probably his
*Chaldean* name; as Belteshazzar was that of Daniel. Zerubbabel,
his *Hebrew* name, means "one born in Babylon."
**son of Shealtiel**—or
Salathiel. But [1 Chronicles 3:17](../../../kjv/1-chronicles/3/17); [1 Chronicles 3:19](../../../kjv/1-chronicles/3/19)
makes Pedaiah his father. Probably he was adopted by his *uncle*
Salathiel, or Shealtiel, at the death of his father (compare [Matthew 1:12](../../../kjv/matthew/1/12);
[Luke 3:27](../../../kjv/luke/3/27)).
**governor of Judah**—to
which office Cyrus had appointed him. The *Hebrew Pechah* is
akin to the original of the modern Turkish *Pasha;* one ruling a
region of the Persian empire of less extent than that under a satrap.
**Joshua**—called Jeshua
([Ezra 2:2](../../../kjv/ezra/2/2)); so the son of Nun in
[Nehemiah 8:17](../../../kjv/nehemiah/8/17).
**Josedech**—or Jehozadak
([1 Chronicles 6:15](../../../kjv/1-chronicles/6/15)), one of those
carried captive by Nebuchadnezzar. Haggai addresses the civil and the
religious representatives of the people, so as to have them as his
associates in giving God's commands; thus priest, prophet, and ruler
jointly testify in God's name.

**2. the Lord of hosts**—Jehovah,
Lord of the powers of heaven and earth, and therefore requiring
implicit obedience.
**This people**—"This"
sluggish and selfish "people." He does not say, *My*
people, since they had neglected the service of God.
**The time**—the proper
time for building the temple. Two out of the seventy predicted years
of captivity (dating from the destruction of the temple, 558 B.C.,
[2 Kings 25:9](../../../kjv/2-kings/25/9)) were yet unexpired;
this they make their plea for delay [HENDERSON].
The seventy years of captivity were completed long ago in the first
year of Cyrus, 536 B.C.
([Jeremiah 29:10](../../../kjv/jeremiah/29/10)); dating from 606
B.C., Jehoiakim's
captivity ([2 Chronicles 36:6](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/36/6)). The
seventy years to the completion of the temple ([2 Chronicles 36:6](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/36/6)) were completed this very year, the second of Darius
[VATABLUS]. Ingenious in
excuses, they pretended that the interruption in the work caused by
their enemies proved it was *not yet the proper time;* whereas
their real motive was selfish dislike of the trouble, expense, and
danger from enemies. "God," say they, "hath interposed
many difficulties to punish our rash haste" [CALVIN].
Smerdis' interdict was no longer in force, now that Darius the
rightful king was on the throne; therefore they had no real excuse
for not beginning at once to build. AUBERLEN
denies that by "Artaxerxes" in [2 Chronicles 36:6](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/36/6) is meant Smerdis. Whether Smerdis or Artaxerxes Longimanus
be meant, the interdict referred only to the rebuilding of the *city,*
which the Persian kings feared might, if rebuilt, cause them trouble
to subdue; not to the rebuilding of the *temple.* But the Jews
were easily turned aside from the work. Spiritually, like the Jews,
men do not say they will never be religious, but, It is not time yet.
So the great work of life is left undone.

**4. Is it time**—It is not time
([Haggai 1:2](../../../kjv/haggai/1/2)), ye say, to build
Jehovah's house; yet how is it that ye make it a fit time not only to
*build,* but to "dwell" at ease in your own houses?
**you, O ye**—rather, for
"you, you"; the repetition marking the shameful contrast
between their concern for *themselves,* and their unconcern for
God [MAURER]. Compare a
similar repetition in [1 Samuel 25:24](../../../kjv/1-samuel/25/24);
[Zechariah 7:5](../../../kjv/zechariah/7/5).
**ceiled**—rather,
"wainscoted," or "paneled," referring to the
walls as well as the ceilings; furnished not only with comfort but
luxury, in sad contrast to God's house not merely unadorned, but the
very walls not raised above the foundations. How different David's
feelings ([2 Samuel 7:2](../../../kjv/2-samuel/7/2))!

**5. Consider your ways**—literally,
"Set your heart" on your ways. The *plural* implies,
Consider both what ye have done (actively, ) and what ye have suffered (passively) [JEROME].
Ponder earnestly whether ye have gained by seeking self at the
sacrifice of God.

**6.** Nothing has prospered with
you while you neglected your duty to God. The punishment corresponds
to the sin. They thought to escape poverty by not building, but
keeping their money to themselves; God brought it on them *for*
not building ([Proverbs 13:7](../../../kjv/proverbs/13/7); [Proverbs 11:24](../../../kjv/proverbs/11/24);
[Matthew 6:33](../../../kjv/matthew/6/33)). Instead of cheating
God, they had been only cheating themselves.
**ye clothe . . . but . . .
none warm**—through insufficiency of clothing; as ye are unable
through poverty from failure of your crops to purchase sufficient
clothing. The verbs are infinitive, implying a *continued state:*
"Ye have sown, and *been bringing in* but little; ye have
*been eating,* but not to *being satisfied;* ye have *been
drinking,* but not to *being filled;* ye have been *putting*
on clothes, but not to *being warmed*" [MOORE].
Careful consideration of God's dealings with us will indicate God's
will regarding us. The events of life are the hieroglyphics in which
God records His feelings towards us, the key to which is found in the
Bible [MOORE].
**wages . . . put . . . into a
bag with holes**—proverbial for labor and money spent
profitlessly ([Zechariah 8:10](../../../kjv/zechariah/8/10); compare
[Isaiah 55:2](../../../kjv/isaiah/55/2); [Jeremiah 2:13](../../../kjv/jeremiah/2/13)).
Contrast, spiritually, the "bags that wax not old, the treasure
in heaven that faileth not" ([Jeremiah 2:13](../../../kjv/jeremiah/2/13)). Through the high cost of necessaries, those who wrought
for a day's wages parted with them at once, as if they had put them
into a bag with holes.

**8. Go up to the mountain**—Moriah
[ROSENMULLER]; Lebanon
[HENDERSON]. Rather,
generally, *the mountains* around, now covered with wood, the
growth of the long period of the captivity. So , "Go forth unto *the mount,*" that is, the
neighboring hills [MAURER].
**wood**—Haggai specifies
this as being the first necessary; not to the exclusion of other
materials. *Stones* also were doubtless needed. That the old
walls were not standing, as the Hebrew interpreters quoted by JEROME
state, or the new walls partly built, appears from , where express mention is made of *laying the foundations.*
**I will take pleasure in it,
and I will be glorified**—I will be propitious to suppliants in
it ([1 Kings 8:30](../../../kjv/1-kings/8/30)), and shall
receive the honor due to Me which has been withheld. In neglecting
the temple, which is the mirror of My presence, ye dishonor Me
[CALVIN]; in its being
built, ye shall glorify Me.

**9. Ye looked for much**—literally,
"looked" so as to turn your eyes "to much." The
*Hebrew* infinitive here expresses *continued* looking. Ye
hoped to have your store made "much" by neglecting the
temple. The greater was your greediness, the more bitter your
disappointment in being poorer than ever.
**when ye brought it home, I
did blow upon it**—even the little crop brought into your barns I
*dissipated.* "I did blow upon," that is, I scattered
and caused to perish with My mere breath, as scattered and blighted
corn.
**mine house . . . his own
house**—in emphatic antithesis.
**ye run**—expressing the
keenness of everyone of them in pursuing their own selfish interests.
Compare "run," [Psalms 119:32](../../../kjv/psalms/119/32);
[Proverbs 1:16](../../../kjv/proverbs/1/16), contrasted with their
apathy about God's house.

**10. heaven . . . is stayed from
dew**—literally, "stays itself." Thus heaven or the sky
is personified; implying that inanimate nature obeys Jehovah's will;
and, shocked at His people's disobedience, withholds its goods from
them (compare [Jeremiah 2:12](../../../kjv/jeremiah/2/12); [Jeremiah 2:13](../../../kjv/jeremiah/2/13)).

**11. I called**—what the "heaven"
and "earth," the second causes, were said to do (), being the *visible* instruments, Jehovah, in this
verse, the invisible first cause, declares to be His doing. He "calls
for" famine, c., as instruments of His wrath ([2 Kings 8:1](../../../kjv/2-kings/8/1)
[Psalms 105:16](../../../kjv/psalms/105/16)). The contrast is
striking between the prompt obedience of these material agencies, and
the slothful disobedience of living men, His people.
**drought**—*Hebrew,
Choreb,* like in sound to *Chareeb,* "waste"
([Haggai 1:4](../../../kjv/haggai/1/4); [Haggai 1:9](../../../kjv/haggai/1/9)),
said of God's house; implying the correspondence between the sin and
its punishment. Ye have let My house be *waste,* and I will send
on all that is yours a *wasting drought.* This would affect not
merely the "corn," c., but also "men" and
"cattle," who must perish in the absence of the "corn,"
&c., lost by the drought.
**labour of the hands**—all
the fruits of lands, gardens, and vineyards, obtained by labor of the
hands ([Deuteronomy 28:33](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/28/33) [Psalms 78:46](../../../kjv/psalms/78/46)).

**12. remnant of the people**—all
those who have returned from the exile ().
**as . . . God sent
him**—according to all that Jehovah had enjoined him to speak.
But as it is not till [Haggai 1:14](../../../kjv/haggai/1/14)
after Haggai's second message ([Haggai 1:14](../../../kjv/haggai/1/14)) that the people actually *obeyed,* MAURER
translates here, "*hearkened to* the voice of the Lord,"
and instead of "as," "*because* the Lord had sent
him." However, *English Version* rightly represents their
*purpose* of obedience as obedience in God's eyes already,
though not carried into effect till [Haggai 1:14](../../../kjv/haggai/1/14).

**13. the Lord's messenger**—so
the priests ([Malachi 2:7](../../../kjv/malachi/2/7)) are called
(compare [Galatians 4:14](../../../kjv/galatians/4/14); [2 Peter 1:21](../../../kjv/2-peter/1/21)).
**in the Lord's message**—by
the Lord's authority and commission: on the Lord's embassage.
**I*****am*****with you**— ([Matthew 28:20](../../../kjv/matthew/28/20)). On
the people showing the mere disposition to obey, even before they
actually set to work, God passes at once from the reproving tone to
that of tenderness. He hastens as it were to forget their former
unfaithfulness, and to assure them, when obedient, that He *both is
and will be* with them: *Hebrew,* "I with you!"
God's presence is the best of blessings, for it includes all others.
This is the sure guarantee of their success no matter how many their
foes might be ([Romans 8:31](../../../kjv/romans/8/31)).
Nothing more inspirits men and rouses them from torpor, than, when
relying on the promises of divine aid, they have a sure hope of a
successful issue [CALVIN].

**14. Lord stirred up the spirit of,**
&c.—God gave them alacrity and perseverance in the good work,
though slothful in themselves. Every good impulse and revival of
religion is the direct work of God by His Spirit.
**came and did work**—collected
the wood and stones and other materials (compare ) for the work. Not actually built or "laid the
(secondary) foundations" of the temple, for this was not done
till three months after, namely, the twenty-fourth day of the *ninth*
month ([Haggai 2:18](../../../kjv/haggai/2/18)) [GROTIUS].

**15. four and twentieth
day**—twenty-three days after the first message of Haggai ().

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