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,
In the seventh month. See note on p. 1276.
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
by. See note on Haggai 1:1 .
Haggai. See note on Haggai 1:1 .
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,
Zerubbabel. . . Shealtiel, governor. . . Joshua . . . Josedech. See notes on Haggai 1:1 .
the residue = the remnant.
3.
Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?
Who is left . . . ? = Who is there among you, the remnant? Evidently there were some present who had seen it. Compare Ezra 3:12 .
this house. The Temple is regarded as one throughout.
first = primitive.
4.
Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work: for I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts:
saith the LORD of hosts = [is] the oracle of Jehovah Sabaioth. See note on 1 Samuel 1:3 .
5.
According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.
I covenanted with you: or, supply the Ellipsis thus: "[I remember", or "Remember ye] the word which I", &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 29:45 , Exodus 29:46 ).
when ye came, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 12:51 ). App-92 .
so My Spirit, &c.: i.e. speaking by the prophets. Compare Nehemiah 9:20 . Isaiah 63:10-14 .
Spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 .
remaineth: or, abideth.
6.
For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land;
saith = hath said.
once = first; as in Haggai 1:1 with Haggai 2:1 . Hebrew. 'chad = one of several. See note on Deuteronomy 6:4 . There had been shakings before; but this one would be extreme and final. Quoted in Hebrews 12:26 , Hebrews 12:27 . Greek. hapax = once for all: i.e. first, before the fulfillment of the promise given in the clause which follows. It is feminine here, and cannot agree with "little" (one little, or a little) because me'at is masculine.
I will shake. See the Structure, below (Haggai 2:21 ). Not "convert"; but shake violently, as in Psalms 46:3 ; Psalms 77:18 . Jeremiah 10:10 , &c.
and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ): emphasizing the universality of this last shaking, in contrast with all former shakings. It refers to the great tribulation (Matthew 24:29 , Matthew 24:30 ). Compare Isaiah 13:13 ; Isaiah 24:18 .
7.
And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.
the desire. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of the Adjunct), App-6 , for the object of desire, which cannot be "things", for hemdath is feminine, singular, and refers to Him Who alone can satisfy the desire of all nations. Compare 1 Samuel 9:20 . 2 Chronicles 21:20 .
shall come. The verb is plural: hence some would refer it to the treasures of "silver and gold" of Haggai 2:8 . But when two nouns stand together (as here) the verb may agree in member with either noun. Here it agrees with "nations" in number, but with the object desired in reality. The Septuagint reads "the elect of all the nations".
glory. This refers to the future millennial Sanctuary of Ezekiel ( App-88 ), as it follows after the great shaking of this verse and Revelation 6:12-17 . Moreover this "glory" is connected with the final peace (Haggai 2:9 , Isaiah 9:6 ; Isaiah 60:18 ). The second Temple was connected with "grace", not "glory", and was followed by wars, not peace (Matthew 10:34 ; Matthew 24:6-8 . Luke 12:51 ).
8.
The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.
The silver, &c. Compare Isaiah 2:7 ; Isaiah 60:9-17 ; Isaiah 61:6 .
9.
The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.
latter house, &c. Render: "Greater shall he the last glory of this house than the first". Ezekiel 48:2 .Ezekiel 4:5 ; Ezekiel 44:4 .
peace. Compare Isaiah 9:6 . Micah 5:5 .Zechariah 9:9 , Zechariah 9:10 .
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,
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 .
11.
Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying,
Ask now, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 10:10 , Leviticus 10:11 .Deuteronomy 17:11 ; Deuteronomy 33:10 ). App-92 . Supply the Ellipsis : "Ask now [direction]", &c.
12.
If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priests answered and said, No.
holy. See note on Exodus 3:5 .
holy flesh: i.e. the flesh of a sacrifice. Compare Jeremiah 11:15 .
skirt = wing. See note on Ruth 3:9 .
or. Note the Figure of speech Paradiastole ( App-6 ).
wine. Hebrew. yayin. App-27 .
shall = will.
holy. See note on Ex". Hag 3:5 .
No. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 6:27 ). App-92 .
13.
Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean.
by = by [touching].
dead body = soul. Hebrew. nephesh . See App-13 . where see thirteen passages in which nephesh is used of a "dead soul" in distinction from a "living soul", as in Genesis 2:7 . Reference to Pentateuch. App-92 .
unclean. Ref to Pentateuch (Leviticus 22:4 , Leviticus 22:6 ).
14.
Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the LORD; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean.
Then, &c. This is the application of verses: Haggai 2:11-13 .
there. Referring to the altar which was set up before the building of the Temple. See Haggai 2:15 . Compare Ezra 3:2 , Ezra 3:3 , with Haggai 2:6 .
15.
And now, I pray you, consider from this day and upward, from before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of the LORD:
consider. See note on Haggai 1:5 .
from this day. The day of the prophet's message.
upward = above, as to place; backward, as regards time; as explained. Referring to past time, before the foundation was laid. See the Structure (and "if"); and note on Haggai 2:19 .
16.
Since those days were, when one came to an heap of twenty measures, there were but ten: when one came to the pressfat for to draw out fifty vessels out of the press, there were but twenty.
measures. Supply "sheaves".
there = and there.
vessels. Omit "vessels". Hebrew. purah = a winepress. Occurs only here, and Isaiah 63:3 . Hence used of a wine measure.
17.
I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the labours of your hands; yet ye turned not to me, saith the LORD.
I smote you, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 28:22 ). App-92 .
18.
Consider now from this day and upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, even from the day that the foundation of the LORD's temple was laid, consider it.
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 .
19.
Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth: from this day will I bless you.
Is the seed . . . ? The answer is no. It was sown.
yea, as yet = howbeit, though at present. See notes on p. 618, and App-58 .
from this day = from this very day. Referring to their obedience in building
you. Omit; and take "bless" absolutely.
20.
And again the word of the LORD came unto Haggai in the four and twentieth day of the month, saying,
again. On the same day: i.e. a second time.
21.
Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth;
governor. See note on Haggai 1:1 .
I will shake. Compare the Structure p. 1276; and note on Haggai 2:6 . Hebrew I am shaking, or about to shake. Referring to a nearer shaking than Haggai 2:6 .
the heavens and the earth. See note on Deuteronomy 4:26 .
22.
And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother.
heathen = nations.
23.
In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the LORD, and will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee, saith the LORD of hosts.
as a signet. Compare Song of Solomon 8:6 . Jeremiah 22:24 . See also, for this honour, Zechariah 4:7-10 ; Zechariah 6:13 ; and compare Genesis 41:42 .Esther 3:10 .
chosen thee. As David and others were chosen (1 Kings 8:16 ; 1 Kings 11:34 , &c).
thee. This must refer to the true prince and governor of Isaiah 9:6 , Isaiah 9:7 .