Haggai
Haggai 1
Chapter I · Vol. III, pp. 1479–1480
1 Haggai reproveth the people for neglecting the building of the house. 7 He inciteth them to the building. 12 He promiseth God's assistance to them, being forward of themselves.
1 In thea second year of Darius the king,1 in the sixth month,2 in the first day of the month, came the word of the LORD, by3 Haggai the prophet, unto Zerubbabel4 the son of Shealtiel, governor5 of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high-priest, saying,
A.M. cir. 3484. B.C. cir. 520.
a Ezr.4.24;5.1,2;3.2. 2Ch.3.17,19.Zec.1.1,4,6-10;3.1.Ezr.1.8;2.63. ch.2.21.1 Ch.6.15.
1 The Darius here referred to must not be confounded with the Darius of Da. 5. 31. The latter was a Mede, and reigned at an early period of the captivity. This Darius was a Persian, the son of Hystaspes, and reigned B.C. 521-486, and consequently after the return of the Jews from exile under Cyrus.—P.
A.M. cir. 3484. B.C. cir. 520.
2 Elul, the sixth month of the ecclesiastical year, answering to a part of August and September.—C.
3 Heb. by the hand of.
4 Zerubbabel was the descendant of David, and consequently prince of Judah. See Ezr.1.8, where he is called 'Sheshbazzar,' and Mat.1.6-12.—C.
5 Or, captain.
2 Thusb speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, This people say, cThe time is not come,6 the time that the LORD's house should be built.
A.M. cir. 3484. B.C. cir. 520.
c Pr.26.16; 24.33. with Ezr.4.21,24; 5.1; 6.1.
6 They either thought the 70 years not completed, or being very busy rearing and ornamenting their own houses, invented this excuse for their neglect of the house of God.—Note, If any think such invention improbable, let them only consider the nature of the excuses pleaded for neglect of family prayer: of attendance at the Lord's table: for violation of the sabbath, &c., and they will have little difficulty in admitting that the assertion of the Jews may have been a mere invention likewise.—C.
3 Then came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying,
4 Is it time for you, O ye, dto dwell in your ceiled houses, and this house lie waste?
d Phi.2.21. Zep.2.14. 2 Sa.7.2. Ps.132.3-5.
6 Ye have gsown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages, earneth wages to put it into a bag 8with holes.9
g De.28.38. Mi.6.14,15. Am.4.9. Ho.4.10. Zec.8.10. ver.9. Mal.3.8-11; 2.2. ch.2.16.
8 Heb. pierced through.
9 In fact the blessing of God was withheld because of sin, and without it no amount of worldly prosperity, no abundance of food and raiment, could give peace or joy to the soul.—P.
7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; hConsider your ways.
h Phi.3.1. Is.28.10. ver.5. Ps.119.59,60.
8 Go up to the imountain, and bring wood, and build jthe house; and kI will take pleasure in it, and lI will be glorified, saith the LORD.
9 Yen looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow1 upon it.2 Why? saith the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste,3 and ye run every man unto his own house.4
10 Therefore5 theo heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit.
5 Heaven and earth fought against them. What a study for philosophical infidelity, ever seeking its solutions of events in second causes! while the prophet, by divine authority, ascribes them immediately to the will of Almighty God.—C.
o Ho.2.9. Le.26.19,20. De.28.23,24. 1 Ki.17.1. 2 Ki.8.1. Je.14.1-6. Joel 1.18-20. ch.2.17. Am.4.7.
11 And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labour of the hands.
12 Thenp Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Josedech, the high-priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him, and the people did qfear before the LORD.
p Ezr.5.2. ver.14. Is.55.10,11. Je.23.28,29. 1 Th.1.5; 2.13.
13 Then spake Haggai, the rLORD's messenger, in the LORD's message unto the people, saying, sI am with you, saith the LORD.
14 And the LORD tstirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high-priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came, and did uwork in the house of the LORD of hosts, their God,
t 1 Co.12.4-11. Ps.110.3. Is.26.12. Zec.10.12. Phi.4.13.
u Ezr.5.2,3,8. Ne.3.5. 1 Co.15.58. He.12.28.
Notes
Reflections.—Lukewarm professors are easily checked in their reforming attempts. If civil powers do not encourage them, they imagine it is not a proper season: and it will require both prophets and plagues to stir them up to their duty. Uncertain, unsubstantial, and unsatisfying are all the enjoyments of wealth: and it is very unlike saints to prefer temporal advantages to the honour of Christ and welfare of his church. But none ever gain by withholding from pious uses: nor can reformation be ever expected till men consider their ways. It is pleasant to be employed in that work in which God delights. And if he direct us by his Word, awe our conscience and animate our heart by his Spirit, we shall then cheerfully apply to it: and the more negligent we have been, the more diligent we ought to be. God will graciously work with such as readily apply themselves to their duty. And if he be with us, we need wish no more.