New American Standard Bible

● Third Message (2:1-9) | Another message of encouragement.



2:1 On the twenty-first of the seventh month, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet saying,

2:2 “Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people saying,

2:3 [1] ‘Who is left among you [survivors would be about 70 years-old] who saw this temple in its former glory [before the Babylonians destroyed it]? [2] And how do you see it now? [3] Does it not seem to you like nothing in comparison? [the older returned exiles who had seen the past beauty of the temple were called to account for their display of disappointment over the present realities; these older folks who remembered the former splendor of the temple should have led the way in the rebuilding, but instead their disappointment had led to disillusionment]

2:4 But now [1] take courage, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord, [2] ‘take courage also, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all you people of the land [3] take courage,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work [it’s not enough to take courage, one must also work]; for I am with you [God’s presence is key in doing His work],’ declares the Lord of hosts.

2:5 ‘As for the promise which I made you when you came out of Egypt, My Spirit is abiding in your midst; do not fear [God’s presence mitigates all fears]!’

2:6 For thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Once more in a little while [at some future date], I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea also and the dry land.

2:7 I will shake all the nations; and they will come with the wealth of all nations, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord of hosts.

2:8 ‘The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine,’ declares the Lord of hosts.

2:9 ‘The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘and in this place I will give peace,’ declares the Lord of hosts.”

● Fourth Message (2:10-19) | God’s blessings are promised for obedience in rebuilding the temple.

2:10 On the twenty-fourth of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Haggai the prophet, saying,

2:11“Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘ Ask now the priests for a ruling:

2:12 If a man carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and touches bread with this fold, or cooked food, wine, oil, or any other food, will it become holy?’” ‘And the priests answered, “No.”

2:13 Then Haggai said, “If one who is unclean from a corpse touches any of these, will the latter become unclean?” And the priests answered, “It will become unclean.”

2:14 “Then Haggai said, “’’So is this people [those who had refused to rebuild the temple]. And so is this nation before Me,’’declares the Lord, ‘and so is every work of their hands; and what they offer there is unclean.

2:15 But now, do consider from this day onward [note what the season of God’s chastening were like]: before one stone was placed on another in the temple of the Lord,

2:16 from that time when one came to a grain heap of twenty measures, there would be only ten; and when one came to the wine vat to draw fifty measures, there would be only twenty.

2:17 I smote you and every work of your hands with blasting wind, mildew and hail; yet you did not come back to Me,’ declares the Lord.

2:18 ‘Do consider from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month; from the day when the temple of the Lord was founded [from the day of the most recent start of the work under Zerubbabel (Ezra 5:2; Hag. 1:14)], consider [a call for deeper reflection on the meaning of the work they were engaged in]:

2:19 Is the seed still in the barn? Even including the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate and the olive tree, it has not borne fruit. Yet from this day [the day the work on the temple began] on I will bless you [God promised to bless His people when they obeyed His will].’”

● Fifth Message (2:20-23) | Haggai gives a personal message to Zerubbabel.

2:20 Then the word of the Lord came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month, saying,

2:21 “Speak to Zerubbabel governor of Judah, saying [this prophecy would be fulfilled in a day beyond Zerubbabel’s day], ‘I [God] am going to shake the heavens and the earth [a reference to God’s intervention in human affairs; an indication of God’s power over the created order].

2:22 I will overthrow the thrones of kingdoms and destroy the power of the kingdoms of the nations; and I will overthrow [note the destruction of the means by which nations impose their rule on others] the chariots and their riders, and the horses and their riders will go down, everyone by the sword of another [the nations are depicted as God’s agents of judgment on one another].’

2:23 ‘On that day [refers to the same time period as the “little while” of 2:6],’ declares the Lord of hosts, ‘I will take [Hebrew word involves God’s action for a special purpose] you, Zerubbabel [in the lineage of the Messiah], son of Shealtiel, My servant [only a few people in OT called God’s “servant”; cf. Abraham (Gen. 26:24); Moses (Ex. 14:31); David (2 Sam. 7:8); God’s messianic Servant (Isa. 52:13; 53:11)],’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will make you like a signet ring [a special ring used to sign letters and documents; a symbol of royal authority; a mark of honor conferred on administrative representatives of the king; whoever possessed the king’s signet possessed great power and honor], for I have chosen [to carefully select for a mission or a purpose] you,’”declares the Lord of hosts.