The Prophet Haggai

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- Chapter 2 -

On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the LORD came through Haggai the prophet, saying:

“Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak,(a) the high priest, and also to the remnant of the people. Ask them,

‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not appear to you like nothing in comparison?’

But now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the LORD. Be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. And be strong, all you people of the land, declares the LORD. Work! For I am with you, declares the LORD of Hosts.

This is the promise I made to you when you came out of Egypt. And My Spirit remains among you; do not be afraid.”

For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth,(b) the sea and the dry land.

I will shake all the nations, and they will come with all their treasures, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of Hosts.

The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, declares the LORD of Hosts.

The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former, says the LORD of Hosts. And in this place I will provide peace, declares the LORD of Hosts.”

Blessings for a Defiled People

On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to Haggai the prophet, saying,

“This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Ask the priests for a ruling.

If a man carries consecrated meat in the fold of his garment, and it touches bread, stew, wine, oil, or any other food, does that item become holy?’” “No,” replied the priests.

So Haggai asked, “If one who is defiled by contact with a corpse touches any of these, does it become defiled?” “Yes, it becomes defiled,” the priests answered.

Then Haggai replied, “So it is with this people and this nation before Me, declares the LORD, and so it is with every work of their hands; whatever they offer there is defiled.

Now consider carefully from this day forward:(c) Before one stone was placed on another in the temple of the LORD,

from that time, when one came expecting a heap of twenty ephahs of grain,(d) there were but ten. When one came to the winepress to draw out fifty baths,(e) there were but twenty.

I struck you—all the work of your hands—with blight, mildew, and hail, but you did not turn to Me, declares the LORD.

Consider carefully from this day forward—from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, the day the foundation of the LORD’s temple was laid—consider carefully:

Is there still seed in the barn? The vine, the fig, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yet yielded fruit. But from this day on, I will bless you.”

Zerubbabel the LORD’s Signet Ring

For the second time that day, the twenty-fourth day of the month, the word of the LORD came to Haggai, saying,

“Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah that I am about to shake the heavens and the earth:

I will overturn royal thrones and destroy the power of the kingdoms of the nations. I will overturn chariots and their riders; horses and their riders will fall, each by the sword of his brother.

On that day, declares the LORD of Hosts, I will take you, My servant, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, declares the LORD, and I will make you like My signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the LORD of Hosts.”

Footnotes

(a)2:2 Jehozadak is a variant of Jozadak; also in verse 4; see Ezra 3:2.

(b)2:6 Cited in Hebrews 12:26

(d)2:16 Literally a heap of twenty

(e)2:16 Literally to draw out fifty from the winepress

In the seventh month, in the twenty-first day of the month, the LORD’s word came by Haggai the prophet, saying,

“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,

‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Isn’t it in your eyes as nothing?

Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ says the LORD. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ says the LORD, ‘and work, for I am with you,’ says the LORD of Armies.

This is the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, and my Spirit lived among you. ‘Don’t be afraid.’

For this is what the LORD of Armies says: ‘Yet once more, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, the earth, the sea, and the dry land;

and I will shake all nations. The treasure of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of Armies.

The silver is mine, and the gold is mine,’ says the LORD of Armies.

‘The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,’ says the LORD of Armies; ‘and in this place I will give peace,’ says the LORD of Armies.”

Blessings for a Defiled People

In the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the LORD’s word came by Haggai the prophet, saying,

“The LORD of Armies says: Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying,

‘If someone carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and with his fold touches bread, stew, wine, oil, or any food, will it become holy?’” The priests answered, “No.”

Then Haggai said, “If one who is unclean by reason of a dead body touch any of these, will it be unclean?” The priests answered, “It will be unclean.”

Then Haggai answered, “‘So is this people, and so is this nation before me,’ says the LORD; ‘and so is every work of their hands. That which they offer there is unclean.

Now, please consider from this day and backward, before a stone was laid on a stone in the LORD’s temple.

Through all that time, when one came to a heap of twenty measures, there were only ten. When one came to the wine vat to draw out fifty, there were only twenty.

I struck you with blight, mildew, and hail in all the work of your hands; yet you didn’t turn to me,’ says the LORD.

‘Consider, please, from this day and backward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, since the day that the foundation of the LORD’s temple was laid, consider it.

Is the seed yet in the barn? Yes, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree haven’t produced. From today I will bless you.’”

Zerubbabel the LORD’s Signet Ring

The LORD’s word came the second time to Haggai in the twenty-fourth day of the month, saying,

“Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, ‘I will shake the heavens and the earth.

I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms. I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations. I will overthrow the chariots and those who ride in them. The horses and their riders will come down, everyone by the sword of his brother.

In that day, says the LORD of Armies, I will take you, Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel,’ says the LORD, ‘and will make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ says the LORD of Armies.”