S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

Author: Haggai 1:1 identifies the author of the Book of Haggai as the Prophet Haggai.Date of Writing: The Book of Haggai was written in approximately 520 B.C.Purpose of Writing: Haggai sought to ch...

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November 15 2013 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

John Appelt Supporter

The book of Haggai was written during the Persian period after the fall of Babylon and seventy years after the fall of Jerusalem. At the time of writing, the temple, that had begun to be rebuilt, was standing unfinished, Ezra 4:23-24. Haggai was one of the prophets calling the people to resume work on it, Ezra 5:1.

Haggai means “my festival.” The root word “chag” can mean “feast” “solemnity,” “sacrifice,” or “victim.” The book seems to be based on his name, as the names of all the writing prophets correspond with their writings. The message of Haggai for the people to rebuild the temple, was so sacrifices could resume, and feast days be celebrated once again.

The book contains four messages from the Lord, each one specifically dated and all within four months in the second year of King Darius of Persia. They are outlined as follows:

Haggai 1:1 - call to commitment, 6th month, 1st day
Haggai 2:1 - call to courage, 7th month, 21st day
Haggai 2:10 - call to consecration, 9th month, 24th day
Haggai 2:20 – call to confidence, 9th month, 24th day

The first call, Haggai 1:1-15, was to energize the people to rebuild. But the people were unconcerned – their luxurious houses were more important to them, Haggai 1:2-3. The delay in building caused God to judge them with drought so that they were not blessed. No fruit meant no offering of sacrifices. The Lord called on them to begin building again, so He would have pleasure and be glorified, Haggai 1:4-11. The people obeyed, “fearing the presence of the Lord,” and God’s house was enthusiastically begun again twenty-three days later, Haggai 1:12-15. It would be completed four years later, Ezra 6:15. 

The second call, Haggai 2:1-9, was to encourage the people. The people were not impressed with the temple not being as glorious as Solomon’s Temple, Haggai 2:2-3. But the Lord assured them of His presence, Haggai 2:4-5. He also revealed that the desire or choicest things of all the Gentiles, shall come as offerings to the temple, Isaiah 60:11, Zephaniah 3:10, Zechariah 14:14. The temple will be filled with glory, and it will be the place that will give peace, Haggai 2:6-9.

The third call, Haggai 2:10-19, was to enlighten the people. They were not cleansed but defiled, and because of this, from the beginning of the temple rebuilding, their harvests had been diminished. But God promised blessing from that day forward, Haggai 2:19.

On the same day that God spoke about holiness, Haggai was given a personal message for the governor of Judah, Zerubbabel, Haggai 2:20-23. God purposed to shake the world, overthrowing governments, Hebrews 12:26. But He assured Zerubbabel that he was chosen, and he would be made like a signet ring, which indicated authority and power, just as God had removed the signet ring from royalty, Jeremiah 22:24. 

Haggai’s message was to prepare the people for true festive days, but it meant considering their ways to conform to God’s will.

July 09 2023 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

What is the book of Haggai?

Haggai 1:1 ESV - 1 "In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest:"

The Book of Haggai is a short, two-chapter Old Testament prophetic book (part of the Minor Prophets) written in 520 BC to encourage the returned Jewish exiles in Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple. It challenges the people's misplaced priorities—focusing on their own homes while God's house lies in ruins—and promises future glory and blessing for their faithfulness.

Haggai Outline – Chapter 1

Reproof for not rebuilding the Temple (1-11)

'Is it the time to live in panelled houses?' (4)
"Set your heart on your ways" (5)
Sowing much but harvesting little (6)
The people listen to God's voice (12-15)
Haggai Outline – Chapter 2
The second Temple to be filled with glory (1-9)
All the nations to be shaken (7)
Nations' precious things to come in (7)
Rebuilding the Temple brings blessings (10-19)
Holiness cannot be transferred (10-14)
A message to Zerubbabel (20-23)
"I will make you like a seal ring" (23)

The Book of Haggai helps us understand why it was written:

Context: Written to a community that returned from Babylonian exile but halted reconstruction of the Temple.

Haggai calls on the people to prioritise rebuilding the Temple, arguing that their neglect has led to economic and agricultural hardship.

Structure: Consists of four distinct messages or oracles delivered by the prophet over four months in 520 BC.

Some Key Themes:

Priorities: The need to put God's house first.

Encouragement: A message to not be discouraged by the small beginnings of the new, less impressive Temple compared to Solomon's.

Future Hope: Promises that the "latter glory" of this house will be greater than the former, pointing to a future, broader redemption.

Significance: The book led to Zerubbabel, the governor, and Joshua, the high priest, beginning the rebuilding process.

Messianic Connection: The promise to Zerubbabel as a "signet ring" (Hag 2:23) is seen as a link to the Davidic royal line and as a foreshadowing of Jesus.

The Book of Haggai is closely associated with the book of Zechariah, as both prophets worked together to motivate the community to complete the Temple.

Some Historical Context of the Book of Haggai:

After Cyrus the Great of Persia conquered Babylon in 539 BC, he issued a decree allowing the Jews to return to Judea to rebuild their Temple. While work began initially, it was halted for roughly 16–18 years due to opposition and local apathy. Haggai's prophecies were delivered during the second year of King Darius I to motivate the people to resume and complete the construction.

Why did God commission Haggai? For this reason, Cyrus issued the decree permitting the Jews to return to their homeland to rebuild the house of God. But it was now 520 B.C.E., and the Temple was far from being completed. All these years, the Jews had let enemy opposition, along with their own apathy and materialism, prevent them from realising the very purpose of their return.—Ezra 1:1-4; 3:10-13; 4:1-24; Hag. 1:4.

God's four messages communicated through Haggai were beneficial to the Jews of that day. They were encouraged to go right to work, and in four and a half years, the Temple was completed to advance true worship in Israel. (Ezra 6:14, 15) God blessed their zealous activity.

The whole tenor of Haggai's message is that if a person is to enjoy God's blessings, they must serve the true God and do the work that Jehovah commands.

7 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report