Haggai 2

King James Version

Full text for Haggai Chapter 2

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,

2Speak 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,

3Who [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?

4Yet 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:

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.

6For 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];

7And 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.

8The silver [is] mine, and the gold [is] mine, saith the LORD of hosts.

9The 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.

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,

11Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ask now the priests [concerning] the law, saying,

12If 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.

13Then 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.

14Then 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.

15And 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:

16Since 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.

17I 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.

18Consider 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].

19Is 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].

20¶ And again the word of the LORD came unto Haggai in the four and twentieth [day] of the month, saying,

21Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth;

22And 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.

23In 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

The LORD encourages the discouraged builders of the second temple, promising its future glory will surpass the first. He then uses a purity law to explain why their past efforts were unfruitful, promising blessings from the day the temple's foundation was laid. Finally, Zerubbabel is chosen as a signet, signifying divine favor amidst the shaking of nations.

Medium Summary

Haggai delivers three messages from the LORD. The first encourages Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the people, who are disheartened by the modest appearance of the new temple compared to Solomon's. The LORD promises to shake the heavens and earth, bringing the "desire of all nations" and filling the house with greater glory and peace. The second message uses a priestly inquiry about ritual purity to illustrate that the people and their offerings were unclean due to their neglect of the temple, resulting in divine judgment through scarcity. However, from the day the temple's foundation was laid, the LORD promises to bless them. The final message assures Zerubbabel of his divine selection as a "signet," signifying his importance in the LORD's plan to overthrow earthly kingdoms.

Long Summary

In the seventh month, the prophet Haggai delivers the LORD's word to Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the people, addressing their despondency over the temple's diminished appearance compared to its former glory. The LORD exhorts them to be strong and work, assuring them of His presence and spirit, as covenanted from their exodus from Egypt. He declares that He will soon shake the heavens, earth, sea, and dry land, causing all nations to tremble, and "the desire of all nations" will come, filling this latter house with a glory that will surpass the former, and peace will be established there, for all silver and gold belong to Him. Later, in the ninth month, Haggai poses a question to the priests concerning ritual purity: whether holy flesh makes other things holy, to which they respond no, and whether an unclean person makes things unclean, to which they respond yes. Haggai applies this principle, stating that the people, their nation, and their offerings are unclean before the LORD due to their past neglect of the temple. He reminds them of the years of scarcity, blasting, mildew, and hail that plagued their labors as a consequence of their disobedience. However, the LORD declares that from that very day, the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, when the temple's foundation was laid, He will begin to bless them. Finally, on the same day, the LORD delivers a third message to Zerubbabel, promising to shake the heavens and the earth, overthrowing the thrones and strength of heathen kingdoms, their chariots, and riders. In that day, Zerubbabel, as the LORD's servant, will be taken and made as a signet, signifying his chosen status and importance in the divine plan.

Core Concepts

  • Divine Encouragement and PresenceThe LORD encourages the discouraged builders of the temple, reminding them of His enduring presence and spirit, and exhorting them to be strong and work despite the humble appearance of the new structure.
  • Greater Glory of the Latter HouseDespite its modest beginnings, the LORD promises that the glory of the second temple will surpass that of the first, and He will fill it with "the desire of all nations" and peace.
  • Ritual Purity and ImpurityThrough a priestly inquiry, Haggai illustrates that holiness does not spread, but uncleanness does, applying this principle to the people's spiritual state and their offerings due to their past neglect of the temple.
  • Consequences and BlessingThe chapter highlights the past period of scarcity and agricultural blight as divine judgment for neglecting the temple, followed by a promise of immediate blessing from the day the foundation was laid.
  • Shaking of NationsThe LORD declares His intention to shake the heavens and earth, and to overthrow the strength of kingdoms, signifying a profound global upheaval and a new divine order.
  • Zerubbabel as a SignetZerubbabel, the governor, is chosen by the LORD to be as a "signet," signifying his special favor, authority, and importance in the divine plan amidst the promised global upheaval.