I. Name

Nothing is known of Haggai save what can be learned from his book. His name means Festal, but why he bore it we know not. From 2:3 it has been assumed that he was born before the exile began; if so, he must have been quite old when he uttered his prophecy. He is mentioned with Zechariah in Ezra 5:1 and 6:14 as one greatly instrumental in persuading the people to rebuild their temple. A Jewish legend makes him a member of the Great Synagogue. Another legend, based on 1:13, says that he, as well as Malachi and John the Baptist, were not men but angels. In the Septuagint his name, with that of Zechariah, is given as the author of Psalms 138, 146-148.

II. Genuineness and Date

All agree that Haggai wrote the book and that it has come down to us as he wrote it. The date is also beyond question. The second year of Darius fixes it in 520, sixteen years after the first colony returned from Babylon. His prophecy is confined to a period of four months. He is the first of the post-exilic prophets.

III. Style and Thought

The style is quite prosaic, having nothing of the lofty imaginative utterance of the prophets before the captivity. There are many repetitions, and a very free use of the interrogation detracts from the effect.

But if he is thus plain in manner he does not lack strength of thought. He sees that there is a profound relation between the physical and the spiritual surroundings, that poverty does not mean inability, and especially that when they work along the line of the divine plan they may expect great results. His conception of the future Messianic glory comes out very clearly when he speaks of the shaking of all nations and of their bringing their most desirable things to adorn the house of God, of which the latter glory would be in splendid contrast with its present small beginnings, 27.

IV. Contents

The mission of Haggai was to induce the returned exiles to rebuild their temple. The prophecy is divided into four sections, the time of each of which is carefully stated.

1. On the first day of the sixth month, 520 B. C, he reproves the people for building such elegant houses for themselves while the house of God lies waste. This neglect has brought poverty and drought. Such was the effect of his appeal that on the twenty-fourth day of the same month work on the temple was begun, 1:1-15.

2. On the twenty-first day of the seventh month he encourages the leaders and the people by assuring those who had seen the former temple that the latter glory of this new building would far exceed its former glory; that Jehovah would shake all nations and cause them to bring their desirable things into it and make it a fountain of peace, 2:1-9.

3. On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month he teaches, by a parable, the cause of their feebleness and promises anew that the blessing of God will attend their efforts to rebuild the temple, 2:10-19.

4. On the same day Haggai comes to Zerubbabel, the governor, with the announcement that God is about to shake the heavens and the earth, overthrow the kingdoms with great slaughter and make him a signet, an object which he would cherish with great care, 2:20-23. (See Mai. 3:17.)

LITERATURE

Commentaries: Orelli; G. A. Smith, The Book of the Twelve Prophets; Keil and Delitzsch; Pusey. Hengstenberg's Christology; Robertson Smith, The Prophets of Israel; Farrar, The Minor Prophets; article "Hosea" in Bible Dictionaries of Smith and Hastings; Introductions of Driver, Keil, Bleek; Stanley, History of the Jewish Church. Perowne: Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi in Cambridge Bible for Schools; and T. V. Moore: Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi.