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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Haggai 2:10-19

This sermon was preached two months after that in the former part of the chapter. The priests and Levites preached constantly, but the prophets preached occasionally; both were good and needful. We have need to be taught our duty in season and out of season. The people were now going on vigorously with the building of the temple, and in hopes shortly to have it ready for their use and to be employed in the services of it; and now God sends them a message by his prophet, which would be of use... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Haggai 2:14

Then answered Haggai, and said ,.... To the priests, and before the people; and made an application of these things to them, which was the thing in view in putting the questions: So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the Lord ; not only those people that were present and at work at the temple, but those that were absent, even the whole body of the people; who, though they were pure in their own eyes, yet were not so before the Lord; who knew their hearts, and the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Haggai 2:14

Then answered Haggai - So is this people - As an unclean man communicates his uncleanness to every thing he touches, so are ye unclean; and whatever ye have hitherto done is polluted in the sight of God. For your neglect of my temple has made you unclean, as if you had contracted legal pollution by touching a dead body. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Haggai 2:10-14

Human duty. "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, Thus said the Lord of hosts; Ask now the priests concerning the Law," etc. "On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month of the same year, that is to say, exactly three months after the congregation had resumed the building of the temple ( Haggai 1:15 ), and about two months after the second prophecy ( Haggai 2:1 ), a new word of the Lord... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Haggai 2:10-17

§ 1 . By an analogy drawn from the Law, Haggai shows that residence in the Holy Land and the offering of sacrifice do not suffice to make the people acceptable, as long as they themselves are unclean through neglect of the house of the Lord. Hence comes the punishment of sterility. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Haggai 2:10-19

Part III . THE THIRD ADDRESS ; THE CAUSE OF THE CALAMITIES WHICH HAD BEFALLEN THE PEOPLE , AND A PROMISE OF BLESSING . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Haggai 2:10-19

The parable of the holy and the unclean. I. THE LETTER OF THE PARABLE . Directed by Jehovah, Haggai proposes two questions to the priests. 1 . Concerning the law of communicated sanctity. Supposing the case of a man carrying in the skirt of his garment holy flesh, i.e. flesh of animals slain in sacrifice, and with his skirt touching bread, pottage, wine, oil, or any meat, the prophet desires to be informed whether the holiness which according to the Law (Le 6:27) was... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Haggai 2:10-19

The past and the future. Two months had now elapsed since, stimulated by the prophet's glowing words, the temple builders had resumed their labours (comp. Haggai 2:1 with Haggai 2:10 ). These months were of great importance with reference to agricultural interests, being the usual season for sowing the seed and planting the vines. That at such a time they should manifest so much zest in the work of rebuilding the temple proved how thoroughly in earnest they were; sad this earnestness... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Haggai 2:14

Then answered Haggai, and said ; then Haggai continued and said. He applies the principles just enunciated to the ease of the Jews, taking the communication of uncleanness first. So is this people. Not, my people, because by their acts they had disowned God ( Haggai 1:2 ). This people is defiled in my sight like one who has touched a corpse, and not only they themselves, but so is every work of their hands ; all their labour, all that they put their hands to, is unclean, and... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Haggai 2:11-14

Ask now the priests concerning the law - The priests answer rightly, that, by the law, insulated unholiness spread further than insulated holiness. The flesh of the sacrifice hallowed whatever it should touch, but not further; but the human being, who was defiled by touching a dead body, defiled all he might touch Numbers 19:22. Haggai does not apply the first part; namely, that the worship on the altar which they reared, while they neglected the building of the temple, did not hallow. The... read more

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