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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Haggai 1:1-11

It was the complaint of the Jews in Babylon that they saw not their signs, and there was no more prophet (Ps. 74:9), which was a just judgment upon them for mocking and misusing the prophets. We read of no prophets they had in their return, as they had in their coming out of Egypt, Hos. 12:13. God stirred them up immediately by his Spirit to exert themselves in that escape (Ezra 1:5); for, though God makes use of prophets, he needs them not, he can do his work without them. But the lamp of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Haggai 1:4

Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your panelled houses ,.... They could not only find time, leisure, and convenience to build houses to dwell in; but to wainscot them, and line them with boards of cedar, as the Targum; as bad as the times were complained of; and could sit in them, indulging themselves in luxury, ease, and sloth; and why then was it not a fit and convenient time as well to build the house of the Lord in? and this house lie waste ? or, "and shall this house lie... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Haggai 1:5

Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts ,.... The Lord God omniscient and omnipotent, that saw all their actions, and could punish for them; since they were so careful of their own houses, and adorning them, and so careless of his house; he would have them now sit down, and seriously think of these things, and of what he should further observe unto them: Consider your ways ; their sinful ways, and repent of them, and forsake them, particularly their ingratitude before observed; and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Haggai 1:6

Ye have sown much, and bring in little ,.... Contrary to what is usually done; the seed that is sown is but little, in, comparison of what springs up, is reaped, and gathered into the barn; which commonly affords seed again to the sower, and bread to the eater; but here much land was tilled, and a great deal of seed was sown in it; but a thin crop was produced, little was gathered into the barn; a blessing being withheld from the earth, and from their labours, because of their sins, which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Haggai 1:7

Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Consider your ways. What they have been; what has been the consequence of them; and to what the above things are to be ascribed. This exhortation is repeated, to impress it the more upon their minds; and to denote the importance of it, and the necessity of such a conduct; See Gill on Haggai 1:5 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Haggai 1:8

Go up to the mountain ,.... Or, "that mountain" F21 ההר "in istum montem", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. ; pointing either to Lebanon, to cut down cedars, and bring them from thence for the building of the temple; or Mount Moriah, on which the temple was to be built; and thither carry the wood they fetched from Lebanon, or were brought from thence by the Tyrians: and bring wood ; or, "that ye may bring wood"; from Lebanon, or any other mountain on which wood grew, to Mount... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Haggai 1:9

Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little ,.... They looked for a large harvest, and very promising it was for a while; but in the end it came to little; it was a very small crop, very little was reaped and gathered in: or, "in looking", ye looked "to increase" F24 אל הרבה "ad rem augendam", Grotius. ; your substance; had raised expectations of making themselves and families by their agriculture, and by their plantations of vines and olives, and by their trade and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Haggai 1:10

Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew ,.... Or, "therefore over", or "upon you" F1 על־כן עליכם "propterea super vos", Varenius, Reinbeck, Burkius. ; where should be a stop; that is, because, of your neglect of the house of God; therefore upon you, and upon you only, and not upon other nations, the heaven is restrained from letting down the dew: or, "therefore I am against you" F2 "Idcirco contra vos", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. ; for the above reason, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Haggai 1:11

And I called for a drought upon the land ,.... Upon the whole land of Judea; as he withheld the dew and rain from falling on it to moisten it, refresh it, and make it fruitful; so he ordered a vehement heat to dry and parch it; and directed the rays of the sun to strike with great force upon it, and cause the fruits of it to wither; and which is done by a word of his; when he calls, every creature obeys. There is an elegant play on words, which shows the justness of such a proceeding, that... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Haggai 1:4

Is it time for you - If the time be not come to rebuild the temple, it cannot be come for you to build yourselves comfortable houses: but ye are rebuilding your houses; why then do ye not rebuild the house of the Lord? The foundation of the temple had been laid fourteen years before, and some considerable progress made in the building; and it had been lying waste in that unfinished state to the present time. read more

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