Haggai 1:1-11

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 1:1

In the second year of Darius the King ,.... That is, of Persia; he is spoken of as if he was the only king in the world; and indeed he was the then greatest king in it; and therefore is emphatically called "the king". This was not Darius the Mede, as Genebrard; who was contemporary with Cyrus, and partner in the kingdom; nor Darius Nothus, as Scaliger, and those that follow him; since the second year of this Darius was, according to Cocceius, who follows this opinion, one hundred and thirty... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Haggai 1:2

Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts ,.... Of armies above and below; whom all ought to reverence, honour, and obey; who was able to support his people in building his house, and protect them from their enemies, which should have been an encouragement to them; and to punish them for their neglect of it, which might have deterred them from it. This preface is made, to show that what follow were not the words of the prophet, but of the Lord; and therefore to be the more regarded, and the truth of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Haggai 1:3

Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet ,.... This is a second prophecy, distinct from the former; that was delivered to the two governors, setting forth the sentiments and language of the people concerning the building of the temple, which was left with them to consider how just it was; but this is sent to the people themselves, expostulating with them about the folly and ingratitude of it: saying ; as follows: 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

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