Haggai 1:1-4 NIV

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

Adam Clarke

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

In the sixth month - Called Elul by the Hebrews. It was the sixth month of the ecclesiastical year, and the last of the civil year, and answered to a part of our September. Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel - Who was son of Jeconiah, king of Judah, and of the family of David, and exercised the post of a governor among the people, but not over them, for both he and they were under the Persian government; but they were permitted to have Zerubbabel for their own governor, and Joshua for... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Haggai 1:2

The time is not come - They thought that the seventy years spoken of by Jeremiah were not yet completed, and it would be useless to attempt to rebuild until that period had arrived. But Abp. Usher has shown that from the commencement of the last siege of Jerusalem unto this time, precisely sixty-nine years had been completed. 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

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Haggai 1:1

Verse 1 The Prophet mentions here the year, the month, and the day in which he began to rouse up the people from their sloth and idleness, by the command of God; for every one studied his own domestic interest, and had no concern for building the Temple. This happened, he says, in the second year of Darius the king. Interpreters differ as to this time; for they do not agree as to the day or year in which the Babylonian captivity began. Some date the beginning of the seventy years at the ruin... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Haggai 1:2

Verse 2 They who think that seventy years had not passed until the reign of Darius, may from this passage be easily disproved: for if the seventy years were not accomplished, an excuse would have been ready at hand,—that they had deferred the work of building the Temple; but it was certain, that the time had then elapsed, and that it was owing to their indifference that the Temple was not erected, for all the materials were appropriated to private uses. While then they were thus taking care of... read more

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

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

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

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

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

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Haggai 1:2

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

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Haggai 1:1

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Haggai 1:2

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