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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 1:6

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Haggai 1:6

Ye have sown much - God will not bless you in any labor of your hands, unless you rebuild his temple and restore his worship. This verse contains a series of proverbs, no less than five in the compass of a few lines. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Haggai 1:6

Verse 6 He says that they had sown much, and that small was the produce. They who render the clause in the future tense, wrest the meaning of the Prophet: for why did he say, apply your heart to your ways, if he only denounced a future punishment? But, as I have already stated, he intimates, that they very thoughtlessly champed the bridle, for they perceived not that all their evils were inflicted by God’s hand, nor did they regard his judgement as righteous. Hence he says, that they had sowed... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Haggai 1:1-6

§ 1. The people are reproved for their indifference with regard to the erection of the temple, and admonished that their present distress is a chastisement for this neglect. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Haggai 1:1-15

Part I. THE FIRST ADDRESS : EXHORTATION TO BUILD THE TEMPLE AND ITS RESULT . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Haggai 1:3-11

The stirring appeal. It must not be supposed that, for purposes of revelation, there was any suspension of the powers of the men who were honored of God in being the medium of communicating a knowledge of his will; rather there was the retention of their own individual peculiarities and natural gifts, the Divine Spirit operating through these, and turning them to the most profitable account. One beauty of the Bible lies in the fact that, whilst upon the writings of each of its contributors... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Haggai 1:5-7

Considering one's ways. I. AN EXALTED PRIVILEGE . The faculties of introspection and reflection, which enable man to consider his ways, constitute a lofty endowment, which places him incontestably at the apex of creation. 1 . It distinguishes him from the lower animals. These may Do possessed of capabilities which enable them to perform actions in some degree resembling the fruits of intelligence—it may even be conceded are, in some instances at least, endowed with faculties... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Haggai 1:6

Their labours for years past had lacked the Divine blessing. Though they had fine houses to dwell in, they had been visited with scanty harvests and weak bodily health. Ye have sown much, and bring in little; but to bring in little (Hebrew). And this infinitive absolute is continued in the following clauses, giving remarkable force to the words, and expressing an habitual result. We see from Haggai 2:15-17 that these unfruitful seasons had visited them during all the continuance of their... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Haggai 1:6-11

Hard times. I. A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE . Poor harvests and profitless trade, famine and idleness, lack of bread and want of employment, nothing to eat, and nothing to do. The two commonly go together. Examples of famines were in ancient times those which occurred in Canaan ( Genesis 12:10 ), in Egypt ( Genesis 41:54 ), in Samaria ( 1 Kings 17:2 ; 2 Kings 6:25 ), in Jerusalem ( Jeremiah 52:6 ); in modern times those which have taken place in India, China, and other parts of... read more

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