Ezra 5:2 - Exposition

Then rose up Zerubbabel … and Jeshua. Haggai's preaching was especially addressed to these two leaders ( Haggai 1:1 ), and their spirit was especially "stirred up" ( Haggai 1:14 ) by his preaching. The prophets of God —Haggai and Zechariah—were with them , throughout their work, helping them; and that in various ways.

1. By direct command to the people—"Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house" ( Haggai 1:8 );

2. By warnings—"Because of mine house that is waste … therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit" ( Haggai 1:9 , Haggai 1:10 );

3. By exhortations—"Be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the Lord; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be ye strong, all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work" ( Haggai 2:4 ); and

4. By encouraging prophecy—"The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it" ( Zechariah 4:9 ); and "the glory of this latter house shall be greater than that of the former, saith the Lord of Hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of Hosts" ( Haggai 2:9 ). By these and similar means the two prophets aroused a spirit of enthusiasm, which caused the work to make rapid progress, and was an invaluable assistance.