Verse 12
12. Then As a result of the message contained in Haggai 1:2-11. How soon the effect manifested itself is not stated perhaps immediately, perhaps not until after the people had meditated upon it. At any rate, within little more than three weeks actual operations commenced. The names mentioned are those found in Haggai 1:1 (see there).
The remnant of the people Around a remnant of the people, saved from the national calamity, centered the hopes of the pre-exilic prophets (see on Amos 5:15). The postexilic community was, in a sense, this remnant, and to it the term is applied here. But this remnant proved faithless, and it was soon found that the hope of the future lay with a remnant within the remnant.
Obeyed They did not set to work immediately, but they laid to heart the message, and the prophet saw indications of their readiness to obey.
As Equivalent to in keeping with the fact that. Several of the ancient versions add in this clause “to them.” The people obeyed the words of Haggai, as was in keeping with the fact that Jehovah their God had sent him unto them.
Did fear Not in the sense in which the verb is used so frequently in the Old Testament (see on Zephaniah 3:7), but “they were afraid.” The prophet had pointed out to them the great power of Jehovah, and they wondered what other terrible calamities he might send.
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