Haggai 2:1-2

THE GLORY OF THE NEW TEMPLE, Haggai 2:1-9.

These verses contain the second address of Haggai, a message of encouragement to the builders. The prophet promises, in the name of Jehovah, that the new temple, enriched by the wealth of the Gentiles and blessed with peace, shall be more glorious than that of Solomon.

Haggai 2:1 gives the date of the utterance.

Seventh month Named Tishri, covering the latter part of September and first part of October.

The one and twentieth day Less than a month after the beginning of the work. We must assume, and the assumption finds support in the contents of the message, that during the interval, when the first enthusiasm had died down, people began to think more soberly about the obstacles to be encountered. Their numbers were small, the building material was costly, some of it had to be brought from a distance, there were no resources such as Solomon could draw upon, and no allies to assist in the work; instead, they had to suffer much from their neighbors. Under these discouraging conditions the fervor of some grew cold, and some malcontents, who perhaps had held aloof from the beginning, found ready listeners. What was the use of it all? They could never expect to equal the temple of Solomon. Why not quit work? Haggai saw that the enterprise was threatened with complete failure unless he could revive the former courage and enthusiasm. This he sought to do by bringing to the discouraged builders a new message of hope and inspiration. Haggai 2:2 is similar to Haggai 1:1; Haggai 1:12 (see there).