Haggai 1

Haggai 1 is the first chapter of the book of Haggai, which contains only two chapters. The people who had returned from the Babylonian exile had laid the foundation of the temple and then halted construction. At this point Haggai urges them to resume building the temple. This background also appears in Ezra 5.

Outline

• Verses 1–2 In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the LORD comes to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the high priest. The people were saying that the time had not yet come to build the temple.
• Verses 3–6 The LORD rebukes the people for living in paneled houses ("cieled houses," that is, houses with walls lined with boards) while the temple lies in ruins. He tells them to consider their ways and observes that they have sown much but harvested little.
• Verses 7–11 The LORD commands them to bring wood from the mountains and build the temple. He explains that because each of them was busy only with his own house, the dew and the produce of the land were withheld and drought came.
• Verses 12–15 The leaders and the remnant of the people obey the word and fear the LORD. God says, "I am with you," and stirs up their spirits. They begin work on the temple on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month.

Key Verses

• Haggai 1:4 "Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste?" This verse states the problem the chapter addresses.
• Haggai 1:5 "Consider your ways." This is the central exhortation of the chapter and is repeated in verse 7.
• Haggai 1:13 "I am with you, saith the LORD." This is the promise given to the people who obeyed.

People and Places

• Haggai: The prophet who delivered this message.
• Darius: The Persian king, generally identified as Darius I. His second year is widely dated to 520 BC.
• Zerubbabel: The son of Shealtiel and governor of Judah.
• Joshua: The son of Jehozadak and the high priest of the returned community. The book of Ezra spells his name "Jeshua."
• Temple in Jerusalem: The temple that this chapter commands the people to rebuild.

Interpretive Considerations

The drought and crop failure of verses 10–11 are often read in connection with the covenant curses of Deuteronomy 28. Some interpreters apply this passage directly to the present day as a principle of material blessing. Others emphasize that these words addressed a specific historical situation, the rebuilding of the temple. Some scholars read the latter part of verse 15 together with Haggai 2:1. As for connections with the New Testament, the chapter is often read alongside Matthew 6:33, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness." Zerubbabel also appears in the genealogies of Jesus in Matthew 1:12 and Luke 3:27.

In the Korean Church

This chapter is widely used as a sermon text for church building projects and church dedications. Verses 4 and 8 are frequently cited to encourage building-fund offerings. On the other hand, the New Testament also understands the temple as the community of believers (1 Corinthians 3:16). For this reason, some hold that caution is needed in applying this passage directly to the construction of buildings.