The prophets haggai and zechariah played an important role in encouraging the jewish people and their leaders zerubbabel, the governor of judah, and the high priest joshua to return to their homeland and rebuild the jerusalem temple following the babylonian exile. Obedience brings the encouragement and strength of the spirit. Haggai summary we hope that you find the haggai summary from the kjv bible chapters and verses helpful to your bible studies and for references as a guide to further reference to the book of haggai. He is known for his prophecy in 520 bce, commanding the jews to rebuild the temple. The book of haggai, also called the prophecy of aggeus, the 10th of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets. Next to obadiah, haggai is the shortest book in the old testament, containing but two chapters comprised of a total of 38 verses. The historical setting dates around 520 bce before the temple has been rebuilt. The book of haggai, also known as the book of aggeus, is a book of the hebrew bible or tanakh, and has its place as the thirdtolast of the minor prophets. A survey of the major and minor prophets haggai historical background of the book.
Key personalities are haggai, zerubbabel, and joshua. But the lord had also prophesied through the prophet jeremiah, for thus says the. These events that build the historical background of the book of haggai are described in detail in the book of ezra. Insofar as the book of haggai purports to record the prophets attempt to. They had started well, constructing the altar and offering sacrifices, and the following year laid the foundation of the temple. Haggai is among the most carefully and precisely dated books in the entire bible. The completion of the temple is not mentioned in haggai. Zechariah is a contemporary of haggai and shares his concern for a rebuilt temple and a new messianic age under the leadership of joshua and zerubbabel. The prophecies of haggai were given during the time of the return of israel from the babylonian captivity in about 520bc. Haggai was the first to prophesy to the people who had returned, although zechariah soon followed. The book of haggai contains four prophetic messages, all delivered in about four months. They had started well, constructing the altar and offering sacrifices, and the following year. The book of haggai was written in approximately 520 b. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by print, microfilm, mi crofiche.
Historical background the books of haggai and malachi location authorship, date, and provenance of the book the new american commentary. The historical setting dates around 520 bc before the temple has been rebuilt. Haggai hebrew author britannica encyclopedia britannica. Haggai is the second shortest book in the ot obadiah is.
Chapter first comprehends the first address 211 and its effects 1215. This is where we learn that the work of rebuilding the temple was interrupted for around 14 years but taken up again as a result of the prophetic ministry of haggai and zechariah in the second year of king darius. Even though the book was written in the third person e. It is a postexilic book, meaning it was written after post the captivity exile in babylon. Haggais words concern conditions in the persian province of judah at the beginning of the postexilic period during the reign of the. The book of haggai contains messages delivered by the prophet haggai, and thus it is reasonable to consider haggai its author. The jews had been held captive in the land of babylon for. The book of haggai is a book of the tanakh hebrew bible and of the old testament, written by the prophet haggai.
Transcribed and edited by david sielaff, march 2014. Most major english translations have presented the text in prose form, although a number of translators would acknowledge some poetic elements in the text. Even though it records messages from the lord almighty which were given through the prophet, haggai, in the year 520 bc, the principles related in these messages are still very relevant to us today so, get some colored pencils or pens blue, purple, red, orange, etc. The prophet haggai recorded his four messages to the jewish people of jerusalem in 520 bc, eighteen years after their return from exile. Haggai was one of the prophets from the old testament of the bible. The specific mention of the second year of darius 1.
It is a short book, consisting of only two chapters. It is the only book of the english bible to contain two chapters. Outline of the book of haggai haggais work haggai was a prophet of god that prophesied to the jews who had returned to jerusalem from babylon during the year 536 bc i. Haggai pastor david legge 4 haggai is the tenth of the twelve minor prophets. The prophet haggai was active in jerusalem in or around the year 520 bc. All of these prophetic books contain a piece of the puzzle that contributes to the total historicalspiritual picture. If you look on the back of your handout, you see outlined there the preexilic, the exilic and the postexilic prophets. The specific mention of the second year of darius places the book in the year 520 b. The historical background for haggais prophecy is found in ezra 5 and 6. The books of ezra and nehemiah are also key literary sources on the restoration of the jewish religious. The object of the prophet was generally to urge the people to proceed with the rebuilding of the temple. It was written in 520 bce, some 18 years after cyrus had taken the kingdom of babylon and made a law in 538 bce, so that the captive jews could return to judea.
Go up to the mountains, bring wood and rebuild the temple, that i may be pleased with it and be glorified, says the lord. He called them to reverence and glorify god by building the temple in spite of local and official opposition. Background to haggai the prophecies of haggai were given during the time of the return of israel from the babylonian captivity in about 520bc. Does god use frustrations in life to awaken andor punish us haggai 1. Because his name means festal one, it is suggested that haggai was born on a feast day. Haggais message to rebuild the temple was passionate, simple, and straightforward haggai 1. Israel had been a very strong nation around bc, under the rule of the kings david and solomon, but since that time had been in a decline. One of the socalled minor prophetical books of the old testament. Haggai figures significantly in the endtime period we are.
The book of the prophet haggai the prophets haggai and zechariah played an important role in encouraging the jewish people and their leaders zerubbabel, the governor of judah, and the high priest joshua to return to their homeland and rebuild the jerusalem temple following the babylonian exile. Book of haggai bible survey what are the major prophets and minor prophets. God gives his followers wisdom and energy to do the work he assigns them. Haggai in the picture study bible the book of haggai. Then the prophets, haggai the prophet and zechariah the son of iddo, prophesied unto the jews that were in jerusalem, in the name of the god of israel, even.
Haggai haggai is the first of the prophets which are postexilic or who prophesied after the captivity. To grasp its full significance, we require knowledge about the books of ezra, jeremiah, malachi, and zechariah. Intro to haggai biblica the international bible society. God wants his temple built, and he encourages zerubbabel, joshua and the people to build it. Book of haggai the old testament book of haggai reminds gods people that he is their first priority in life. The prophet haggai recorded his four messages to the jewish people of jerusalem in 520 bc, eighteen years after their return from exile in babylon 538 bc. Haggai is the tenth of the minor prophets, the last 12 books of the old testament. He probably was one of the jewish exiles of the tribes judah, benjamin, and levi who returned under zerubbabel, the civil head of the people, and joshua, the high priest, 536 b. The community in judah is struggling with its identity in light of the loss of its statehood through the demise of the monarchy and the destruction of. The people of israel had returned from exile but were experiencing economic hardship. Haggai clearly shows the consequences of disobedience 1. Aggaeus was a hebrew prophet during the building of the second temple in jerusalem, and one of the twelve minor prophets in the hebrew bible and the author of the book of haggai. Haggais ministry was very brief, but zechariahs lasted much longer.
The book of haggai is the second smallest book of the old testament. He is given no introduction other than the prophet cf. A contemporary of the prophet haggai in the early years of the persian period. Haggai introduction commentary commentary critical and. Although it must be acknowledged that this conclusion is highly debated. Book of haggai overview insight for living ministries. Chapter second contains, the second prophecy 19, which was delivered a month after the first. Haggai in the picture study bible the book of haggai with. In the book of haggai the lord reveals a message to haggai for the people asking them to consider your ways. When the babylonians conquered jerusalem in 586 bc, they destroyed the magnificent temple built by king solomon and carried the jews into exile in babylon.
When the people give priority to god and his house, they are blessed rather than cursed cf. About the e book is a daily bible reading study of the book of haggai by deborah h. The book of haggai is closely linked with zechariah 18. In hebrew the book is titled ygj after the name of the prophet which probably meant my feast 1.
Why were the israelites not rebuilding the temple haggai 1. The temple was still in ruins despite some work recorded in the book of ezra. Haggai introduction united states conference of catholic bishops. We learn from ezra that it was finished on the third day of the month adar in darius sixth year. Book of haggai the book of haggai, also known as the book of aggeus, is a book of the hebrew bible or tanakh, and has its place as the thirdtolast of the minor prophets. This summary of the book of haggai provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of haggai. The book of haggai consists of two brief, comprehensive chapters. Through the prophet isaiah the lord had foretold, behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and what your fathers have accumulated until this day, shall be carried to babylon. Read book of haggai minor prophets kjv bible online. Apart from obadiah, haggai is the shortest book in the ot, but its teachings are none the less significant. Cyrus also wanted the temple in jerusalem to be built, so that the worship there could be begun again. The book of haggai, the 10th of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets. Book of haggai simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
The book of haggai is narrative history and prophetic oracle. Haggai 12 esv the command to rebuild the temple in. The book of haggai probably contains poetic oracles framed by narratival sections 1. Introduction to haggai by matthew henry blue letter bible. Haggai is second only to obadiah in brevity among the books of the old testament. These jews were led back to jerusalem to rebuild the temple of jehovah that had been destroyed by the babylonians. The prophet haggai played an important role during the restoration of the jewish homeland following the babylonian exile. Some have the honor to lead, others to last, in the work of god matthew henry.
A rhetorical analysis of the book of haggai semantic scholar. Haggai preached his sermons during the second year of darius i 521486 b. Haggai is a book in the old testament of the bible which is very essential to us today. Haggai is known only from this book as well as two references to him in the book of ezra. The book of haggai haggais words concern conditions in the persian province of judah at the beginning of the postexilic period during the reign of the persian king darius i 522486 b. Haggai ministered among the jews who had returned to judea after some 70. Haggai 12 english standard version esv the command to rebuild the temple. No portion of scripture has been so misunderstood as the ook of haggai, b the tenth of the minor prophets. Then the prophet haggai and zechariah the son of iddo, prophets, prophesied to the jews who were in judah and jerusalem, in the name of the god of israel.
In greek the book is titled aggaios, a transliteration from the hebrew, from which we get our english spelling of haggai. May 02, 2020 the book of haggai is a reminder of the problems the people of god faced at this time, how the people courageously trusted in god, and how god provided for their needs. It is the twentyfifth book in the daily bible reading series by the author. Consider your ways contains four daily bible reading lessons consisting of a brief commentary by the author, the daily bible reading scriptures, a few questions to consider called, things to think about, and a prayer of the day. Schultz says, the book of haggai was written beginning in late august of 520 b. Haggai sought to challenge the people of god concerning their priorities.