1 In the seuenth moneth, in the one and twentith day of the moneth, came the word of the Lord by the Prophet Haggai, saying;
2 Speake now to Zerubbabel the sonne of Shealtiel, gouernour of Iudah, and to Iosuah the sonne of Iosedech the high priest, and to the residue of the people, saying,
3 Who is left among you that sawe this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? Is it not in your eyes in comparison of it, as nothing?
4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the Lord, and bee strong, O Ioshua, sonne of Iosedech the high Priest, and be strong all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and worke: (for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts,)
5 According to the word that I couenanted with you, when ye came out of Egypt, so my Spirit remaineth among you, Feare ye not.
6 For thus saith the Lord of hosts, Yet once, it is a litle while, and I will shake the heauens, and the earth, and the sea, and the drie land.
7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come, and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts.
8 The siluer is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts.
9 The glory of this latter house shal be greater then of the former, saith the Lord of hostes: and in this place will I giue peace, saith the Lord of hostes.
10 ¶ In the foure and twentieth day of the ninth moneth, in the second yeere of Darius, came þe word of the Lord by Haggai the Prophet, saying,
11 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Aske now the priests concerning the law, saying,
12 If one beare holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt doe touch bread or pottage, or wine, or oile, or any meate, shall it be holy? and the priests answered and said, No.
13 Then said Haggai, If one that is vncleane by a dead body, touch any of these, shal it be vncleane? and the priests answered and said, It shalbe vncleane.
14 Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the Lord, and so is euery worke of their hands, and that which they offer there, is vncleane.
15 And now I pray you consider from this day and vpward, from before a stone was laid vpon a stone in the Temple of the Lord.
16 Since those dayes were, when one came to an heape of twentie measures, there were but ten: when one came to the presse-fatte for to draw out fiftie vessels out of the presse, there were but twentie.
17 I smote you with blasting, and with mildew, and with haile in all the labours of your hands: yet yee turned not to me, saith the Lord.
18 Consider now from this day, and vpward from the foure and twentieth day of the ninth moneth, euen from the day that the foundatio of the Lords Temple was laid, consider it.
19 Is the seed yet in the barne? yea, as yet the vine and the fig tree, & the pomegranate, and the Oliue tree hath not brought foorth: from this day will I blesse you.
20 ¶ And againe the worde of the Lord came vnto Haggai in the foure and twentieth day of the moneth, saying,
21 Speake to Zerubbabel gouernor of Iudah, saying, I wil shake the heauens and the earth.
22 And I will ouerthrow the throne of kingdomes, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdomes of the heathen, and I will ouerthrow the charets, and those that ride in them, and the horses and their riders shall come downe, euery one by the sword of his brother.
23 In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my seruant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the Lord, and will make thee as a signet: for I haue chosen thee, saith the Lord of hosts.
Greater glory promised to the second temple than to the first. (1-9) Their sins hindered the work. (10-19) The kingdom of Christ foretold. (20-23)1-9 Those who are hearty in the Lord's service shall receive encouragement to proceed. But they could not build such a temple then, as Solomon built. Though our gracious God is pleased if we do as well as we can in his service, yet our proud hearts will scarcely let us be pleased, unless we do as well as others, whose abilities are far beyond ours. Encouragement is given the Jews to go on in the work notwithstanding. They have God with them, his Spirit and his special presence. Though he chastens their transgressions, his faithfulness does not fail. The Spirit still remained among them. And they shall have the Messiah among them shortly; "He that should come." Convulsions and changes would take place in the Jewish church and state, but first should come great revolutions and commotions among the nations. He shall come, as the Desire of all nations; desirable to all nations, for in him shall all the earth be blessed with the best of blessings; long expected and desired by all believers. The house they were building should be filled with glory, very far beyond Solomon's temple. This house shall be filled with glory of another nature. If we have silver and gold, we must serve and honour God with it, for the property is his. If we have not silver and gold, we must honour him with such as we have, and he will accept us. Let them be comforted that the glory of this latter house shall be greater than that of the former, in what would be beyond all the glories of the first house, the presence of the Messiah, the Son of God, the Lord of glory, personally, and in human nature. Nothing but the presence of the Son of God, in human form and nature, could fulfil this. Jesus is the Christ, is He that should come, and we are to look for no other. This prophecy alone is enough to silence the Jews, and condemn their obstinate rejection of Him, concerning whom all their prophets spake. If God be with us, peace is with us. But the Jews under the latter temple had much trouble; but this promise is fulfilled in that spiritual peace which Jesus Christ has by his blood purchased for all believers. All changes shall make way for Christ to be desired and valued by all nations. And the Jews shall have their eyes opened to behold how precious He is, whom they have hitherto rejected.
10-19 Many spoiled this good work, by going about it with unholy hearts and hands, and were likely to gain no advantage by it. The sum of these two rules of the law is, that sin is more easily learned from others than holiness. The impurity of their hearts and lives shall make the work of their hands, and all their offerings, unclean before God. The case is the same with us. When employed in any good work, we should watch over ourselves, lest we render it unclean by our corruptions. When we begin to make conscience of duty to God, we may expect his blessing; and whoso is wise will understand the loving-kindness of the Lord. God will curse the blessings of the wicked, and make bitter the prosperity of the careless; but he will sweeten the cup of affliction to those who diligently serve him.
20-23 The Lord will preserve Zerubbabel and the people of Judah, amidst their enemies. Here is also foretold the establishment and continuance of the kingdom of Christ; by union with whom his people are sealed with the Holy Ghost, sealed with his image, thus distinguished from all others. Here also is foretold the changes, even to that time when the kingdom of Christ shall overthrow and occupy the place of all the empires which opposed his cause. The promise has special reference to Christ, who descended from Zerubbabel in a direct line, and is the sole Builder of the gospel temple. Our Lord Jesus is the Signet on God's right hand, for all power is given to him, and derived from him. By him, and in him, all the promises of God are yea and amen. Whatever changes take place on earth, all will promote the comfort, honour, and happiness of his servants.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.