Haggai 1

Haggai 1:1

SEcond yeare of Darius the king] Ezra 4:24. and Ezra 5:1. Zac. 1. 1. Who was the sonne of Hystaspis, and the third king of the Persians, as some thinke: called Darius Artaxasta king of Persia, Ezra 6:14. of Babylon, Nehemiah 13:6. He knew that Gods wrath was upon his predecessours for hindering the Temple. In his second the Temple is taken in hand again, and finished in his sixt, Ezr. 6. 15.

by Haggai] Heb. by the hand of Haggai.

Zerubbabel] Ezra 2:2. Because the building of the Temple began to cease by reason that the people were discouraged by their enemies: and if these two notable men had need to be stirred up and admonished of their duties, what shall we thinke of other governours, whose doings are either against God, or very cold in his cause?

sonne of Shealtiel] That is, the nephew: for in proper speech he was the sonne of Pedaiah, 1 Chronicles 3:17-19.

governour of Judah] Or, captain. Of the people of the Jews, by the kings of Persia, after their return out of captivitie. See Ezra 1:8. and Ezra 2:63.

Haggai 1:2

the time that the LORDS house should be built] Fained excuses of the Jews, who were negligent in the reedifying of the Temple; as if by those lets which had been a hinderance to them, God had shewed that he would have the work put off till another time: whereas the true reason of their intermission was the contempt of Gods service, and their carnall affection to their own ease.

Haggai 1:4

cieled houses] Shewing that they sought not only their necessities, but their very pleasures before Gods honour.

Haggai 1:5

Consider your wayes] Heb. Set your heart on your wayes. Your carelesnesse, whereby you have provoked my judgements.

Haggai 1:6

Ye have sown much] Deut. 28. Mic. 6. 14, 15. Consider the plagues of God upon you, for preferring your policies to his religion, and because ye seek not him first of all.

he that earneth wages] You have not reaped any profit or benefit by all your labours. See Zechariah 8:10.

with holes] Heb. pierced through.

Haggai 1:8

up to the mountain] Meaning that they should leave off their own commodities, and go forward in the building of Gods Temple, and in the setting forth of his religion.

will take pleasure in it] That is, I will heare your prayers according to my promise, 1 Kings 8:21. 29.

glorified] I will shew my glorious power in blessing and defending you: and will give you cause to honour and serve me: and my enemies to feare me.

Haggai 1:9

Ye looked for much] You hoped for a great harvest, by reason of the great likelihood that was of it: but your hopes were vain.

blow upon it] Or, blow it away.

ye runne every man unto his own house] Every one is most carefull of building up his own house, and looking to his own particular businesses.

Haggai 1:10

the heaven over you is stayed from dew] Leviticus 26:19. Deuteronomy 28:23.

Haggai 1:11

And I called for a drought upon the land] 2 Kings 8:1.

Haggai 1:12

obeyed] And went freely about the reedifying of the Temple, Ezra 5:2.

Haggai 1:14

spirit of Zerubbabel] Which declareth that men are unapt and dull to serve the Lord, neither can they obey his word or his messengers before God reform their hearts and give them new spirits, John 6:44.