ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Haggai 2

Hag. 2:3 Who is left. Some of those who had returned from exile could remember Solomon’s temple, which had been destroyed 66 years earlier (compare Ezra 3:12). Is it not as nothing in your eyes? The people could see that the rebuilt temple would be far inferior to Solomon’s temple.

Hag. 2:4 I am with you. As earlier, God’s presence forms the basis for their ongoing work in the face of discouragement (compare 1:13–14).

Hag. 2:5 The command Fear not is based on the assurance that My Spirit remains in your midst. This is one of the strongest OT statements of God’s ongoing presence among his people.

Hag. 2:6 Lord of hosts (five times in vv. 6–9) emphasizes the Lord’s sovereign authority over all things.

Hag. 2:7 God promises to shake all nations so that they will yield the treasures of all nations to adorn the temple. Ultimately, the Lord will fill his house with glory—that is, with his own presence. Many see in this oracle a foreshadowing of events related to the incarnation of Christ (see John 2:20–21) and his second coming (see Rev. 21:22, 24).

Hag. 2:8 God ultimately owns all the wealth of all nations: the silver is mine, and the gold is mine. Therefore it should be used in obedience to him.

Hag. 2:9 The latter glory of this house. The rebuilt temple was later expanded and made quite beautiful by Herod the Great (74–3 b.c.). He used Roman wealth to pay for this project (see vv. 7–8). The fact that Jesus came to this temple also made its glory greater than that of Solomon’s temple.

Hag. 2:10–19 Consider Your Ways: Holiness and Defilement; Repentance and Blessing. In this fifth message, the Lord uses an analogy of ritual holiness and uncleanness to force the priests to think about the spiritual status of the people (vv. 10–14), about past agricultural failures (vv. 15–17), and about their experience since temple restoration began (vv. 18–19).

Hag. 2:11 priests. Haggai directs questions to priests because it is their duty to give a ruling in matters of Mosaic ritual and law (Lev. 10:10–11).

Hag. 2:13 dead body. One who has contact with a dead body pollutes all that he contacts (Lev. 22:1–9).

Hag. 2:14 every work of their hands. All that they do is unclean (compare v. 17). there. The temple. It is unclean because they permit a “corpse” (the unfinished temple) to remain in their midst.

Hag. 2:15–17 The Lord calls the people to reflect upon their economic situation prior to the start of reconstruction. The past lack of agricultural prosperity did not lead to repentance.

Hag. 2:15 consider (literally, “set your hearts”; compare v. 18 [2x]). They should recall past experience, but also see what God is doing now.

Hag. 2:17 I struck. A drastic action motivated by a Father’s love for his children, to encourage them to repent (Deut. 30:1–10; Heb. 12:7–11). to me. Compare Amos 4:9.

Hag. 2:19 Is the seed yet in the barn? Although God’s people had already planted their seeds, harvest is still months away. The Lord promises that a plentiful harvest will come. This day is the day when the Lord promised, I will bless you.

Hag. 2:20–23 Zerubbabel: The Signet Ring. The sixth and final message from the Lord to Haggai complements the previous word and comes on the same day (vv. 10, 18, 20). It is a vision of trembling creation, overthrown kingdoms, and perishing armies. Ultimately, the vision focuses upon the actions of the divine King. He wears, as a signet ring, the promise of David’s house restored in the person of Zerubbabel.

Hag. 2:21 The sovereign Lord warns of a coming destruction of nations. shake. Earlier this was for the purpose of gathering the wealth of the nations (vv. 6–7), while here it is tied to the impending destruction of the nations.

Hag. 2:22 chariots . . . riders. . . . go down. An allusion to the destruction of Pharaoh’s army (Ex. 14:22–29).

Hag. 2:23 On that day. This phrase, common in prophetic writings, sets the Lord’s actions in an unspecified future, that is, “the day of the Lord” (Isa. 2:11–20; see note on Amos 5:18–20; see also The Day of the Lord in the Prophets). I will take. The Lord’s actions are underscored by repeating three times declares the Lord [of hosts]. my servant. A title given to individuals selected to accomplish God’s appointed task. It is particularly associated with David or an ideal Davidic king (2 Sam. 3:18; Ps. 89:3; Ezek. 34:23–24). signet ring. A ring that provided evidence of royal authority and ownership. God’s promise to bless his people and the whole world through the house of David still stands (see Matt. 1:1).