Haggai, The Book of The Prophet

[He. Chaggay “festival”]

Courtesy of Alexander Scourby(Bible Audio)Haggai

Background: haggai and Zechariah belong to the same period (520BC). Many Jews had returned to Israel to rebuild their national life. Initially they worked with enthusiasm but opposition brought the work of rebuilding temple to standstill. Haggai rallied the people, showing that the economic difficulties they had their priorities wrong. The important thing for their national life was God’s house and God had greater things in store if they would only learn to put him first. 2chs

Author: Haggai

Date and Location: 1:1records in the 2ndyr of king Darius’reign or 520BC (compare Ezr4:24)

3prophecies:-Elul(1:1) –Tishri(2:1-9) –Chislev (2:10-23)

Recipients: Jews who had return from exile in 538BC

Purpose:
-Encourage rebuilding of the Temple
-To give instruction in holiness
-To show God’s faithful

Unique Features:
-Like Ez., precise on dates
-“this is what the Lord Almighty say”, signifying the seriousness of his message and God is speaking to his people.

Comparison:Ez
-Millennial Temple, 2:9 Ez40-42
-Earthquake (2:6Ez38:19)
-Names for Messiah: David (Ez37:24); Zerrubbabel (2:33)


Jer.
-Signet ring: royal authority (Jr22:24 Hg2:23)

Abbreviations: Hag./ Hg

MV: Yokefellow, Php4:3 Jd22,23

Bib1Yr: Ro11, 12Work and Grace