Haggai - The Book of Haggai (The Holy Bible #37) NASB

Bible #37

by Anonymous

The prophet Haggai was sent by God to reawaken the postexilic Jews and stir them from their lethargy to undertake the restoration of the new Temple.

Haggai goes on to prophesy the glory of the presence of the LORD Jesus Christ, the future establishment of God's earthly kingdom, the Judgment of God on ungodly world powers, and the blessing awaiting the nations that will return to God.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Religion, Classics, Scripture, Spirituality, Faith

2 pages, Leather Bound

First published January 1, 521

About the author

Books can be attributed to "Anonymous" for several reasons:

* They are officially published under that name
* They are traditional stories not attributed to a specific author
* They are religious texts not generally attributed to a specific author

Books whose authorship is merely uncertain should be attributed to Unknown.

See also: Anonymous

Reviews

[Mohamed · Rating 4 out of 5]

سفر من أسفار العهد القديم يتحدث فيه نبي من أنبياء بني إسرائيل عن إعادة بناء الهيكل ويخطب فيهم ذاكرا نبوءته : ويأتي حمدات كل الأمم والتي ترجمت إلى ويأتي مشتهى كل الأمم

السفر مقروءا
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vgVr...

[Shantelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haggai talks about the rebuilding of the Lord's temple.

[Jules · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very short book (only two pages long). Haggai was a Hebrew prophet during the building of a temple in Jerusalem.

In January 2015 I set myself the challenge to read the complete Bible within a year. I discovered that was an unrealistic challenge, and decided to pick up my Bible as and when I felt ready to read more of it. Here is a link to all the reviews in my Bible challenge so far:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

[Alex]

The end of the Babylonian Captivity was hardly the end of hardships for the Jewish people, and when they were restored to Palestine what they found themselves now was a ruined country with no temple.

The wealthy built themselves 'paneled houses' while the people in general occupied themselves with economic concerns to the neglect of religion, a religion that would guide one in using wealth wisely and equitably and a religion that would provide comfort and meaning in times of poverty. It was clear that the people had their priorities backwards then. “My house lies in ruins, while each of you hurries to his own house”

Haggai exults the people to rebuild and provides assurance of the future temple's glory, greater than that of the previous one. “One moment yet, a little while, and I will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea, and the dry land. I will shake all the nations, and the treasures of all the nations will come in, and I will fill this house with glory...Mine is the silver and mine the gold, says the Lord... Greater will be the future glory of this house than the former”

The temple's religious function is made clear through the rejection of offerings by the unclean, and the promise of blessings.

God's power over the whole earth is also emphasized: “I will shake the heaven and the earth; I will overthrow the thrones of the kingdoms, destroy the power of the kingdoms of the nations”

Little did the Jewish people realize that this could also include Israel. The glory of the temple was only ever meant to serve as a reminder and symbol of the value of virtue, and without obedience to the law, what was left but piles of stone? As the Jews forgot more about the painful obligations of the law and comforted themselves with the pleasing gold and silver, the true value of the temple faded away, and eventually it would be destroyed by the Romans, to be replaced once again by an even greater temple, that of Christ.

[Wren (fablesandwren) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sidenote: The reason for such vague and short and "eh" words on each of these books, is because I wasn't challenging the study of the Bible when I read these. I was challenging myself to read the whole Bible in a year because I knew it would be discipline to keep at it daily. I do, however, plan to pick up a book and study what it is saying. Those will be longer reads and more notes.

So here is my review from my "Read the Bible in a Year" challenge. Usually just snippets of thoughts and random things I liked about the book itself. Nothing in-depth.

So here is my review of Haggai.

This book was a little bit of history. It was a good read. Free Jews! lol.

[Tayler Marie Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book focuses on the rebuilding of the temple. It was super quick but still a great read!

[Emily ✞ || [fallon's vrs] · Rating 5 out of 5]

˚｡⋆🧡˚｡⋆Verses

🌼Haggai 1:6: "Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes."

🌼Haggai 2:6-7: "For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; 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."

🌼Haggai 2:19: "Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth: from this day will I bless you."

[Katja Labonté · Rating 5 out of 5]

“For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; 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. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts. The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.”

[Helen LG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the references are out of date but good read otherwise

[Graeme Rockerbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Your not allowed to build a house unless you build mines first.

[John Stanifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haggai barely takes up 2 1/2 pages in the CSB Reader's Bible that I'm currently using.

But it still gives us a window on the political situation in Judah at the time it takes place. First of all, it opens with a reference--not to one of the kings of Israel or Judah--but to Darius the Mede (perhaps a nod to the absence of any real monarchy in Israel at this time?).

The one with the political power here is called a "governor," not a king. And that's who the prophet Haggai addresses most of his words to.

Many of the other minor prophets speak hypothetically. If you do this, then God will do this. But if you do THAT, then God will do THIS. And so on.

Here, we read of an actual response to a prophet's words. And it's a (mostly) positive response. The people are listening. God is turning his wrath away. Redemption is beginning to happen.

The Old Testament isn't just about wrath. It's also about redemption. And this is a small but very inspiring look at that process.

[Sean Chick · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is part of a series where I am reading the Bible in chronological order. I am not doing this for reasons of faith, as I am agnostic, but because of my interest in mythology, ancient literature, and history. I chose the NRSV because I used to be Catholic and still have sympathies there. More importantly, this version seeks a balance between an accurate translation and the literary qualities of the King James Bible. So it seems you get the best of two worlds.

Deadly boring for what it is but at least it is short. That said it lacks poetry, prose, and even laws. Ezra (so far) seems to do the same thing but is just a bit more interesting.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haggai tells of a time when Judah faced mysterious poverty.

You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes (Haggai 1:6,7).

Why? While the people lived in panelled houses, God's house lay in ruins. Finally Judah banded together to rebuild the temple and God blessed them with wealth.

Applying this to myself, I have a solution to spiritual drought. If I'm feeling poor and uninspired I can blame myself. Take that a step further, I can throw myself into building God's church. Material wealth won't be guaranteed, but spiritual wealth will abound eternally.

[Ella あいみ M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

"...be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work: for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts."
Haggai 2:4

The message of Haggai to the present-day church is to remain faithful, obedient, and hopeful for God's promise of a new Jerusalem, the promise of the presence of God.

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

9/18/2024 with The Bible Recap
9/19/2025 with The Bible Recap

[Maida]

Re-read May 3, 2015

[John Martindale · Rating 3 out of 5]

After years in captivity, the Jews were allowed to return to their homeland to live and were given the go ahead to rebuild the temple, by Cyrus the Great. Due various to prophesies they likely were clinging to hope of peace, plenty and safety. And yet once they got there, nothing went right. After refusing to allow their neighbors to help the rebuilding of the temple, their neighbors took offense and started bribing officials to clog the building project. Eventually during the reign Cambysses, letters were sent to him and he pass a law which made it illegal to rebuild the temple. So it pretty much just set in it's unfinished state for like 16 years. They were having lots of other problems as well, famine likely being the worst among them.

Haggai definitely interpreted all of Israels hardships being due to the fact that they stopped rebuilding the temple. One interesting thing, is that he evidently believed God was punishing Israel for not willfully breaking the law.

….The word of the LORD came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, "Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? Now, therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways. You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes.
"Thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways. Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the LORD. You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the LORD of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house.
Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth, on man and beast, and on all their labors."

The message he is giving to the Jews is pretty clear, He is telling them, Consider your ways, what are your priorities? You're busying yourselves with your own affairs, while God's temple lies in ruins. Make first things first.

The People Obey

...All the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet,.. And the people feared the LORD. Then Haggai... spoke to the people with the LORD's message, "I am with you, declares the LORD." And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel.... governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua.... the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God, on the twenty-fourth day of the month, in the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king. (Hag 1:1-15)

We know from Ezra, that once they started building, the surrounding people again said, “hey wait, aren't you are breaking the law!” But the Jews sent letters to Darius reminding him how Cyrus the Great commissioned the rebuilding of the temple, so the law was changed.

In the Apocrypha, 1 Edras 3-4 gives a different and entertaining account. In it, Zerubbabal was a body guard of Darius, and Darius has a contest about what “is the strongest” and one said Wine, another The King, another Woman, but Zerubbabel said “Truth is the strongest” and his answer was considered the wisest and his request of reward was to be able to rebuild the temple.

But yeah, continuing on with Haggai

'Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes? Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the LORD. Be strong... Work, for I am with you, declares the LORD of hosts, according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not. For thus says the LORD of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the LORD of hosts. The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the LORD of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the LORD of hosts.'" (Hag 2:3-9)

So this never happened, are we to give it a spiritual meaning? Most evangelicals just say it is actually referring to Christ.

"Now then, consider from this day onward. Before stone was placed upon stone in the temple of the LORD, how did you fare? ... I struck you and all the products of your toil with blight and with mildew and with hail, yet you did not turn to me, declares the LORD. Consider from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. Since the day that the foundation of the LORD's temple was laid, consider: Is the seed yet in the barn? Indeed, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have yielded nothing. But from this day on I will bless you."

What is difficult to grapple with after reading such, is we know later on--a while after the completion of the temple, Nehemiah was appointed governor and he hears the complaints of the people. The Jews were still suffering because of a FAMINE--HIGH TAXES FROM THE KING--TAXES FROM THE GOVERNOR--USURY, BEING FORCED TO SELL CHILDREN INTO SLAVERY TO PAY OF DEBTS Nehemiah is furious and sees to it it these people are helped, he also, unlike the governors before him charge taxes for his own gain.
Haggai seemed to have the mindset of Job's comforters and Moses in Deuteronomy, and as the story plays out in other biblical books, we learn Haggai was just as mistaken as Job's friends. Just because there is a famine, doesn't mean God is punishing you. But it was a good way to get people to move along and build the temple. But sadly, since it wasn't punishment, once they built the temple, nothing changes, the famine and hard times continued. Is it any surprise that in Malachi, people were beginning to think it is worthless to serve God? Haggai promised them so much and none of it happened, and people were disillusioned.

"The word of the LORD came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month, "Speak to Zerubbabel... saying, I am about to shake the heavens and the earth, and to overthrow the throne of kingdoms. I am about to destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations, and overthrow the chariots and their riders. And the horses and their riders shall go down, every one by the sword of his brother. On that day, declares the LORD of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel, declares the LORD, and make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the LORD of hosts." (Hag 2:1-23)

This is something else that never seemed to happen, so most evangelicals claims (though it said “Zerubbabel”) it actually meant Jesus. Yet the passages clearly state all would happen to that temple and it would be through Zerubbabel and in his life-time. The text doesn't give room to claim it really meant Jesus. It really seems this is one among the many “False” prophesies, or maybe all prophesy is conditional in the OT, though not stated.

[AmdynReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

2 chapters | Book 37 of 39 of the Old Testament

Such a short little book but I got a lot out of it. These are my notes…

The prophet Haggai brings a message to the people of Judah. They have been rebuilding their own homes but for 70 years the temple has been in ruins. Haggai tells them that this is the reason why their harvests have been terrible & nothing is going their way.

“You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes!”
‭‭Haggai‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/116/hag.1.6.NLT

Basically they didn’t put God first. They prioritized their own comfort and luxury but left God’s house in shambles.

So Haggai’s message “sparked enthusiasm” in the people and they set to work rebuilding. But a month later, they lost steam and their build was just mid and disappointing.

Haggai encourages them again saying to be strong and get to work. That God will provide what they need to rebuild and that the future glory will be even greater than the past glory (vs 9) and that He will be with them (vs 4-5).

Then a while later Haggai comes back with a really cool illustration-

“Then Haggai asked, “If someone becomes ceremonially unclean by touching a dead person and then touches any of these foods, will the food be defiled?”
And the priests answered, “Yes.”
Then Haggai responded, “That is how it is with this people and this nation, says the Lord. Everything they do and everything they offer is defiled by their sin.”
‭‭Haggai‬ ‭2‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/116/hag.2.13-...

What I got from this was, when you try to follow God’s commands but don’t give your whole heart to Him, everything you do is defiled.
(Get a visual… someone touches a dead body and then starts making you food but they don’t wash their hands. 🤮)
Ultimately what the Lord wants is our whole heart, not just obedience in some areas while we still hold on to our sin. He wants true repentance, and for us to turn to him fully.

Bible Project recap video: https://youtu.be/juPvv_xcX-U?si=j7NK8...

[Sarah Kelnhofer · Rating 5 out of 5]

God cared enough to send word by Haggai to two powerful men in Israel (Joshua and Zerubbabel), as well as Israel as a whole. In this communication, He employs Socratic questions and invitations ("consider your ways") which, for me anyway, is a respectful, yet effective, method of keeping me engaged.

This respect doesn't mean God minces words about His exaltation, however. On the contrary, He reminds Israel of His sovereignty over Creation and the elements. But He also mentions His presence with them as a comfort, and goes so far as to "stir up" their spirits to encourage them to do the work to which He directs them - that of repairing His house. God invites His people to see reality as it is, even though it's painful and hard. He commands the people and their leaders to be strong and "do the work", citing His presence with them and His identity as covenant-keeper as reasons to obey. He commands them to be unafraid because He plans to "shake" treasures into their possession, reminding them that all silver and gold are His. Finally, He mentions that He plans to give an even greater gift than wealth - the gift of peace - within the walls of His refurbished house.

God concludes His message through Haggai by showing His care for specific dates as markers of events or changes. He once again reminds the people, using Socratic questions, of their impoverished condition. And He promises upcoming blessings, both to Israel as a whole and to His "chosen" man, Zerubbabel. Once again, this shows God's care for both specificity and holism. Both aspects of His character are comforting, as is this book, which feels bracing, challenging, and comforting all at once. I feel the good news coursing through these verses like blood through my veins before beginning a race - pulsing confidence, promising adventure, and lending calm. Botha present sense of good news and a harbinger of good things to come. I can only imagine that the Israelites felt the same way.

[Cassie Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book of Haggai is the thirty-seventh book in the Bible, and it is found in the Old Testament. It is a book of prophecy and is categorized as a minor prophet. The author of this book is Haggai. Due to clues in the text, Haggai was likely an old man who had seen the glory of Jerusalem and the temple before the exile to Babylon. The prophecies of Haggai are all dated to the day of the prophecy, a rare occurrence in the prophets.

The Jews at the time had been forced to stop rebuilding the temple by foreign enemies, and much time had passed since. The prophecies of Haggai encouraged the Jews to rebuild the house of God, and by placing God in the center of their lives, they would reap the promised blessings.

A short book, Haggai is a great reminder that sometimes Christians face opposition from within as well as externally. Our sin separates us from God, but if we put Him in the center of our lives, we will find blessings that we never dreamed of. With Christ as our foundation and cornerstone, we can build ourselves into temples of God.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short two-chapter book written by Haggai, a prophet for Zerubbabel, during the second year of the reign of king Darius of Persia. I used a handbook by Fee and Stuart for an overview. They suggested this prophecy was written in 520 BC. It contains four oracles about what God sees in their behavior and what He is going to do.

The first oracle was written to Zerubbabel and Joshua and admonished all to consider their ways and corrects all for not rebuilding the temple. The second oracle is just for the two leaders and let's them know God is abiding in their midst, He'll shake heaven and earth and that God will give them peace in the temple. The third oracle is for the priests about what's holy or unclean, that they were cursed but now blessings will come. And the fourth oracle is to Zerubbabel saying that God is going to shake heaven and earth to overthrow kingdoms and powers because God chose Zerubbabel to be king of Judah.

This prophecy goes with Ezra chapters 1-6, and the passages in Deuteronomy on curses vs blessings.

[Abe Gabe · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 Then the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai: 4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?”


Haggai is the first prophet after the exile and he’s among the people who came back to Jerusalem by the command of Cyrus the Great who also command them to rebuild the temple of God. Even tho the Persian King helped them to rebuild the temple, several Israelites have stopped to help others to rebuild the temple because they think that they can build new houses for themselves. Other Israelites claim that the new temple wouldn’t be as glorious and magnificent as the first temple which was built by Solomon. Then God punishes them all and tell them how can they want new houses while the temple is ruined? So that how Israelites rebuild the temple, a century after Cyrus the Great command them to rebuild it… .

[Bookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

HAGGAI IS A prophet who reminded the people of Israel to build God's ruined altar at the mountain top. Yet the people showed disinterest to continue to build the Lord's altar. But instead the people focused on building their OWN HOUSES AND FOCUSING ON THEIR LIFE INSTEAD OF FOCUSING TO THE MOST HIGH GIVER OF ALL "GOD" The prophet HAGGAI was the author of the book itself this is one of the last books of the old testament. It also questions us as a reader that in the end. God must be the first priority in this human and entire world as he is the life giver of all things. BEST TO REMIND US TO GIVE THE LORD the importance HE ONLY DESERVES. I would rate this book for 5 stars indeed most important short book to be read.

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m reading this completely out of context. Trying to read some short stuff to catch up with my reading challenge.

This book is not offensive. It’s about the lord of Heaven’s Army. Haven’t read much about this god. Interestingly, I never noticed how many gods were in the Bible. I was always told that there was only one...

[Aaron White · Rating 5 out of 5]

A prophecy to the people of God under the rule of the Medo-Persians, that blessing will come when they put the Lord and the house of the Lord first. The new Temple, though not as magnificent as the first, will be filled with the treasures of the nations - which I believe did in fact happen, though not in a way that Haggai could foretell.

[Gregory Van Den Berg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is post-exilic prophecy. King Cyrus allowed the Jewish exiles in Babylon to return to Jerusalem in order to rebuild the temple. Even though many returned, they seemed to forget about rebuilding God's temple. Haggai rebuked the people because they had rebuilt their homes and not the Lord's. Short but interesting. A good metaphor for the church today.

[Lisa Plunkett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Haggai is a prophet who was part of the first wave of exiles to return to Jerusalem. After facing opposition to the rebuilding of the temple, the building stopped. Haggai urges the people to prioritize God above all else. There’s only two chapters in this book, but there’s a lot to unpack. I would recommend reading this right after or along with Ezra.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

The reading of God's Word is so remarkable that there is nothing that I can say to make it any better. Please, if you are a lost soul, turn to God! He can heal you and give you the greatest peace that you will ever know!

[Captmashpea · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was much better than the books have been recently. The books of Prophecy are really really hard to read this one was nice and straightforward it had the problem and it had the word from God and it had the resolution I really appreciated Haggai's direct approach.
(ebook with kindle dictation)

[Overlady · Rating 1 out of 5]

People getting told to focus on rebuilding temple instead of their own fancy houses
People aren't impressed by what they built,drop of morale
Jerusalem will be greater than ever before, marking era of peace hmm ok. ch 2:09.
2:07 - all other nations will flood it with money too. hmmm hmm hmm.