The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Haggai 2
1 In the seventh month, in the twentyfirst
day of the month, Yahweh’s word
came by Haggai the prophet, saying,
2 “Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of
Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua
the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and
to the remnant of the people, saying,
3 ‘Who is left among you who saw this
house in its former glory? How do you see
it now? Isn’t it in your eyes as nothing?
4 Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ says
Yahweh. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jehozadak,
the high priest. Be strong, all
you people of the land,’ says Yahweh, ‘and
work, for I am with you,’ says Yahweh of
Armies.
5 This is the word that I covenanted with
you when you came out of Egypt, and my
Spirit lived among you. ‘Don’t be afraid.
6 For this is what Yahweh of Armies says:
‘Yet once more, it is a little while, and I will
shake the heavens, the earth, the sea, and
the dry land;
7 and I will shake all nations. The treasure
of all nations will come, and I will
fill this house with glory, says Yahweh of
Armies.
8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine,’
says Yahweh of Armies.
9 ‘The latter glory of this house will be
greater than the former,’ says Yahweh of
Armies; ‘and in this place I will give peace,’
says Yahweh of Armies.”
10 In the twenty-fourth day of the ninth
month, in the second year of Darius,
Yahweh’s word came by Haggai the prophet,
saying,
11 “Yahweh of Armies says: Ask now the
priests concerning the law, saying,
12 ‘If someone carries holy meat in the
fold of his garment, and with his fold
touches bread, stew, wine, oil, or any food,
will it become holy? The priests answered, “No.”
13 Then Haggai said, “If one who is uncleanby
reasonof a dead body touches any
of these, will it be unclean?”
The priests answered, “It will be unclean.”
14 Then Haggai answered, “ ‘So is this
people, and so is this nation before me,’
says Yahweh; ‘and so is every work oftheir
hands. That which they offer there is unclean.
15 Now, please consider from this day
and backward, before a stone was laid on
a stone in Yahweh’s temple.
16 Through all that time, when one came
to a heap of twenty measures, there were
only ten. When one came to the wine vat
to draw out fifty, there were only twenty.
17 I struck you with blight, mildew, and
hail in all the work of your hands; yet you
didn’t turn to me,’ says Yahweh.
18 ‘Consider, please, from this day and
backward, from the twenty-fourth day of
the ninth month, since the day that the
foundation of Yahweh’s temple was laid,
consider it.
19 Is the seed yet in the barn? Yes, the
vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the
olive tree haven’t produced. From today I
will bless you.
20 Yahweh’s word came the second time
to Haggai in the twenty-fourth day of the
month, saying,
21 “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah,
saying, ‘I will shake the heavens and
the earth.
22 I will overthrow the throne of
kingdoms. I will destroy the strength of the
kingdoms of the nations. I will overthrow
the chariots and those who ride in
them. The horses and their riders will
come down, everyone by the sword of his
brother.
23 In that day, says Yahweh of Armies, I
will take you, Zerubbabel my servant, the
son of Shealtiel,’ says Yahweh, ‘and will
make you like a signet ring, for I have
chosen you,’ says Yahweh of Armies.”