Haggai

About Haggai

Haggai spoke to the Jews who had returned from exile in Babylon and then let the work of rebuilding the temple stall for years while they built their own houses. In four short, dated messages, he calls the people to put God's house first, and remarkably, they listen and get back to work. The book sits at the start of the post-exile chapter of the Bible's story, promising that the glory of this modest new temple will one day be greater than Solomon's.

Written by

The book records the messages of the prophet Haggai, who is also named in Ezra as one of the prophets who stirred up the temple rebuilding.

When

Haggai's messages are precisely dated to a four-month span in 520 BC, during the second year of King Darius of Persia.

Themes

• Putting God first
• Rebuilding the temple
• Courage to finish the work
• God's presence and future glory

Key verses

• Haggai 1:7-8¶ Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD.
• Haggai 2:9The 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.