Scofield Reference Bible Notes/Haggai
Book Introduction - Haggai[edit]
Read first chapter of Haggai
Haggai was a prophet of the restored remnant after the 70 years' captivity. The circumstances are detailed in Ezra and Nehemiah. To hearten, rebuke, and instruct that feeble and divided remnant was the task of Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. The theme of Haggai is the unfinished temple, and his mission to admonish and encourage the builders.
The divisions of the book are marked by the formula, "came the word of the Lord by Haggai":
- The event which drew out the prophecy, 1:1,2.
- The divine displeasure because of the interrupted work, 1:3-15.
- The temples--Solomon's, the restoration temple, and the kingdom-age temple, 2:1-9.
- Uncleanness and chastening, 2:10-19.
- The final victory, 2:20-23 (see) Re19:17-20; 14:19,20; Zec14:1-3.
CHAPTER 1[edit]
Verse 1[edit]
sixth month
i.e. September, also Haggai 1:15.
Verse 12[edit]
fear
(See Scofield "Psalms 19:9")
Verse 14[edit]
remnant
(See Scofield "Jeremiah 15:21").
CHAPTER 2[edit]
Verse 1[edit]
seventh month
i.e. October.
Verse 3[edit]
house in her first glory
The prophet calls upon the old men who remembered Solomon's temple to witness to the new generation how greatly that structure exceeded the present in magnificence; and then utters a prophecy (Haggai 1:7-9) which can only refer to the future kingdom temple described by Ezekiel. It is certain that the restoration temple and all subsequent structures, including Herod's, were far inferior in costliness and splendour to Solomon's. The present period is described in Hosea 3:4,5. Verse 6 is quoted in Hebrews 12:26,27. Verse 7: "I will shake all nations," refers to the great tribulation and is followed by the coming of Christ in glory, as in Matthew 24:29,30. "The desire of all nations" is Christ. (See Scofield "Malachi 3:1").
Verse 9[edit]
latter house
In a sense all the temples (i.e Solomon's; Ezra's; Herod's; that which will be used by the unbelieving Jews under covenant with the Beast Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:3,4 and Ezekiel's future kingdom temple Ez 40.-47.), are treated as one "house"-- the "house of the Lord," since they all profess to be that. For that reason Christ purified the temple of His day, erected though it was by an Idumean usurper to please the Jews. Matthew 21:12,13.
glory Or, the future glory of this house shall be greater than the former.
Verse 12[edit]
holy flesh (See Scofield "Jeremiah 11:15").