Haggai 2

Chapter 2

The New Temple’s Diminished Splendor

1 Then on October 17 of that same year,t the LORD sent another message through the prophet Haggai.2 “Say this to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Jeshuat son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of God’s people there in the land:3 ‘Does anyone remember this house—this Temple—in its former splendor? How, in comparison, does it look to you now? It must seem like nothing at all!4 But now the LORD says: Be strong, Zerubbabel. Be strong, Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people still left in the land. And now get to work, for I am with you, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.

5 My Spirit remains among you, just as I promised when you came out of Egypt. So do not be afraid.’
6 “For this is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: In just a little while I will again shake the heavens and the earth, the oceans and the dry land.7 I will shake all the nations, and the treasures of all the nations will be brought to this Temple. I will fill this place with glory, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.

9 The future glory of this Temple will be greater than its past glory, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. And in this place I will bring peace. I, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!”

Blessings Promised for Obedience

10 On December 18t of the second year of King Darius’s reign, the LORD sent this message to the prophet Haggai:11 “This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says. Ask the priests this question about the law:

12 ‘If one of you is carrying some meat from a holy sacrifice in his robes and his robe happens to brush against some bread or stew, wine or olive oil, or any other kind of food, will it also become holy?’”
The priests replied, “No.”

13 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.”
14 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.15 Look at what was happening to you before you began to lay the foundation of the LORD’s Temple.16 When you hoped for a twenty-bushel crop, you harvested only ten. When you expected to draw fifty gallons from the winepress, you found only twenty.

17 I sent blight and mildew and hail to destroy everything you worked so hard to produce. Even so, you refused to return to me, says the LORD.
18 “Think about this eighteenth day of December, the dayt when the foundation of the LORD’s Temple was laid. Think carefully.

19 I am giving you a promise now while the seed is still in the barn.t You have not yet harvested your grain, and your grapevines, fig trees, pomegranates, and olive trees have not yet produced their crops. But from this day onward I will bless you.”

Promises for Zerubbabel

20 On that same day, December 18,t the LORD sent this second message to Haggai:21 “Tell Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, that I am about to shake the heavens and the earth.

22 I will overthrow royal thrones and destroy the power of foreign kingdoms. I will overturn their chariots and riders. The horses will fall, and their riders will kill each other.

23 “But when this happens, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, I will honor you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, my servant. I will make you like a signet ring on my finger, says the LORD, for I have chosen you. I, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!”

HAGGAI 2

The Glorious New Temple

1-2 On the twenty-first day of the next month, t the [Lord] told Haggai the prophet to speak this message to Governor Zerubbabel, High Priest Joshua, and everyone else:
3  t Does anyone remember how glorious this temple used to be? Now it looks like nothing. 4 But cheer up! Because I, the [Lord] All-Powerful, will be here to help you with the work,

5 t just as I promised your ancestors when I brought them out of Egypt. Don't worry. My Spirit ist right here with you.
6  t Soon I will again shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. 7 I will shake the nations, and their treasurest will be brought here. Then the brightness of my glory will fill this temple. 8 All silver and gold belong to me,

9 and I promise that this new temple will be more glorious than the first one. I will also bless this cityt with peace.

The Past and the Future

11 to ask the priests for their opinion on the following matters:

12 Suppose meat ready to be sacrificed to God is being carried in the folds of someone's clothing, and the clothing rubs against some bread or stew or wine or olive oil or any other food. Would those foods that were touched then become acceptable for sacrifice?
“Of course not,” the priests answered.

13  t Then Haggai said, “Suppose someone has touched a dead body and is considered unacceptable to worship God. If that person touches these foods, would they become unclean?”
“Of course they would,” the priests answered.

14 So the [Lord] told Haggai to say:
That's how it is with this entire nation. Everything you do and every sacrifice you offer is unacceptable to me. 15 But from now on, things will get better. Before you started laying the foundation for the temple, 16 you recalled what life was like in the past.t When you wanted 200 kilograms of wheat, there were only 10, and when you wanted 50 jars of wine, there were only 20.

17 I made all of your hard work useless by sending mildew, mold, and hail—but you still did not return to me, your [Lord].
18 Today you have completed the foundation for my temple, so listen to what your future will be like.

19 Although you have not yet harvested any grain, grapes, figs, pomegranates, t or olives, I will richly bless you in the days ahead.

God's Promise //to Zerubbabel

20 That same day the [Lord] spoke to Haggai again and said:
21 Tell Governor Zerubbabel of Judah that I am going to shake the heavens and the earth 22 and wipe out kings and their kingdoms. I will overturn war chariots, and then cavalry troops will start slaughtering each other. 23 But tell my servant Zerubbabel that I, the [Lord] All-Powerful, have chosen him, and he will rule in my name.t