Haggai 2

The Glory to Come

2:1 On the twenty-first day of the seventh month,¹ the Lord spoke again through the prophet Haggai:² 2:2 “Ask the following questions to³ Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak,⁴ and the remnant of the people: 2:3 ‘Who among you survivors saw the former splendor of this temple?⁵ How does it look to you now? Isn’t it nothing by comparison? 2:4 Even so, take heart, Zerubbabel,’ says the Lord. ‘Take heart, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and⁶ all you citizens of the land,’⁷ says the Lord, ‘and begin to work. For I am with you,’ says the Lord who rules over all. 2:5 ‘Do not fear, because I made a promise to your ancestors when they left Egypt, and my spirit⁸ even now testifies to you.’⁹ 2:6 Moreover, the Lord who rules over all says: ‘In just a little while¹⁰ I will once again shake the sky¹¹ and the earth, the sea and the dry ground. 2:7 I will also shake up all the nations, and they¹² will offer their treasures;¹³ then I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the Lord who rules over all. 2:8 ‘The silver and gold will be mine,’ says the Lord who rules over all. 2:9 ‘The future splendor of this temple will be greater than that of former times,’¹⁴ the Lord who rules over all declares, ‘and in this place I will give peace.’”¹⁵

The Promised Blessing

2:10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month of Darius’ second year,¹⁶ the Lord spoke again to the prophet Haggai:¹⁷ 2:11 “The Lord who rules over all says, ‘Ask the priests about the law.¹⁸ 2:12 If someone carries holy meat in a fold of his garment and that fold touches bread, a boiled dish, wine, olive oil, or any other food, will that item become holy?’”¹⁹ The priests answered, “It will not.” 2:13 Then Haggai asked, “If a person who is ritually unclean because of touching a dead body²⁰ comes in contact with one of these items, will it become unclean?” The priests answered, “It will be unclean.”

2:14 Then Haggai responded, “‘The people of this nation are unclean in my sight,’²¹ says the Lord. ‘And so is all their effort; everything they offer is also unclean.²² 2:15 Now therefore reflect carefully on the recent past,²³ before one stone was laid on another in the Lord’s temple.²⁴ 2:16 From that time²⁵ when one came expecting a heap of twenty measures, there were only ten; when one came to the wine vat to draw out fifty measures from it, there were only twenty. 2:17 I struck all the products of your labor²⁶ with blight, disease, and hail, and yet you brought nothing to me,’²⁷ says the Lord. 2:18 ‘Think carefully about the past:²⁸ from today, the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month,²⁹ to the day work on the temple of the Lord was resumed,³⁰ think about it.³¹ 2:19 The seed is still in the storehouse, isn’t it? And the vine, fig tree, pomegranate, and olive tree have not produced. Nevertheless, from today on I will bless you.’”

Zerubbabel the Chosen One

2:20 Then the Lord spoke again to Haggai³² on the twenty-fourth day of the month:³³ 2:21 Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah: ‘I am ready³⁴ to shake the sky³⁵ and the earth. 2:22 I will overthrow royal thrones and shatter the might of earthly kingdoms.³⁶ I will overthrow chariots and those who ride them, and horses and their riders will fall as people kill one another.³⁷ 2:23 On that day,’³⁸ says the Lord who rules over all, ‘I will take you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, my servant,’³⁹ says the Lord, ‘and I will make you like a signet ring,⁴⁰ for I have chosen you,’ says the Lord who rules over all.”⁴¹