Who was Haggai?
He was a prophet of the return from exile. His name probably means festal or born on a feast day. His messages are dated to 520 BC and, along with Zechariah, he encouraged the rebuilding of the temple, which was finished in 516 BC.
Haggai · chapter 1 of 2
Haggai 1: Summary, Key Verses and Study Questions
Updated on
What happens in Haggai 1?
Haggai 1 records the prophet's first message, dated the first day of the sixth month of the second year of King Darius (520 BC). The Lord rebukes the people for living in paneled houses while his house lies in ruins, and calls them to consider their ways and go up to the hills for timber to build. Zerubbabel, Joshua and the remnant obey, the Lord promises to be with them, and the work begins twenty-four days later.
The Jews had returned from the Babylonian exile around 538 BC and laid the foundation of the temple, but the work stopped because of opposition and discouragement and stood idle for about sixteen years. Haggai, one of the prophets of the return along with Zechariah, appears in 520 BC to rouse the people. His book is short, concrete and dated with precision.
Haggai 1 summary
In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the Lord comes by the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. The people say that the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord. The Lord answers by asking whether it is time for them to live in paneled houses while this house lies in ruins.
Then he calls them to consider their ways. They have sown much and harvested little; they eat without being satisfied, drink without being filled, clothe themselves without being warm, and the one who earns wages puts them into a bag with holes. He orders them to go up to the hills, bring timber and build the house, so that he may take pleasure in it and be glorified. They looked for much and it came to little; what they brought home, he blew away. The reason is that his house lies in ruins while each of them runs to his own house. Therefore the heavens have withheld the dew and the earth its produce; he has called for a drought on the land, the hills, the grain, the wine, the oil, people, cattle and all the labor of their hands.
Zerubbabel, Joshua and all the remnant of the people obey the voice of the Lord and fear before him. Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, tells them: I am with you. The Lord stirs up the spirit of Zerubbabel, of Joshua and of the remnant, and they come and begin work on the house of the Lord of hosts on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month, in the second year of Darius.
Chapter outline
- vv. 1-4: Date of the message; the people say it is not the time, and the Lord points to their paneled houses.
- vv. 5-6: Consider your ways: much labor, little fruit.
- vv. 7-11: Go up for timber and build; the drought follows from their neglect.
- vv. 12-15: The people obey, the promise I am with you and the beginning of the work.
Key verses in Haggai 1
References follow ESV book names and verse numbers. Read each verse in your Bible before the explanation.
Haggai 1:2
The people said that the time had not come to rebuild the house of the Lord. It is an excuse that sounds prudent, but it puts God last while everyone looks after their own affairs.
Haggai 1:5
The Lord asks the people to consider their ways. He does not ask for a feeling but for them to stop and look at the link between their priorities and the scarcity they live with: they work hard and are never satisfied.
Haggai 1:8
He commands them to go up to the hills, bring timber and build the house so that he may take pleasure in it and be glorified. The purpose of the temple is not human comfort but God's glory in the midst of his people.
Haggai 1:13
Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, brings a short message: I am with you. After the rebuke comes the promise of God's presence, which is what gives strength for the work.
Main themes
- Priorities
- Rebuilding the temple
- Considering our own ways
- Obedience of leaders and people
- God's presence with his people
People and places
- Haggai
- Zerubbabel
- Joshua the high priest
- The remnant of the people
- King Darius
- Jerusalem
Haggai 1 study questions and answers
6 questions with answers and references, ready for Sunday school, small group or a Bible quiz night.
1. When did Haggai receive this message?
Answer: On the first day of the sixth month of the second year of King Darius. — Haggai 1:1
2. What did the people say about rebuilding the house of the Lord?
Answer: That the time had not yet come to rebuild it. — Haggai 1:2
3. What does the Lord contrast with the house lying in ruins?
Answer: That they were living in paneled houses. — Haggai 1:4
4. What does the Lord say about the people's harvest and wages?
Answer: They sow much and harvest little; wages are put into a bag with holes. — Haggai 1:6
5. What does the Lord order them to bring from the hills?
Answer: Timber, to build the house. — Haggai 1:8
6. What promise does the people receive after obeying?
Answer: I am with you, declares the Lord. — Haggai 1:13
Application for today
Haggai 1 asks an uncomfortable question about priorities. The people did not deny God, but there was always a reason to leave his house for later. In a class or small group you can ask what has been placed ahead of God's work and his church on the excuse that it is not yet the time.
The chapter does not promise that obeying brings immediate wealth; its center is God's presence. Considering our ways means stopping to evaluate honestly, and verse 13 reminds us that the Lord accompanies those who set to work.
Haggai 1 ends with the people in action, twenty-four days after the first word. But soon after beginning, new discouragement appears, because the new temple looks poor next to the old one. Chapter 2 brings the Lord's answer: his Spirit remains with them, and the glory of this house will be greater.
Frequently asked questions about Haggai 1
Why did the people say it was not the time to rebuild?
The text gives no detailed reason. Ezra 4 tells of opposition, and the work had been stopped for a long time. The people were busy with their own houses and with survival, and had grown used to the situation.
Who were Zerubbabel and Joshua?
Zerubbabel was the governor of Judah, a descendant of David, and Joshua was the high priest. Both led the people who had returned from exile and headed the rebuilding of the temple.