Haggai 1 Commentary

Haggai 1 contains a challenge and a response. The prophet Haggai confronts the returning exiles of Judah for having misplaced their priorities. While they build paneled homes, they leave the temple of God unfinished for about sixteen years, rationalizing that it is not time to complete it.

Haggai urges the Judeans to reconsider their attitude toward life and rebuild the temple so that God may restore their fortunes. The people respond positively to Haggai's plea. Then, the LORD stirs up their spirit, enabling them to complete the building project. The outline of the passage is as follows:

1. Haggai receives the word of the LORD during the second year of King Darius of Persia. His prophecy is directed to Judah's top civil and religious leaders (v. 1). Haggai urges the people of Judah to consider their ways of life and account for the infertility of the land being connected to their inattention to God's temple (vv. 2–6).
2. Haggai asks the people of Judah to reconsider their attitude toward life and rebuild the temple so that God may restore their fortunes, consistent with His covenant agreement with them (vv. 7–11).
3. The people of Judah respond positively to Haggai's exhortation to rebuild the temple. Then, the LORD stirs up their spirit, giving them a boost to complete the project (vv. 12–15).