Haggai

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Haggai 2 – Skeptic's Annotated Bible answered

A response and reply to the notes on Haggai 2 in the Skeptic's Annotated Bible (SAB).

King James Version

SAB comment

My comment


1 In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, came the word of the LORD by the prophet Haggai, saying,

2 Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the residue of the people, saying,

3 Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?

4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work: for I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts:

5 According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.

6 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land;

"For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land."
In "a little while" God "will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land."
John Gill explains this shaking of the heavens and earth as follow:

Which either intends the changes and revolutions made in the several kingdoms and nations of the world, between this prophecy and the coming of Christ, and which soon began to take place; for the Persian monarchy, now flourishing, was quickly shook and subdued by the Grecians; and in a little time the Grecian monarchy was destroyed by the Romans; and what changes they made in each of the nations of the world is well known: or else this designs the wonderful things that were done in the heavens, earth, and sea, at the birth of Christ, during his life, and at his death:

7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.

8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.

"The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts."
This indicates that God does not need our money, as he created silver and gold and it is His. It is also His to give to those he pleases. It is a verse that has often been dear to God's people, as it tells them that God is in command and can and will supply them with what they need.

9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.

10 In the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying,

11 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying,

12 If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priests answered and said, No.

Be careful not to let any holy flesh touch any food or wine, because if you do your flesh won't be holy any more.
The author of the SAB has completely misread this verse. The holy flesh is meat set apart for holy use, i.e. flesh that was sacrificed, for example by a heave offering. If this meat was put in a pocket of a priest's garment, and the priest's garment touched something such as bread or wine, would such bread or wine become holy as well, because it was touched by a garment inside which was holy meat? The answer to that is no. The garment itself had became holy, meaning it was set apart, could not be used for common use, but it could not convey holiness itself, see Lev. 6:27.

13 Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean.

14 Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the LORD; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean.

15 And now, I pray you, consider from this day and upward, from before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of the LORD:

16 Since those days were, when one came to an heap of twenty measures, there were but ten: when one came to the pressfat for to draw out fifty vessels out of the press, there were but twenty.

17 I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the labours of your hands; yet ye turned not to me, saith the LORD.

God sent blight and hail upon the Israelites, yet they still didn't return to him.
God's punishments towards his people are intended that his people should return to Him. This evil happened to show his displeasure. God withdraw His blessing and protection. But how often this goes unnoticed, as in this case. But Haggai draws their attention to these things.

18 Consider now from this day and upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, even from the day that the foundation of the LORD’S temple was laid, consider it.

19 Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth: from this day will I bless you.

20 And again the word of the LORD came unto Haggai in the four and twentieth day of the month, saying,

21 Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth;

"I will shake the heavens and the earth."
This is a poetical and Biblical way of saying that the nations and their rulers are moved by God, as John Gill explains:

make great commotions, changes, and revolutions in the world, by wars, and otherwise: the Persian kingdom being subdued by the Grecian; the Grecian by the Romans; the Roman empire by the Goths and Vandals; and the antichristian states, both Papal and Mahometan, by the vials of God's wrath poured out upon them, by means of Christian princes: such revolutions are often designed by the shaking of the heavens, especially by earthquakes in the book of the Revelation; see Rev. 6:14.

22 And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother.

"I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them ... every one by the sword of his brother."
Of course this verse not just about people who happen to have chariots. And it's not injustice. But these are the chariots of those that have conquered the nations and ruled and oppressed them. So this actually describes that justice will be done!
The sword of his brother means that this would be by a civil war: these tyrants would be destroyed by their former allies and internal strife.

23 In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the LORD, and will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee, saith the LORD of hosts.