Haggai
Chapter 2
Second Oracle
On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, in the second year of Darius’s reign, this message from the Lord was delivered through the prophet Haggai:
“Give this message to Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, and to Joshua, the high priest, and to all the people.
Is there anyone among you who saw this house long ago, in its days of glory? What do they think of what they see now? Is it not a very small thing?
But I tell you, Zerubbabel, Joshua, and my people: do not be discouraged. Start working, for I am with you, says the Lord.
Do not be afraid, for my Spirit is in your midst.
Thus says the Lord of hosts: Within a short while, I will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the continents.
Then I will shake all the nations, and bring in the treasures of the whole world. I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord.
I will have as much silver and gold as I wish.
The renown of this temple will be greater than before, and in this place, I will give peace,” says the Lord of hosts.
Third Oracle
On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came again to the prophet Haggai.
He was to ask the priests to settle the following matter according to the law:
“If someone brings consecrated meat wrapped in his cloak, and the edge of his cloak touches bread, cooked food, wine, oil, or any other food, will all these become consecrated food?” They immediately answered, “No.”
Haggai asked: “But if someone becomes unclean by touching a dead body and then touches any of these things, will they all become unclean?” This time the priests said: “Yes.”
Then Haggai addressed them: “So it is with this people and this nation before me, says the Lord, so with everything they do and all they offer here: all is unclean.
Pay attention from now on: how was it with you before the rebuilding of the temple started?
You expected twenty sacks of wheat, but there were only ten. You planned to draw fifty measures of wine, but there were just twenty.
I spoiled all your work with blight, mildew, and hail. Yet none of you returned to me, says the Lord.
Pay attention now, since the first stone of the Lord’s Sanctuary was laid.
Watch if the wheat, the vine, the fig tree, and the pomegranate continue to yield little! From today on, I will bless your olive trees.
Fourth Oracle
The word of the Lord came again to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of that month, saying:
“Say to Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah:
I will overthrow the thrones of the kings and destroy the power of the nations. I will overturn the chariot and its rider; the horses and their riders will tumble down to the ground. They will kill one another.
On that day, I will take you, Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel; and for me, you will be like a ring on my finger with my initials on it. For I have chosen you,” says the Lord of hosts.
Commentaries
Second Oracle.
When the people and their leaders set out to rebuild the temple, the Lord assures them of his presence in this task (4). Although this second temple is very humble and cannot be compared to the previous one (3), what matters is that God will fill it with his glory and draw the riches of the nations to it (9). In this way, the prophet opens the door to the messianic times when God’s salvation will be offered to all peoples.
Third Oracle.
Rebuilding Jerusalem was a tough task. Just a few months after starting, the people began to lose hope and focus on their families’ needs. But God doesn’t want a divided heart. So, he asks the priests about what’s sacred and what’s defiled, reminding us that our devotion to divine work shouldn’t be mixed with worldly concerns. In the end, the Lord calls us to fully dedicate ourselves to doing his will, for he is the source of life and all that is fruitful.
Fourth Oracle.
In the final verses, the prophet shares an eschatological vision where the Lord defeats the kingdoms and powers of the nations to establish His ultimate kingdom. Similar to Zechariah in the first part of his book (cf. Zech 4:6-10), the prophet considers the possibility that Zerubbabel, a descendant of David, might be crowned king of Israel. However, history shows that Zerubbabel only served as governor under the authority of the Persian king. Therefore, the prophecy remains open until its complete fulfillment in Jesus, the son of David, as noted in Matthew 1:16.