Background+of+Haggai

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=Introduction to Haggai = = 

= Authorship: Little is known about this prophet, but he could have been born on a feast day because his name means festival.[|[i]] He could have been taken away in exile and returned in 520BC, or he could have always lived in Judah.[|[ii]] He emphasizes temple traditions, and is very focused on the rebuilding of the temple; he views it as an essential part of Yahweh saving His people.[|[iii]] Haggai and Zechariah were contemporaries who each encouraged the people to continue rebuilding the temple Ezra 5:1 and 6:14.[|[iv]] Scholars agree that the four prophecies in the book of Haggai were all made by Haggai; the point of debate is over the issue of who recorded the prophecies. Many believe that the book of Haggai was recorded by someone other than Haggai.[|[v]] The book of Haggai refers to the prophet Haggai in the third person style. The book chronicles the prophecies and the subsequent responses of the people; it includes nothing about the prophet himself.[|[vi]] People’s response: Both the leaders and the people respond well to Haggai’s exhortation and they began to rebuild the temple. Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel (Judah’s governor) and Joshua son of Jehozadak (high priest) were both motivated by God to rebuild the temple.[|[vii]]

=Historical Context: = = 

= Haggai is written during the time period (beginning in 539BC) when the Jews began to return to Palestine.[|[viii]] According to Ezra 1:2-4, Cyrus commanded that the temple be rebuilt in Jerusalem, and Ezra 1:7-11 records how the vessels of the temple, which were taken by Nebuchadnezzar, were returned.[|[ix]] The Jews who listened to Haggai’s message were beset with hardships and poverty.[|[x]] Haggai began to prophesy in 520BC, when Darius was reigning.[|[xi]] He focused on how the people had come under the covenant curse because they had not finished building the temple.[|[xii]] =Literary Form and Connections: = = 

= Haggai is divided into four main parts.[|[xiii]] The prophet tells the people how they need to build the temple again (520 BC) (Haggai 1:1-15).[|[xiv]] He reminds the people to keep expecting the Lord to return (Haggai 2:1-9). Haggai urges them to strive after holiness (Haggai 2:10-19), and assures them that if they diligently obey, they will be rewarded and blessed (Haggai 2:20-23).[|[xv]] Haggai is in the form of prose as opposed to poetry, and has a direct and straight-forward style.[|[xvi]] =Message of the Book: = = 

= There are three main themes throughout the book of Haggai.[|[xvii]] First theme: God. Haggai reminds the people of God’s power, and shows them of how their hardships are the result of failure to finish rebuilding the temple.[|[xviii]] God will literally move heaven and earth for the sake of the temple, (Haggai 2:6-8). The people responded by repenting and obeying (Haggai 1:12-14).[|[xix]] The second theme is the temple. Haggai urges the people to rebuild the temple.[|[xx]] The point of God living among His people is that He will be glorified.[|[xxi]] It is good that the people realize God is high above them, and that He cannot be contained by an earthly temple,[|[xxii]] but they must realize that not building the temple was dishonoring to God.[|[xxiii]] The third theme is eschatology: the idea that one who is from David’s line will again be king (Zerubbabel) (Haggai 2:20-23).[|[xxiv]]

[|[i]] Balmer Kelly, // Micah-Malachi, // 1st ed (Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1962), 85 [|[ii]] P. R. Ackroyd, A.R.C. Leaney, and J.S. Packer,// The Books of Haggai Zechariah and Malachi, // CBCNEB (New York: cambridge University Press, 1977) 12 [|[iii]] Ibid, 12 [|[iv]] Carroll Stuhlmueller,// Haggai and Zechariah: Rebuilding with Hope, // ITC (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing Co, 1988), 11 [|[v]] Pieter Verhoef, // The Books of Haggai and Malachi // NICOT (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing Co, 1987), 9 [|[vi]] Ibid, 9 [|[vii]] P.R. Ackroyd, A.R.C. Leaney, J.S. Packer, // The Books of Haggai Zechariah and Malachi, // 17 [|[viii]] Verhoef, // The Books of Haggai and Malachi, // 25 [|[ix]] Ibid, 25-26 [|[x]] Ibid, 28-29 [|[xi]] Ibid, 27  [|[xii]] Ibid, 28 [|[xiii]] Ian Duguid, // Haggai Zechariah Malachi // EPSC, (Carlisle: EP Books, 2010) 16 [|[xiv]] P.R. Ackroyd, A.R.C. Leaney, J.S. Packer, // The Books of Haggai Zechariah and Malachi, // 14 [|[xv]] Duguid, // Haggai Zechariah Malachi, // 16 [|[xvi]] Verhoef, // The Books of Haggai and Malachi, // 17-18 [|[xvii]] Ibid, 32 [|[xviii]] Ibid, 33 [|[xix]] Ibid, 34 [|[xx]] Ibid, 34 [|[xxi]] Ibid, 36 [|[xxii]] Ibid, 35-36 [|[xxiii]] Ibid, 36 [|[xxiv]] Ibid, 37

Bibliography Ackroyd, P.R.; Leaney, A.R.C.; Packer, J.S. "The Cambridge Bible Commentary on the New English Bible: The Books of Haggai Zechariah and Malachi." New York: Cambridge Univerysity Press, 1977. Duguid, Ian. "An EP Study Commentary: Haggai Zechariah Malachi." Carlisle: EP Books, 2010. Kelly, Balmer. "The Layman's Bible Commentary, Micah-Malachi 15." Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1962. Stuhlmueller, Carroll. "Haggai and Zechariah: Rebuilding with Hope: International Theological Commentary." Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing Co, 1988. Verhoef, Pieter. "The Books of Haggai and Malachi: New International Commentary on the Old Testament." Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing Co, 1987.

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