Haggai 1:1 - John Trapp Complete Commentary

Bible Comments

In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, saying,

Ver. 1. In the second year of Darius the king] Not of Darius the Mede, as Genebrard noteth, for he was predecessor to Cyrus, Daniel 5:31, and Haggai prophesied after Cyrus and Cambyses, Ezra 4:5; Ezra 5:1, neither of Darius Nothus, as Scaliger in his book, De Emend. Temporum (the doctrine whereof is almost wholly fictitious, saith one, and founded upon the confines of nothing); but of Darius son of Hystaspes, who succeeded Cambyses in the kingdom of Persia; being chosen king by the peers, upon the neighing of his horse first, as Herodotus testifieth. Whether this Darius was the husband of Queen Esther, as some affirm, or her son, as others (and was therefore so favourable to the Jews), I undertake not to determine; only take notice, that by heathen historians it is said, that the wife of this Darius was called Atossa, which sounds in part somewhat like Hadassah, that is, Esther, Esther 2:7. Hadassah was her own Hebrew name; and after she was made queen she was called Esther. He is called Darius the king, as if he were the only king on earth. His successor, Darius, in his proud embassy to Alexander, called himself the king of kings and cousin of the gods; and for Alexander, he called him his servant; but Alexander soon after became his lord: for the kingdom of Persia was lost by that Darius, as it had been restored by this to its former splendour, after the havoc made by Cambyses (παλιν επι Dαρειου σχεδον εσωθη); who among other vile acts of his (as "wickedness proceedeth from the wicked, according to the proverb of the ancients," 1Sa 24:18), forbade the building of the temple, Ezra 4:22. But he who sets up princes at his pleasure, and turns their hearts whithersoever he will, Proverbs 21:1 (as the ploughman doth the watercourse with his paddle, or the gardener with his hand), turned here the heart of this great king to his people the Jews; so that he made a new decree for the advancement of the building, Ezra 5:8. God also seasonably stirred up Haggai and Zechariah to quicken the people (who were soon after their return from Babylon grown cold again and careless), and so blessed their ministry, that the house, that is, the sanctuary, and the holy of holies, was finished in four years' time, or thereabouts, Ezra 6:14. The outward court, and so the whole temple, in three years after that, as Josephus witnesseth.

In the sixth month] In the 3484th year of the world, as Ussher computeth it, on the first of September, confer Hag 2:19 when the Jews were ingathering their harvest and fruits, and found a dearth toward. This the prophet makes use of, pressing it upon the people as a just hand of God upon them, for slighting and slacking the rebuilding of his house. It is good for God's ministers to set in with him, to strike while the iron is hot, to cry, "Hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it," Micah 6:9; for as iron is very soft and malleable while in the fire; and as molten metals are fit for the mould; so when men are under the cross they are more easily wrought upon; they will hearken to instruction, that before laughed at it, as the wild ass doth at the horse and his rider, Job 39:18. The wild ass, that is used to the wilderness, though she kick up her heels, and snuff up the wind at her pleasure, so that they that seek her will not weary themselves, yet there is a time when she may be taken; in her month they shall find her, Jeremiah 2:24 .

In the first day of the month] Heb. In one day. One for first is ordinary in both Testaments, Genesis 1:5; Numbers 29:1; Daniel 9:1; Matthew 28:1; Joh 20:1; 1 Corinthians 16:2. The time of this prophecy (as of others, Isaiah 1:1 Jeremiah 1:2,3, &c.) is precisely noted, to teach us what account we should make of God's oracles and inspirations; and how God will one day reckon with us for the helps we have had and the time we have enjoyed them. He sets down all: how much more should we, and live up to our means and mercies, propagating our thankfulness into our practice! Jeremiah prophesied forty years, but with ill success; it was his unhappiness to be physician to a dying state, Tunc etiam, docta plus valet arte malum. The Holy Ghost sets a special mark upon these forty years of his prophesying, Ezekiel 4:6, by bidding the prophet lie forty days upon his right side, and bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days, a day for a year.

Came the word of the Lord] i.e. He began to prophesy, as Ezra 5:1, being sent and set to work by God, whose alone it is to make fit ministers of either Testaments, 2 Corinthians 3:5, to send, gift, and bless them, Jeremiah 23:21. Prophetarum ora sunt Dei os The mouths of the prophets are the mouth of God. (Chrysost.).

By Haggai the prophet] Heb. by the hand of Haggai, that is, by his means and ministry. See Trapp on " Mal 1:1 " Haggai signifieth merry and pleasant (Festivus et laetus), as at a solemn feast; which name of his excellence suited both with the time of his prophecy, viz. after the return from captivity, see Psalms 126:1,2, and also with the matter whereof he treats and whereto he drives, Christ, the Desire of all nations, Hag 2:7 Wilt thou be merry at any time? saith Seneca, think on Caesar: canst thou be sad and he be in health? How much more cause have we to be merry in the Lord Christ! Let us keep the feast with all solemnity; let us keep holy day (εορταζωμεν), since Christ our passover is sacrificed for us, 1 Corinthians 5:7,8. Let this swallow up all our discontents, and crown the calendar of our lives with continual festivals; let the ransomed of the Lord return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads, &c., Isaiah 35:10. The Septuagint ascribe certain of the Psalms to Haggai and Zechariah, in the titles they prefix; though some think that the Hallelujah Psalms (as they are called, because they begin and end with Hallelujah, or, Praise ye the Lord) were sung by the Jews, returning out of Babylon; those two prophets beginning the tune, or giving the verse (as they call it). And hereunto the prophet Jeremiah might have an eye, Jeremiah 31:12 "Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together, to the goodness of the Lord," &c.

Unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel] Philo saith he was also called Barachias; others Pedaiah, out of 1 Chronicles 3:19. He is called Sheshbazzar, Ezra 1:8. His name, Zerubbabel, signifieth either, Born in Babel, or, Far from confusion. A prince (of all men) should observe order, and keep the peace. By the laws of England a nobleman cannot be bound to the peace; because it is supposed that the peace is always bound to him, and that of his own accord he will be careful to keep others in good order. But what a regnum Cyclopicum was at Rome in Nero's days, Quando poterat quisque ea quam cuperet potiri, negare licebat nemini? Turn servus cum Domina, praesente Domino suo, et gladiator cum virgine nobili inspectante patre rem habuit (Dio in Vit. Neron). Blessed be God for better times.

Governor of Judah] Or duke, captain, provincial, president. The many headed multitude hath need of a guide, who may be αθορυβος και φρονιμος, peaceable and prudent (saith Plato), to keep and care for the welfare of his subjects. Such a one was Zerubbabel, Nobilis genere, nobilior sanctitate, Noble by birth, but more noble by his piety; drained from the dregs and sifted from the brans of the baser sort of people. In the seventeenth year of his age he led back part of the people from Babylon to Jerusalem, where he continued governor for the time of 58 years, saith Gryaenus. Those that make Darius in the text to be Darius Nothus must needs allow him a much longer life and government; which God, say they, granteth to some because he hath something to be done by them. The change of states may here also be remarked. This people was first governed by judges, or captains; then by kings, and now by captains again. So the principality of Edom, as it began with dukes, and rose to kings, so it returned to dukes again, after the death of Hadad, in Moses' time, 1 Chronicles 1:51 Genesis 36:43. Adeo nihil est in vita firmum aut stabile (ασταθμητον του βιου). Truly, nothing in life is fixed and secure. So uncertain are all things.

And to Joshua the son of Josedech] A brand plucked out of the fire, Zechariah 3:2, and therefore the fitter for such a preferment, ut in alto positus non altum sapiat (Bernard). David came not to the kingdom till his soul was even as a weaned child, Psalms 131:2. Queen Elizabeth swam to her crown through a sea of sorrows. Matthias, King of Hungary, was taken from the prison to the throne. But to the business: Joshua, the high priest, was a type of Christ in regard, 1. Of his name, which signifieth a Saviour. 2. Of his office of high priesthood. 3. Of his partnership with Zerubbabel, in bringing the people home to their own country. The Lord Christ is both our Prince of life and our merciful and faithful High Priest, ever living to make request for us, Acts 2:15; Hebrews 4:14,16; Hebrews 7:24,28

The high priest, saying] Zerubbabel and Jehoshua were the chieftains of the people; and though not themselves in fault, or, at least, nothing so much (for they were both very religious), yet they were not so forward and forth putting as they should have been in so excellent a work. Howsoever, if the task be not done, the taskmasters are beaten, Exodus 5:14. It is the misery of those that are trusted with authority that their inferiors' faults are beaten upon their backs. If the people gather manna on the Lord's sabbath Moses and Aaron shall hear, "How long refuse ye to keep. my commandments?"Exodus 16:28. It is Mr Calvin's opinion that Haggai, therefore, addressed himself to these two principal persons; to the end that they might join their forces with him, in reprehending and exciting the people to the Lord's work. When the word and the sword go together there is great likelihood of much good to be done. Upon the sword of Charles the Great was written Utriusque tabulae custos. Guard of both tables of the law. And Queen Elizabeth riding progress once in Suffolk, said, that now she saw the reason why that county was so well governed, for she observed that all the justices coming to meet her had every one his minister next to his person.

Haggai 1:1

1 In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of the LORD bya Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, saying,