Haggai 1:1 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

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,

In the second year of Darius - Hystaspes, the king of Medo-Persia, the second of the world-empires, Babylon having been overthrown by the Persian Cyrus. The Jews, having no king of their own, dated by the reign of the world-kings to whom they were subject. Darius was a common name of the Persian kings, as Pharaoh of those of Egypt and Caesar of those of Rome. The name in the cuneiform inscriptions at Persepolis is written Daryawus, from the root Darh, 'to preserve,' the Conservator (Lassen). Herodotus, 6: 98, explains it Coercer. Often opposite attributes are assigned to the same god; in which light the Persians viewed their king. Ezra 4:24 harmonizes with Haggai in making this year the date of the resumption of the building.

In the sixth month - of the Hebrew year, not of Darius' reign (cf. Zechariah 1:7; Zechariah 7:1; Zechariah 7:3; Zechariah 8:19). Two months later ("the eighth month," Zechariah 1:1), Zechariah began to prophesy, seconding Haggai.

Came the word of the Lord - Hebrew, Yahweh (H3068): God's covenant title, implying His unchangeableness-the guarantee of His faithfulness in keeping His promises to His people.

By Haggai - Hebrew, in the hand of Haggai: God being the real speaker, His prophet but the instrument (cf. Acts 7:35; Galatians 3:19).

Zerubbabel - called also Sheshbazzar in Ezra 1:8; Ezra 5:14; Ezra 5:16, where the same work is attributed to Sheshbazzar that in Hag. 3:8 is attributed to Zerubbabel. Sheshbazzar is probably his Chaldean name; as Belteshazzar was that of Daniel. Zerubbabel, his Hebrew name, means one born in Babylon.

Son of Shealtiel - or Salathiel. But 1 Chronicles 3:17; 1 Chronicles 3:19 makes Pedaiah his father. Probably he was adopted by his uncle Salathiel, or Shealtiel, at the death of his father (cf. Matthew 1:12; Luke 3:27).

Governor of Judah - to which office Cyrus had appointed him. The Hebrew [pechah] is akin to the original of the modern Turkish Pasha; one ruling a region of the Persian empire, of less extent than that under a Satrap.

Joshua - called Jeshua (Ezra 2:2); so the son of Nun in Nehemiah 8:17.

The son of Josedech - or Jehozadak (1 Chronicles 6:15), one of those carried captive by Nebuchadnezzar. Haggai addresses the civil and the religious representatives of the people, so as to have them as his associates in giving God's commands: thus priest, prophet, and ruler jointly testify in God's name.

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,