The Book of Haggai

The Book of Haggai
OUTLINE

The Book of Haggai is divided into two chapters. The first chapter describes his life and calling and the second describing the five prophecies.


Haggai is the first Postexilic Prophet and the tenth of the twelve minor prophets. Haggai was the tenth of the twelve minor prophets. The name Haggai comes from the word Hag meaning feast. He called for a return of strong and sincere morality and strict temple ritual. Haggai was called after the Babylonian Exile in 520 B.C. Haggai was disgusted with the people of Israel when they quickally began rebuilding all of there houses while the house of the Lord (the Temple) lays in ruin. Haggai's book in the Bible contains two chapters which consist of his calling and the Five Prophecies. Haggai main platform was that of which to have the people of Israel rebuild the destroyed temple. In Haggai's time period the crops were very bad. He said that the bad crops were the result of religous laziness and then after saying this gained the support of the people to rebuild the temple. During the time the temple was rebuilt Haggain also refused the help of the Samaritans. The modern day match for Haggai would in one way be Pope John XXIII, this is because he was the POpe to call Vatican II, making him similar because Pope John XXIII rebuilt the Catholic Church as Haggai rebuilt the Jewish temple.
Favorite Line in the Book of Haggai
Haggai, 2:20-22-The message of the LORD came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month: Tell this to Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah: I will shake the heavens and the earth; I will overthrow the thrones of kingdoms, destroy the power of the kingdoms of the nations. I will overthrow the chariots and their riders, and the riders with their horses shall go down by one another's sword. This was my favorite part of the Book of Haggai because it shows of how the prophet after him, Zerubbabel, got his calling and how the prophecy would be handed down.

Introduction to the Book of Haggai

Postexilic prophecy begins with Haggai, who received the word of the Lord in the second year of Darius (520 B.C.). The Jews who returned from the exile in Babylonia had encountered formidable obstacles in their efforts to re-establish Jewish life in Judah. The Samaritans had succeeded in blocking the rebuilding of the temple; but after Darius acceded to the throne (522), permission was given to resume the work. At this critical moment, when defeatism and a certain lethargy had overtaken his repatriated countrymen, Haggai came forward with his exhortations to them to complete the great task. The first oracle, an appeal to the Jews, is contained in Hag 1. To this appeal Haggai added a short oracle of encouragement (Haggai 2:1-9) for the sake of those who gloomily contrasted the former magnificence of Solomon's temple with the second temple: the Lord would be present in this new abode, and its glory, enhanced by the offerings of the Gentiles, would surpass the ancient splendor. The prophecy may be divided into five oracles: The call to rebuild the temple. The economic distress so apparent in Judah is due to the Jews' neglect of the Lord while they provide for their own needs (Haggai 1:1-15). The future glory of the new temple, surpassing that of the old (Haggai 2:1-9). Unworthiness of a people, who may be the Samaritans, to offer sacrifice at the newly restored altar. This oracle is cast in the literary form of a torah, an instruction given the people by a priest (Haggai 2:10-14). A promise of immediate blessings, which follows upon the undertaking (Hag 1) to rebuild the temple (Haggai 2:15-19). A pledge to Zerubbabel, descendant of David, repository of the messianic hopes (Haggai 2:20-23). (New American Bible Haggai Introduction)




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