耶和华命令百姓重建圣殿

大流士王执政第二年六月一日,耶和华借着先知哈该对撒拉铁的儿子犹大省长所罗巴伯和约撒答的儿子大祭司约书亚说:

“万军之耶和华说,‘这些百姓说,重建耶和华殿的时候还没到。’” 因此,耶和华对先知哈该说: “这殿还是一片废墟,你们却住在华丽的房子里。 万军之耶和华说,你们要认真反省自己的行为。 你们种多收少,吃不饱,喝不足,穿不暖,挣来的工钱却放在漏口袋中。”

万军之耶和华说:“你们要认真反省自己的行为。 你们要上山伐木,重建这殿,好让我欢喜并得到尊崇。这是耶和华说的。 你们盼望丰收,结果收的很少;你们把收成带回家,我却把它们吹走。这是什么缘故?万军之耶和华告诉你们,‘因为你们都忙于建自家的房子,任由我的殿一片废墟。 10 所以,天不降雨露,地无出产。 11 我让旱灾临到大地、群山、五谷、葡萄、橄榄等地里的出产以及人畜,使你们一切的劳碌付诸东流。’”

12 撒拉铁的儿子犹大省长所罗巴伯、约撒答的儿子大祭司约书亚和所有的余民[a]听到他们的上帝耶和华借先知哈该所讲的话,都顺服耶和华的话。百姓都敬畏耶和华。 13 耶和华的使者哈该向百姓传达耶和华的话,说:“耶和华说,‘我与你们同在。’” 14 耶和华感动撒拉铁的儿子犹大省长所罗巴伯、约撒答的儿子大祭司约书亚和所有的余民,他们就动工建造他们的上帝万军之耶和华的殿, 15 时值大流士王执政第二年六月二十四日。

Footnotes

  1. 1:12 余民”指“从流亡之地归回的人”。

耶和華命令百姓重建聖殿

大流士王執政第二年六月一日,耶和華藉著先知哈該對撒拉鐵的兒子猶大省長所羅巴伯和約撒答的兒子大祭司約書亞說:

「萬軍之耶和華說,『這些百姓說,重建耶和華殿的時候還沒到。』」 因此,耶和華對先知哈該說: 「這殿還是一片廢墟,你們卻住在華麗的房子裡。 萬軍之耶和華說,你們要認真反省自己的行為。 你們種多收少,吃不飽,喝不足,穿不暖,掙來的工錢卻放在漏口袋中。」

萬軍之耶和華說:「你們要認真反省自己的行為。 你們要上山伐木,重建這殿,好讓我歡喜並得到尊崇。這是耶和華說的。 你們盼望豐收,結果收的很少;你們把收成帶回家,我卻把它們吹走。這是什麼緣故?萬軍之耶和華告訴你們,『因為你們都忙於建自家的房子,任由我的殿一片廢墟。 10 所以,天不降雨露,地無出產。 11 我讓旱災臨到大地、群山、五穀、葡萄、橄欖等地裡的出產以及人畜,使你們一切的勞碌付諸東流。』」

12 撒拉鐵的兒子猶大省長所羅巴伯、約撒答的兒子大祭司約書亞和所有的餘民[a]聽到他們的上帝耶和華藉先知哈該所講的話,都順服耶和華的話。百姓都敬畏耶和華。 13 耶和華的使者哈該向百姓傳達耶和華的話,說:「耶和華說,『我與你們同在。』」 14 耶和華感動撒拉鐵的兒子猶大省長所羅巴伯、約撒答的兒子大祭司約書亞和所有的餘民,他們就動工建造他們的上帝萬軍之耶和華的殿, 15 時值大流士王執政第二年六月二十四日。

Footnotes

  1. 1·12 餘民」指「從流亡之地歸回的人」。

Introduction

On the first day of the sixth month[a] of King Darius’[b] second year, the Lord’s message came through[c] the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak:[d]

The Accusation of Indifference Against the People

This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies[e] has said: “These people have said, ‘The time for rebuilding the Lord’s temple has not yet come.’”[f] The Lord’s message came through the prophet Haggai as follows:[g] “Is it right for you to live in richly paneled houses[h] while my temple is in ruins?[i] Here then, this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has said: ‘Think carefully about what you are doing.[j] You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but are never filled. You drink, but are still thirsty. You put on clothes, but are not warm. Those who earn wages end up with holes in their money bags.’”[k]

Consequences of the Failure to Rebuild the Temple

Moreover, this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has said: “Pay close attention to these things also.[l] Go up to the hill country and bring back timber to build[m] the temple.[n] Then I will be pleased and honored,”[o] says the Lord. “You expected a large harvest, but instead there was little.[p] And when you would bring it home, I would blow it right away.[q] Why?” asks the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “Because my temple remains in ruins, thanks to each of you favoring his own house![r] 10 This is why the sky[s] has held back its dew and the earth its produce.[t] 11 Moreover, I have called for a drought that will affect the fields, the hill country, the grain, new wine, fresh olive oil, and everything that grows from the ground; it also will harm people, animals, and everything they produce.”[u]

The Response of the Leaders and the People

12 Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak,[v] along with the whole remnant of the people,[w] obeyed[x] the Lord their God. They responded favorably to the message of the prophet Haggai, who spoke just as the Lord their God had instructed him,[y] and the people began to respect the Lord.[z] 13 Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, spoke the Lord’s announcement to the people:[aa] “I am with you,” decrees the Lord. 14 So the Lord energized and encouraged[ab] Zerubbabel[ac] son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak,[ad] and the whole remnant of the people.[ae] They came and worked on the temple of their God, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 15 This took place on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month of King Darius’ second year.[af]

Footnotes

  1. Haggai 1:1 sn The first day of the sixth month was Elul 1 according to the Jewish calendar; August 29, 520 b.c. according to the modern (Julian) calendar.
  2. Haggai 1:1 sn King Darius is the Persian king Darius Hystaspes who ruled from 522-486 b.c.
  3. Haggai 1:1 tn Heb “by the hand of.” This suggests that the prophet is only an instrument of the Lord; the Lord is to be viewed as the true author (see 1:3; 2:1; Mal 1:1).
  4. Haggai 1:1 tn The typical translation “Joshua (the) son of Jehozadak, the high priest” (cf. ASV, NASB, NIV, NRSV) can be understood to mean that Jehozadak was high priest. However, Zech 3:1, 8 clearly indicate that Joshua was high priest (see also Ezra 5:1-2; cf. NAB). The same potential misunderstanding occurs in Hag 1:12, 14 and 2:2, where the same solution has been employed in the translation.
  5. Haggai 1:2 sn The epithet Lord of Heaven’s Armies occurs frequently as a divine title throughout Haggai (see 1:5, 7, 9, 14; 2:4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 23). This name (יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת, yehvah tsevaʾot), traditionally translated “Lord of hosts” (so KJV, NAB, NASB; cf. NIV, NLT “Lord Almighty”; NCV, CEV “Lord All-Powerful”), emphasizes the majestic sovereignty of the Lord, an especially important concept in the postexilic world of great human empires and rulers. For a thorough study of the divine title, see T. N. D. Mettinger, In Search of God, 123-57.
  6. Haggai 1:2 tn Heb “the time has not come, the time for the house of the Lord to be built” (similar KJV). A number of English versions refer to “rebuilding” (so NAB, NCV, NRSV, TEV, NLT) since the reconstruction of Solomon’s temple is actually in view.
  7. Haggai 1:3 tn Heb “and the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, saying.” Cf. the similar expression in v. 1 and the note there.
  8. Haggai 1:4 sn Richly paneled houses. Paneling is otherwise known in the OT only in connection with the temple (1 Kgs 6:9) and the royal palace (2 Kgs 7:3, 7). It implies decoration and luxury (cf. NCV “fancy houses”; TEV “well-built houses”; NLT “luxurious houses”). The impropriety of the people living in such lavish accommodations while the temple lay unfinished is striking.
  9. Haggai 1:4 tn Heb “Is it time for you, [yes] you, to live in paneled houses, while this house is in ruins”; NASB “lies desolate”; NIV “remains a ruin.”
  10. Haggai 1:5 tn Heb “Set your heart upon your ways” (see 2:15, 18); traditionally “Consider your ways” (so KJV, ASV, NAB, NASB).
  11. Haggai 1:6 tn Some translate “pockets” (so NLT) but the Hebrew word צְרוֹר (tseror) refers to a bag, pouch, or purse of money (BDB 865 s.v. צְרוֹר; HALOT 1054 s.v. צְרוֹר 1). Because coinage had been invented by the Persians and was thus in use in Haggai’s day, this likely is a money bag or purse rather than pouches or pockets in the clothing. Since in contemporary English “purse” (so NASB, NIV, NCV) could be understood as a handbag, the present translation uses “money bags.”
  12. Haggai 1:7 tn Heb “Set your heart upon your ways”; see v. 5.
  13. Haggai 1:8 tn Heb “and build the house” (so NIV, NRSV), with “house” referring specifically to the temple here.
  14. Haggai 1:8 sn The temple was built primarily of stone, so the timber here refers to interior paneling (see v. 4) and perhaps to scaffolding (see Ezra 5:8; 6:4).
  15. Haggai 1:8 tn The Hebrew verb אֶכָּבְדָ (ʾekkavda) appears to be a defectively written cohortative (“that I may be glorified”). The cohortatives (note that the preceding אֶרְצֶה, ʾertseh, “I will be pleased,” may also be taken as cohortative) indicate purpose or result (cf. NIV, NRSV “so that”; CEV “so”) following the imperatives of v. 8a (“go up,” “bring back,” “build”).
  16. Haggai 1:9 tn Heb “Turning for much—look! It is [become] little!” The term פָּנֹה (panoh) means “turning [the head],” and here it is in order to look around. The term הִנֵּה (hinneh, “look”) is an interjection drawing attention to the point being made.
  17. Haggai 1:9 tn Heb “I would blow at/against it.” The imagery here suggests that human achievements are so fragile and temporal that a mere breath from God can destroy them.
  18. Haggai 1:9 tn Heb “and each of you runs to his own house”; NIV “is busy with”; TEV “is busy working on”; NCV “work hard for.”
  19. Haggai 1:10 tn The Hebrew text has “over you” (so KJV), but this is redundant in contemporary English and has been left untranslated.
  20. Haggai 1:10 sn This linkage of human sin to natural disaster is reminiscent of the curse brought upon the earth by Adam’s disobedience (Gen 3:17-19; see Rom 8:20-22).
  21. Haggai 1:11 tn Heb “all the labor of hands” (similar KJV, NASB, NIV); cf. NAB “all that is produced by hand.”
  22. Haggai 1:12 tn Many English versions have “Joshua [the] son of Jehozadak, the high priest,” but this is subject to misunderstanding. See the note on the name “Jehozadak” at the end of v. 1.
  23. Haggai 1:12 tn Heb “all the remnant of the people.” The Hebrew phrase שְׁאֵרִית הָעָם (sheʾerit haʿam) in this postexilic context is used as a technical term to refer to the returned remnant (see Ezra 9:14; Isa 10:20-22; 11:11, 16; Jer 23:3; 31:7; and many other passages). Cf. TEV “all the people who had returned from the exile in Babylonia.”
  24. Haggai 1:12 tn Heb “heard the voice of”; NAB “listened to the voice of.”
  25. Haggai 1:12 tn Heb “and according to the words of Haggai the prophet just as the Lord their God sent him.” Some English versions (e.g., NAB, NIV, NCV) take the last clause as causal: “because the Lord their God had sent him.”
  26. Haggai 1:12 tn Heb “and the people feared from before the Lord”; NASB “showed reverence for the Lord.”
  27. Haggai 1:13 tn Heb “Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, said by the message of the Lord to the people.” The Hebrew is repetitive and has been simplified in keeping with contemporary English style.
  28. Haggai 1:14 tn Heb “stirred up” (as in many English versions). Only one verb appears in the Hebrew text, but the translation “energized and encouraged” brings out its sense in this context. Cf. TEV “inspired”; NLT “sparked the enthusiasm of”; CEV “made everyone eager to work.”sn It was God who initiated the rebuilding by providing the people with motivation and ability.
  29. Haggai 1:14 tn Heb “the spirit of Zerubbabel” (so NAB, NIV, NRSV).
  30. Haggai 1:14 tn Heb “the spirit of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest” (as in many English versions), but this is subject to misunderstanding. See the note on the name “Jehozadak” at the end of v. 1.
  31. Haggai 1:14 tn Heb “and the spirit of all the remnant of the people.” The Hebrew phrase שְׁאֵרִית הָעָם (sheʾerit haʿam) in this postexilic context is used as a technical term to refer to the returned remnant; see the note on the phrase “the whole remnant of the people” in v. 12.
  32. Haggai 1:15 sn The twenty-fourth day of the sixth month of King Darius’ second year was September 21, 520 b.c., twenty-three days after the original command by Haggai to rebuild (1:1). The text does not state the reason for the delay, but it may have resulted from the pressing need to bring in the late summer harvest.