Little is known of Haggai, the author of this book. His first sermon can be dated to around 520 BCE, after King Cyrus permitted a return of captives to Jerusalem (around 538 BCE), but before the reconstruction of its temple.

1. Haggai, speaking for God, asks why the people restore their own houses but the temple lies in ruins. He asks them to ‘give careful thought’ to their actions. Haggai says that the drought they are experiencing is the result of God withholding the rain because of the delay in reconstruction. The governor and the people, fearing the Lord, begin the work on the temple.

2. Haggai says that the new temple will one day be greater in glory than the previous temple (built by Solomon), and that in this place (Jerusalem, presumably) ‘I will bring peace’. Haggai is telling the people what they want to hear, to achieve his own ends. Haggai makes an analogy between impure meat and corrupt people. When the foundations of the temple are laid, Haggai tells the people that God will bless them ‘from this day on’. Haggai says that God has chosen Zerubbabel, the governor, as ruler of Judah.

Superstitious and ignorant people are easily frightened and controlled. Haggai links the drought to God’s anger, and frightens the people into reconstructing the temple. If rain comes, it’s due to the reconstruction, and if it doesn’t come the people aren’t working fast enough or well enough. I’m sure Haggai had an answer for any contingency.

Back to Zephaniah. Forward to Zechariah.