Haggai
Introduction
Haggai is the first of the postexilic prophets. These three: Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi proclaim the word of God in an entirely new age. The former prophets denounced Israel’s sins and announced the imminent Judgment. Now, after the trial of the destruction of Jerusalem and the Exile in Babylon, the Jewish community must rebuild the nation; and this is when the prophets demand that, first, the temple must be rebuilt. It is a fact that the Jews (and this is true for us, too) had to serve God before asking him for the solution to their problems.
Haggai’s message is prophetic in another sense: it initiates a new stage in Sacred History in which the growth of the Jewish people will depend on their faithfulness to the law and on their worship. The temple is already the dwelling place of God among his people. They have to wait also for a mysterious coming of God: that day when he will come to visit his people.
2.3 With utter frankness, Haggai points out how modest was the work they have achieved. It was better that way since they did not build the temple for the sake of the temple to be proud of it; but rather, to show that they had surrendered to the Lord.
Do not be afraid, for my spirit is in your midst (v. 5). We already pointed out that Spirit achieves union. Here the prophet emphasizes that Spirit removes our fears.
I will fill this house with glory (v. 7): the very poverty of the temple invites God to hasten the time of his visitation, to fill it with his glory. In a short time, the Lord will end this transitory world, in which the Jews are living, and will establish his kingdom.
10. The question posed to the priests was in line with the mentality of those days (see commentary on Lev 8:1 and 11:1): there are “clean” or “holy” things; and persons that may come into contact with God, and others, which are “unclean” or “profane,” that cannot enter the temple. Besides, “uncleanliness” is seen as something which can be transmitted through contact.
The conclusion is the following: These people are unclean as long as they do not provide for their God a house worthy of him; thus all their prayers and offerings are unclean, simply for having passed through their hands.
20. Just like Zechariah (Zec 6:12), Haggai thinks that Zerubbabel, a descendant of David, might be the Messiah who will restore the nation of Israel. He does not clearly say so, but suggests it in interpreting a word of God as congratulating Zerubbabel. The prophet was wrong in that; his mistake shows how divine truth and human interpretation—always fallible—can be intertwined even in the words of an authentic prophet.