Haggai - Introduction

INTRODUCTION

Haggai ministered to the JEWS who had recently returned to Jerusalem following their exile in Babylon. The Jews first began to return in 538 B.C. under the leadership of Zerubbabel, the new governor of Judah. Within two years they had laid the foundation for a new temple (Ezra 3:8–10). But then, because of local opposition, the work was interrupted for sixteen years (Ezra 4:1–5). Finally, through the influence of Haggai and his contemporary, the PROPHET Zechariah, the work was resumed and within five years was completed (Ezra 5:1–2; 6:14).

The messages in the book of Haggai were given over a period of four months in 520 B.C. Haggai’s main point was that the people had put their own interests before God’s interests, their own houses before God’s house. That was the real reason they had stopped building the temple. Therefore, Haggai issued a call for them to put God first and to complete the temple without further delay. He told them that if they obeyed God they would be blessed. The people responded to Haggai’s messages and completed the temple four years later, in 516 B.C. (Ezra 6:15).

For further historical background, see the book of Ezra.