A Future Glory Promised
Haggai 2In the seventh month, in the twenty-first day of the month, the word of YHWH came by Haggai the prophet, saying, “Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying, ‘Who is left among y’all who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to y’all now? Isn’t it nothing in y’all’s eyes ? But now you be strong, Zerubbabel,’ says YHWH. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all people of the land,’ says YHWH. ‘Y’all must work, for I am with y’all,’ says YHWH Almighty. This is the word that I covenanted with y’all when y’all came out of Egypt, and my Spirit lived among y’all. ‘Y’all must not be afraid.’ For this is what YHWH Almighty says: ‘Yet once more, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, the earth, the sea, and the dry land; and I will shake all nations. The treasure of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory, says YHWH Almighty. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine,’ says YHWH Almighty. ‘The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,’ says YHWH Almighty; ‘and in this place I will give peace,’ says YHWH Almighty.”
Blessings for a Defiled People
In the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of YHWH came by Haggai the prophet, saying, “YHWH Almighty says: Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying, ‘If someone carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and with his fold touches bread, stew, wine, oil, or any food, will it become holy?’”
The priests answered, “No.”
Then Haggai said, “If one who is unclean by reason of a dead body touch any of these, will it be unclean?”
The priests answered, “It will be unclean.”
Then Haggai answered, “‘So is this people, and so is this nation before me,’ says YHWH; ‘and so is every work of their hands. That which they offer there is unclean. Now, put this on y’all’s heart from this day onward: before a stone was put on a stone in the temple of YHWH, from that time, when someone came to a heap of twenty measures, there were only ten. When one came to the wine vat to draw out fifty, there were only twenty. I struck y’all with blight, mildew, and hail in all the work of y’all’s hands, but y’all didn’t turn to me,’ declares YHWH. ‘Put on y’all’s hearts, from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, since the day that the foundation of the temple of YHWH was laid, think carefully. Is the seed yet in the barn? Yes, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree haven’t produced. From today I will bless you.’”
Promise to Zerubbabel
The word of YHWH came the second time to Haggai in the twenty-fourth day of the month, saying, “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, ‘I will shake the heavens and the earth. I will overthrow the throne of empires. I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations. I will overthrow the chariots and those who ride in them. The horses and their riders will come down, everyone by the sword of his brother. In that day, says YHWH Almighty, I will take you, Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel,’ says YHWH, ‘and will make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ says YHWH Almighty.”