BIBLE SUMMARY: HAGGAI
Book of Haggai Synopsis: Statistics And Summary of Main Topics.
Book of Haggai Chapter by Chapter Summary.
HAGGAI TOTAL CHAPTERS: 2
HAGGAI TOTAL VERSES: 38
TOTAL WORDS: 1,131
DATE WRITTEN: 520 BC
AUTHOR: Haggai
HAGGAI THEME:
God of Renewal: Rebuilding the Temple. Encouragement To Rebuild Jerusalem.
MAJOR CHARACTERS:
God, Haggai, People of Israel, King Darius.
BOOK OF HAGGAI KEY VERSES:
1:4: Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?
1:5-6: Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.
2:9: The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the LORD Almighty.
HAGGAI SUMMARY
The Book of Haggai was written around 520 B.C. the Persians had overthrown Babylon. After 70 years of captivity, Persian king Cyrus, issued a decree in 538 B.C. allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. This fulfills the prophecies of Isaiah, Jeremiah and others. This leads to a group of about 50,000 Jews returning to the land of Israel under the leadership of Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel and the people rebuild the altar and reestablish worshipping with sacrifices. Neighboring groups opposed the work on the temple and the work stopped for 16 years. Few Persian kings were replaced and Darius the Great comes to the throne. He supports the Jews and allows the work on the temple to resume. Haggai speaks to the Jews who have returned to Judah and urges them to complete the Temple as its foundation was laid eighteen years before. People responded but soon discouraged because the new temple seemed nothing compared to the old one. The new temple was smaller than Solomon’s temple but, more significantly, they did not have the wealth of gold and silver to decorate it. Another message of encouragement is needed from the prophet. Haggai gives another proclamation from the word of the LORD chapter 2:1. Lord promises that He is going to shake things up. The desire of all nations will come to that temple and then the glory of the second will be greater than the glory of the first as in chapter 2:7-8. The Temple was completed in 516 B.C. Haggai declares that God will abolish pagan empires, and Judah will be raised during the time of the Messiah.
CHAPTER WISE SUMMARY:
Chapter#1: Two Messages: Rebuke & Commendation. Captives returned from Babylon. Haggai told God message to the people of Judah; you have your beautiful homes, but what about my house? The people listen to God’s voice. So the people worked on the temple.
Chapter#2: Three Messages: Encouragement, Blessing, &Destruction of Gentile Power. God asked to compare this new house to King Solomon’s temple. It cannot be compared, but God liked it filled it with glory. Rebuilding the temple brings blessings. God’s promise to Zerubbabel. God tells Haggai to speak to Zerubbabel. Lord said, In that day, I will take you, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, and will make thee as a seal ring.
