HAGGAI, BOOK OF, (ante) consists of four messages—portions of which were pro phetic—delivered about 18 years after the return of the first part of the Jews from cap tivity. I. On the first day (0`' the sixth month of Darius's second year. 1. Remonstrance against the refusal of the people to build the house of the Lord, and against their selfish devotedness to the adornment of their own houses. These facts declared to be the cause of the disappointments they had suffered in their harvests, food, clothing and income. 2. Exhortation to consider what their cause had been, and to reverse it by completing the temple; accompanied by the promise that the Lord, taking pleasure in their work. would use It for his glory; and followed by a renewed declaration that all the failure of their agricultural pursuits was on account of their neglect of the temple in their eager ness to enjoy their own houses. 3. Record of the obedience of the governor, high priest, and people to the word of the Lord, of the divine co-operation with them, and their consequent zeal in re-entering ou the required work. This practical result was reached within 24 days from Haggai's first message. II. Within a month from that time a second message was sent exhorting rulers, priests, and people to continued courage and zeal, and appealing specially to the old men who, having seen the first house in its glory, were now disheartened by the apparent insignificance of the second. All were assured
that, in a little while, after great overturnings of governments and violent commotions among the nations, the desire of all nations would come, filling the second temple with greater glory than the first had ever known, and giving peace to men. M. Three months after the re-commencement of the work a third message was sent illustrating by emblems taken from the ceremonial law, the sinfulness of the people and the consequent impurity of their work, yet pledging to them that the gracious blessing of God should, from that clay forward, be as conspicuous in their history as his judgments had already been. IV. On the same,day the fourth message- addressed personally to Zerubbabel as the son of David and representing the :Messiah who would descend front him—predicted again great wars and consequent overturning of kingdoms which would change the political aspect of the world, and in connection with which the lIessiah would be made conspicuous as the signet of the Lord.