A Comprehensive Commentary. The Book of Haggai

Transcription

1 A Comprehensive Commentary of The Book of Haggai together with references for further study from the General Conferences of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the Encyclopedia of Mormonism and other doctrinal texts by General Authorities of the Church Written and compiled by Paul Nolan Hyde Parrish Press Orem, Utah

2 Copyright 2014; 2015 by Paul Nolan Hyde, Ph.D. All rights reserved. First Electronic Edition Copyright 2015 Parrish Press, Orem, Utah 1842 South 50 East Orem, Utah

3 Preface This project began as an attempt to provide my children and grandchildren something of their ancestor s love and understanding of the scriptures. I began producing volumes many years ago which I was pleased to call Paraphrastic studies. I wrote one of these studies for each of the four Gospels and the letters of Paul. Eventually, however, I began to sense that there was much that I knew about the New Testament that my translations could not communicate. I therefore thought to write a comprehensive commentary on the entire New Testament, beginning with Matthew and concluding with the book of Revelation. As I published each of the nine volumes, I included the paraphrastic studies, where I had them, in conjunction with the commentary for each book in the New Testament. I began this project in 2005 and completed the final volume in The whole effort was a delight to my soul. A year before I retired from the Church Educational System, in 2003, I thought to produce an 1830 formatting of the Book of Mormon using the present text of the 1981 edition. This was a relatively easy task, given the technology available to me. I distributed these to my colleagues at the Orem Institute of Religion, members of my family, and a few other interested parties for the cost of printing and binding them. Sometime in the early spring of 2007, I was impressed to begin a verse by verse commentary on the Book of Mormon, a task that I had not presumed to attempt, inasmuch as there are no translation difficulties that abound in the Old and New Testaments. Yet, there were instances of nineteenth-century word usage and syntactic issues that I thought a commentary might help to clarify. As I began, however, I discovered that there was much more that I could communicate to my children of my understanding of the ancient record of the Nephites, material that I had gleaned as I taught the scriptures during my thirty-five year career with CES. This labor eventually produced five volumes of moderate size. As I published each segment of the commentary, I enclosed the 1830 formatting of each book in the Book of Mormon that I had devise several years before. The last volume also appeared in late By the time that I was fully engaged with writing commentaries on both the New Testament and the Book of Mormon, I had become infatuated with the idea that I might be able to expand the commentaries to include the other volumes of scripture as well. Thus, in the winter of 2010 I began writing commentaries on the Pearl of Great Price, and the Doctrine and Covenants. Once I finished with the Pearl of Great Price, I began to move ahead with the book of Genesis and the rest of the Old Testament. In the late fall of 2014 I finished the last of the commentaries on the Old Testament, for a total of thirty-three printed and bound volumes. With these volumes and the others produced over the past ten years, I have completed commentary on every verse of the Standard Works of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My procedure for writing the Commentary was similar to that used in creating the original paraphrastic studies. The same reference texts were employed. For difficult words in Greek, Hebrew, 3

4 and English I resorted to the works of James Strong and other lexicographers for linguistic insight. I consider the contributions made by conservative Protestant scholarship (as recorded in the New International Version) and conservative Catholic scholarship (as related in the New Jerusalem Bible). I resorted to the considered thought of Adam Clarke, one of the most prominent and prolific commentators on the sacred manuscripts available at the beginning of the nineteenth century, and who, I believe, was a man of great faith. I consulted with the Joseph Smith Translation at appropriate times (including in another column an indication that a JST change had been made for any given verse), and frequently to the writings of the General Authorities of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, as I contemplated the possible meanings of each word and phrase. From time to time I resorted to Smith s Bible Dictionary and Discovering the World of the Bible by LaMar Berrett for some of the more arcane information that I thought would illuminate the text. I have attempted to maintain a steady course throughout my commentaries, treating each verse as unique, and where appropriate, duplicate notes and the text rather than use cross-references within the volume. Some may find this a waste of paper and ink, but I frankly dislike having to rifle through pages or volumes trying to find the first instance of the note or commentary. The duplications are easily ignored; fumbling through pages cannot be. It is in the best interests of the reader, however, to contemplate the reasons why such duplications exist in the biblical text in the first place. They are purposeful and I have attempted to point out their purpose as I have progressed through each volume. My numbering system for the notes used in the body of the commentary was adapted from historical linguistic texts with which I am familiar and which I had found quite useful. The pattern used is Chapter.verse.word; thus note would contain material referring to the fifth word in the book of Hosea 3:4, for example. I make no comprehensive promises regarding the preciseness of my word count in any particular verse, but it will be close enough to eliminate any distressing confusion. Inasmuch as I began this series with the Gospel of Matthew, there will be times when I will make reference to my own work in that first volume. Sometimes there will be no more than a reference, MT-C ; other times I may quote directly from the original text. In either case my sole motivation will be to facilitate the flow of ideas rather than to multiply words. There are enough words already. References to the Commentaries on other books of the New Testament are abbreviated as follows: Matthew MT-C Mark MK-C Luke LK-C John JN-C Acts AC-C Romans RM-C 1 Corinthians 1 CO-C 2 Corinthians 2 CO-C Galatians GA-C Ephesians EP-C Philippians PP-C Colossians CL-C 1 Thessalonians 1 TH-C 2 Thessalonians 2 TH-C 1 Timothy 1 TM-C 2 Timothy 2 TM-C Titus TT-C Philemon PL-C Hebrews HB-C 1 Peter 1 PE-C 2 Peter 2 PE-C 1 John 1 JN-C 2 John 2 JN-C 3 John 3 JN-C Revelation RV-C 4

5 References to the Commentaries in the books of the Old Testament are as follows: Genesis GE-C Exodus EX-C Leviticus LV-C Numbers NM-C Deuteronomy DT-C Joshua JO-C Judges JD-C Ruth RU-C 1 Samuel 1 SM-C 2 Samuel 2 SM-C 1 Kings 1 KG-C 2 Kings 2 KG-C 1 Chronicles 1 CR-C 2 Chronicles 2 CR-C Ezra ER-C Nehemiah NE-C Esther ES-C Job JB-C Psalms PS-C Proverbs PV-C Ecclesiastes ES-C Song of Solomon SS-C Isaiah IS-C Jeremiah JR-C Lamentations LM-C Ezekiel EZ-C Daniel DA-C Hosiah HS-C Joel JL-C Amos AM-C Obadiah OB-C Jonah JH-C Micah MH-C Nahum NA-C Habakkuk HB-C Zephaniah ZP-C Haggai HG-C Zechariah ZE-C Malachi ML-C I have also made reference to the other standard works of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints. The references to the Book of Mormon are articulated in bold and italics lettering using the following abbreviations: 1 Nephi 1 NE-C 2 Nephi 2 NE-C Jacob JA-C Enos EN-C Jarom JM-C Omni OM-C Words of Mormon WM-C Mosiah MS-C Alma AL-C Helaman HE-C 3 Nephi 3 NE-C 4 Nephi 4 NE-C Mormon MM-C Ether ET-C Moroni MR-C The abbreviation TPW-C refers to the material found on the Title Page of the Book of Mormon and in the Testimonies of the Three and Eight Witnesses. The references to Sections that are in the Doctrine and Covenants are indicated as DC-C followed by the section number and verse (OD1-C and OD2-C are self-explanatory); The Pearl of Great Price references contained herein use the following abbreviations: MO-C, AB-C, SM-C, SH-C, and AF-C. In some cases I have taken on what some would consider controversial material. I make no apologies for so doing. I have found that my children are best served when an issue is approached head on, the differing points of view presented, and the rationale given as to why one school of thought ought to be preferred over another. Sometimes the decisions are logically founded; others the result of doctrinal points that are unique to theology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In most cases I have not argued authorities, even though I could have inserted multiple references to the writings of scholars with whom I am familiar. I have chosen to have my sources on any particular issue to remain anonymous in the text of the commentary for several reasons. First and foremost, this work is my commentary, what I believe and hold to be true. In the end, that is what my children wish to know. Secondly, I did not wish to have my children accept or dismiss a particular view merely because of who had been the author of it. Many wonderful insights have been made by scholars both inside and outside of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Wherein I have found one view to be preferable over another has not been a partisan matter, but rather a matter of the mind, heart, and spirit cooperating together in an attempt to understand what must be the truth. Thirdly, I have been quite clear who my authorities have been. It is my fondest 5

6 desire that my children would become as familiar with their writings as I have. Were I to cite all of my sources with extensive quotes from each, there would be no need for them to open any of the books that I have come to love. That, in part, is why I included the third column containing crossreferences to the various doctrinal works in the Commentaries. Exceptions to this practice should be noted as being of extreme importance. In addition to the text of the Standard Works, together with my own commentary, I inserted a column of references for further study. The citations are taken from three major sources: the Conference Reports of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints from April 1980 to November 2002 (abbreviated as CR followed by the year, month and page number); the Encyclopedia of Mormonism (four volumes, abbreviated EM followed by the volume and page number); and A Scripture Index (a compilation of scripture references cited in various texts published by General Authorities of the Church). For those not familiar with the abbreviations used in A Scripture Index. I include them below: TPJS Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith GD Gospel Doctrine MA Mediation and Atonement FWR Far West Record DHC History of the Church (7 vols.) TSWK Teaching of Spencer W. Kimball MF Miracle of Forgiveness FPM Faith Precedes the Miracle MD Mormon Doctrine PM Promised Messiah MM Mortal Messiah (4 vols.) MLM Millennial Messiah DNTC Doctrinal New Testament Commentary (3 vols.) JC Jesus the Christ AF Articles of Faith DS Doctrines of Salvation (3 vols.) AGQ Answers to Gospel Questions (5 vols.) As with each of the volumes previously published, I include two lists. The first, bound in front of the Commentary, is a listing of all of the words and phrases upon which I have made extensive remarks, a kind of sequential table of contents. I have also arranged this list alphabetically and have placed it at the end of the Commentary as a kind of index. A comprehensive alphabetical index for the entire volume appears as the last section of this book. Needless to say that all of the errors in the material submitted herein to the reader are the product of my own limitations as a scholar; all of the brilliance which may appear here is the product of minds and hearts filled with the fire of the Spirit of God, from whom all truth and beauty ultimately derive. A Note on the Electronic Edition Not only did my children and other family members receive bound copies of commentaries, but there were a number of friends and neighbors who had expressed an interest in them. There were requests from others who desired copies of what I had done, but I was not in a position to provide them with hard copies. Inasmuch as I had all of the volumes in computer files, I thought to compile each of the commentaries in some format that could be read on a smart device. I opted to use the Adobe Acrobat, turning all of the work into PDF files. I have used these on my tablet for many years and have found them useful and far easier to cart about with me. In the early spring of 2015, my neighbor David Dollahite arranged for a meeting with Jack Welch and Marny Parkin regarding the possibility of BYU providing a dedicated web site so that there would be greater public access to my 6

7 work. Thus began the present enterprise of editing and standardizing all that had done during the last ten years. My commentary on the Gospel of Mark is the second of these electronic volumes. Within a year or so I hope to have all of the books available in the same format. PNH Orem, Utah December

8 Sequence of Specifically Noted Words and Phrases in Haggai Darius sixth month Haggai prophet Zerubbabel Shealtiel Judah Joshua Josedech high priest Haggai prophet corn Zerubbabel Shealtiel Joshua Josedech high priest Haggai prophet Haggai Zerubbabel Shealtiel Judah Joshua Josedech high priest sixth month Darius seventh month prophet Haggai Zerubbabel Shealtiel Judah Joshua Josedech high priest Zerubbabel Joshua Josedech high priest Egypt ninth month Darius Haggai prophet priests priests Haggai priests Haggai ninth month Haggai Zerubbabel Judah Zerubbabel Shealtiel 8

9 A Commentary on the Scriptures by Paul Nolan Hyde, Ph.D. The Book of Haggai 0.0 The prophetic books of the Old Testament are divided into two major sections: the first, consisting of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel; the second, a gathering of the writings of twelve prophets, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. The first part is usually referred to as the Major Prophets and the second as the Minor Prophets. Scholars assure us that these titles have nothing to do with the quality of the writing, but rather have to do with the relative lengths of the books in each section. Thus, we may easily see that the writings Isaiah and Jeremiah are each longer than the combined writings of the Twelve. The books of Ezekiel and Daniel together are as long as the second section of the prophetic works. Historians have suggested additionally that when the Old Testament was compiled, the twelve prophets were all committed to one scroll and therefore became a single unit. Hag. EM 2:765, There is great disagreement as to why the books of the Prophets have the order that they do in the King James version of the Old Testament. Some students of the scriptures testify that the order was originally established because of their relative size, the first, Isaiah, being the longest. While this generalization has appeal, there are some rather startling divergences from this proposed pattern. Obadiah, for example, is hardly more than a page long, while those on either side, Amos and Jonah, are both considerably longer. The traditional order of the Minor Prophets, then, must be based on some other criteria. 0.2 Jewish tradition holds that the minor prophets were originally ordered chronologically in three groups. The first set, consisting of Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah, are said to have been written during the days of the prominence of the Assyrian empire, that august nation that was instrumental in destroying the northern kingdom of Israel 3,159 years after our first parents departed from the Garden of Eden, or about the year 724 BC. The prophets of the second set are supposed to have hailed from the time that the kingdom of Babylonia was beginning to come to the forefront, thus eclipsing the power of the Assyrians: Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah. The third set is said to have been produced sometime after the return of the Israelites from the Babylonian captivity: to wit, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. The King James translators and many other translations have followed this traditional order. 0.3 The Septuagint, the oldest Greek manuscript of the Old Testament, however, orders the Minor Prophets in a somewhat different way: Hosea, Amos, Micah, Joel, Obadiah, Jonah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi. These are clearly placed in this order because of their relative lengths, except for Jonah, an anomaly which no one has been able to satisfactorily explain. 0.4 Many scholars desire to set forth, in their opinion, the true historical order of the Minor Prophets. The following chart brings some of these variant ideas together with those discussed above. Clarke, of course, is the great Methodist commentator, Adam Clarke; and NJB refers to the editors of the New Jerusalem Bible, the modern Catholic translation of the scriptures. LDSBD refers to the Bible Dictionary contained within the current edition of the Bible 9

10 published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In this latter compilation, the position of the book of Obadiah is also suggested as possibly being between Zephaniah and Habakkuk. KJV Septuagint Clarke NJB LDSBD Hosea Hosea Jonah Amos Obadiah Joel Amos Hosea Hosea Joel Amos Micah Joel Micah Hosea Obadiah Joel Amos Zephaniah Jonah Jonah Obadiah Micah Nahum Amos Micah Jonah Nahum Habakkuk Micah Nahum Nahum Habakkuk Haggai Nahum Habakkuk Habakkuk Zephaniah Zechariah Zephaniah Zephaniah Zephaniah Obadiah Malachi Habakkuk Haggai Haggai Haggai Obadiah Haggai Zechariah Zechariah Zechariah Joel Zechariah Malachi Malachi Malachi Jonah Malachi We need not overly exercise ourselves regarding the truth of the matter. As each of the prophets is treated, we will address the possibilities and attempt to suggest the most likely resolution to the matter. 0.5 The following chronological chart incorporates the speculated time frame of the events described in the book of Ezra. The italicized entries are based upon the running chronologies of the present commentaries. There are distinct differences between these dates and those proposed by modern historians. Needless to say, the modern scholars have not taken into consideration the temporal benchmarks provided by modern revelation, while the chart below does. Ad.Yr Cal.Yr. Event Scripture BC Zedekiah becomes king 2 Kgs. 24: BC Lehi begins ministry 1 Ne. 1: BC Lehi departs Jerusalem 1 Ne. 2: BC Jerusalem destroyed 2 Kgs. 25: BC Jehoiachin brought from prison 2 Kgs. 25: BC First year of Cyrus reign 2 Chr. 36: BC Cyrus ends the Babylonian Captivity 2 Chr. 36: BC Burnt offerings begin at Temple site Ezra 3: BC Temple construction begins Ezra 3: BC Death of Cyrus (?) BC Ahasuerus (Cambysus II) ascends throne of Persia(?) BC Death of Ahasuerus(?) BC Short reign of Bardiya (Artaxerxes?) BC Artaxerxes calls a cease to Temple construction BC Darius ascends the Persian throne (?) BC Haggai prophesies BC Zerubbabel resumes construction on the Temple BC The Temple in Jerusalem completed BC Xerxes I (Ahasuerus?) ascends the Persian throne (?) BC Artaxerxes ascends Persian throne (?) BC Ezra journeys to Jerusalem Ezra 7: BC The strange wives put way (?) Ezra 10: BC Nehemiah journeys to Jerusalem Neh. 1:1 0.6 If our running chronology has modest merit, then we must conclude that 10

11 the prophet Haggai began his ministry 3,402 years after our first parents departed from the Garden of Eden, or about the year 481 BC. The following chronological chart displays in italic type the speculations addressed above regarding the life and ministry of the prophet Haggai. Note the 125 year separation between the ministries of Obadiah and Haggai. Ad.Yr Cal.Yr. Event Scripture BC Joel born (?) BC Joash born 2 Kgs. 11: BC Ahaziah dies 2 Kgs. 9: BC Athaliah becomes sole queen 2 Kgs. 11: BC Joash becomes king 2 Kgs. 11: BC Athaliah is slain 2 Kgs. 11: BC Joel s prophecies begin (?) BC Amaziah born 2 Chr. 25: BC Obadiah prophesies (?) BC Hosea Born (?) BC Amoz born (?) BC Amos born (?) BC Joash dies 2 Kgs. 12: BC Amaziah becomes king 2 Kgs. 12: BC Jonah born (?) BC Azariah (Uzziah) born 2 Kgs. 14: BC Jeroboam appointed co-regent BC Jeroboam becomes sole king 2 Kgs. 13: BC Azariah (Uzziah) appointed co-regent BC The battle against Edom at Sela 2Kgs. 14: BC Hosea begins ministry (?) BC Amaziah dies 2 Chr. 25: BC Azariah (Uzziah) becomes sole king 2 Kgs. 14: BC Amos begins ministry in Bethel (?) Amos 7: BC Jonah prophesies regarding Jeroboam 2 Kgs, 14: BC Isaiah born (?) BC Jotham born 2 Kgs. 15: BC Micah born (?) BC Jeroboam dies 2 Kgs. 14: BC Menahem becomes king 2 Kgs. 15: BC Menahem bribes Pul 2 Kgs. 15: BC Jonah journeys to Nineveh (?) BC Ahaz born 2 Kgs. 16: BC Isaiah begins his ministry (?) BC Azariah (Uzziah) dies 2 Kgs. 15: BC Jotham becomes king 2 Kgs. 15: BC Hezekiah born (Ahaz 11?) 2 Kgs. 18: BC Micah begins his ministry (?) BC Ahaz becomes king 2 Kgs. 16: BC Ahaz and Tiglath meet in Damascus 2 Kgs. 16: BC Hezekiah becomes co regent (15?) 2 Kgs. 18: BC Kingdom of Israel destroyed 2 Kgs. 18: BC Ahaz dies 2 Kgs. 16: BC Hezekiah becomes sole king 2 Kgs. 16: BC Hosea dies (?) BC Sennacherib invades Judah 2 Kgs.18: BC Nahum prophesies (?) BC Manasseh born 2 Kgs. 21:1 11

12 BC Micah dies (?) BC Hezekiah dies 2 Kgs. 18: BC Manasseh becomes king 2 Kgs. 21: BC Isaiah killed by Manasseh (?) BC Amon born 2 Kgs. 21: BC Habakkuk prophesies (?) BC Josiah born 2 Kgs. 22: BC Manasseh dies 2 Kgs. 21: BC Amon becomes king 2 Kgs 21: BC Amon assassinated 2 Kgs. 21: BC Josiah becomes king 2 Kgs. 21: BC Zephaniah prophecies (?) BC Josiah turns to the Lord 2 Chr. 34: BC Josiah destroys idolatry 2 Chr. 34: BC Josiah begins repairs on Temple 2 Kgs. 22: BC Josiah celebrates the Passover 2 Kgs. 23: BC Josiah dies 2 Kgs. 22: BC Obadiah prophesies (?) BC Darius ascends the Persian throne (?) BC Haggai prophesies BC Zerubbabel resumes construction on the Temple BC The Temple in Jerusalem completed 0.7 Having once made a running commentary on all of the prophets in the last section of the Old Testament, it seemed right to make an assessment as to when these men must have lived and when the ministries took place in relation to each other. The following chart is a compilation of the conclusions made for each of the prophets from Isaiah to Malachi. Everyone is free to quibble, but a perusal of the arguments given in the introductory material for each of the books should be sufficient to establish that the assertions at least have some merit. Ad. Yr Cal.Yr. Event Scripture BC Joel born (?) BC Joel s prophecies begin (?) BC Obadiah prophesies (?) BC Hosea Born (?) BC Amoz born (?) BC Amos born (?) BC Jonah born (?) BC Hosea begins ministry (?) BC Jonah prophesies regarding Jeroboam 2 Kgs, 14: BC Azariah (Uzziah) becomes sole king 2 Kgs. 14: BC Amos begins ministry in Bethel (?) Amos 7: BC Isaiah born (?) BC Micah born (?) BC Jonah journeys to Nineveh (?) BC Isaiah begins his ministry (?) BC Azariah (Uzziah) dies 2 Kgs. 15: BC Jotham becomes king 2 Kgs. 15: BC Micah begins his ministry (?) BC Hosea dies (?) BC Nahum prophesies (?) BC Micah dies (?) BC Manasseh becomes king 2 Kgs. 21: BC Isaiah killed by Manasseh (?) 12

13 BC Amon born 2 Kgs. 21: BC Habakkuk prophesies (?) BC Jeremiah born (?) BC Josiah becomes king 2 Kgs. 21: BC Zephaniah prophecies (?) BC Jeremiah begins his ministry Jer. 1: BC Ezekiel born (?) BC Daniel born (?) BC Nebuchadnezzar ascends throne Jer. 25: BC Obadiah prophesies (?) BC Jeremiah testifies Jer. 25: BC Daniel in Babylon Dan. 1: BC Obadiah prophesies (?) BC Nebuchadnezzar begins sole reign (?) BC Daniel s training ends Dan. 1: BC Nebuchadnezzar s 1st dream (?) Dan. 2: BC Zedekiah becomes king 2 Kgs. 24: BC Ezekiel carried away into Babylon (?) BC Lehi begins ministry 1 Ne. 1: BC Lehi departs Jerusalem 1 Ne. 2: BC Ezekiel begins his ministry Ezek. 1: BC Jerusalem destroyed 2 Kgs. 25: BC Jeremiah taken to Egypt BC Ezekiel s vision of the future Ezek. 40: BC Daniel sees the Lord Dan. 10: BC Darius ascends the Persian throne (?) BC Haggai prophesies BC Zerubbabel resumes construction on the Temple BC Zechariah prophesies BC The Temple in Jerusalem completed BC Nehemiah journeys to Jerusalem Neh. 1: BC Malachi prophecies (?) Chapter Under the rule of Cyrus, the king of the Persians and the Medes, the exiles of the kingdom of Judah were given leave to return to the lands of their inheritance and rebuild the city of Jerusalem and the Temple. Cyrus provided the means and materials for this project. The Samaritans felt that they should have some part in the rebuilding efforts, primarily for financial reasons, but Zerubbabel and his companions perceived their tasks as divinely inspired. The Samaritans petitioned against the men of Jerusalem for decades to no avail. When, however, Bardiya or Artaxerxes came to the throne in the 3,400th of the Adamic era, or about the year 483 BC, all construction in Jerusalem ceased. Within a year Bardiya was deposed and Darius became king of Persia. Zerubbabel and his associates raised the issue with Darius and after revisiting all of the arguments that had been made for and against the project, Darius reinstituted all of the stipends that pertained to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for the refitting of the city and the Temple. Notwithstanding the renewal of the royal edict, the people in Jerusalem appeared to hesitate somewhat. Into this moment of vacillation came Haggai Darius Most likely in reference to Darius I, the son of Hystaspes, the fourth of the so-called Achaemenid kings of Persia. If our chronology be accurate, he began his reign in the year of Adam 3400, or about the year 483 BC. 1. In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, saying, 13

14 sixth month The sixth month in the days of Moses was called Elul. After the Babylonian Captivity it was called Ululu and corresponds to portions of August and September in our present calendar. It was the last month in the civil calendar Haggai A postexilic prophet in Jerusalem who encouraged resumption of the building of the Temple. A portion of his record is found in the pages of the Old Testament among the so-called minor prophets. His prophecies may be dated to the Adamic year 3402, or about the year 481 BC prophet A prophet is one who has the testimony of Jesus. No one in this dispensation has been more personally acquainted with the Lord Jesus Christ than the prophet Joseph Smith Zerubbabel The prince of the kingdom of Judah at the time of the return from Babylon. He is sometimes identified with Sheshbazzar. Under his leadership, the walls of the city of Jerusalem were rebuilt and the Temple raise up. He is known in other places in the scriptures as Zorobbabel and Zorobabel. The certainty regarding Zerubbabel s ancestry is somewhat missing as well. In one place he is declared to be the son of Pedaiah, one of the brothers of Salathiel; in others he is, as Matthew records, the son of Salathiel. Again, as has been suggested before, Matthew s concern has to do with the manner in which the crown would have been transferred, all things being as they should have been. In any event, all of the names proffered were of the royal line, and though we cannot know precisely what the rationale was for the selections of the various Kings in exile, yet we may be assured that they all had legitimate claims. Luke s concern has to do with the literal descent. Given that dichotomy, we might very well be satisfied that Salathiel was directly related to Zorobabel in some fashion. In any event, both Pedaiah and Salathiel were undoubtedly of the royal family by reason of their father Jeconiah, or Jehoiachin Shealtiel Elsewhere Salathiel. The father of Zerubbabel. One of the pressing questions in Zerubbabel s ancestry is whose son is Salathiel. The Scriptures assert that Jechoniah was childless, which perhaps explains the fulfillment of Jeremiah s prophecy that none of Jechoniah s posterity would sit upon the throne of Judah. Other genealogical accounts clearly state that Salathiel was the son of Neri, which would imply that the connection between Salathiel and Jechoniah was regal rather than biological. Adam Clarke suggests that Neri was Salathiel s father-in-law, an equally satisfying resolution Judah The fourth son of Jacob and Leah. The family of Judah would be given the responsibility to preside in Israel, beginning with the reign of David the King. His posterity would include the mortal Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will reign over the children of men throughout the Millennium and in the eternities. His name mean praised, celebrated. The marriage of Judah to the daughter of Shuah took place about the year 2221, the year that Jacob returned to the land of Canaan and was living in Succoth east of the river Jordan. He was probably 19 at the time. We do not know why he did not marry while in the land of Padanaram. The daughter of Shuah died about the Adamic Year 2237, at which time Judah had his liaison with his widowed daughter-in-law Tamar, the result of which was the birth of Pharez and Zerah Joshua Elsewhere Jeshua. Most likely this Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, was the grandson of Seraiah, the high priest at the time of the destruction of the Temple and of the city of Jerusalem. 14

15 Josedech Elsewhere Jozadak. The son of Seraiah and the father of Jeshua, high priests of Israel. He spent most of his life in exile in Babylon high priest By definition, the priests of Israel were all descendants of Aaron and his sons. The high priest of the Aaronic and Levitical priesthoods was to be the eldest righteous descendant of Aaron. 1.2 The inhabitants of Jerusalem were somewhat skeptical of their renewed standing in the eyes of the king of Persia. They were understandably hesitant to do anything that might bring about undue attention to themselves. The prophet Haggai disabused them of the temerity. 1.3 Surely the Lord God will do nothing save He reveals His secrets unto His servants the prophets Haggai A postexilic prophet in Jerusalem who encouraged resumption of the building of the Temple. A portion of his record is found in the pages of the Old Testament among the so-called minor prophets. His prophecies may be dated to the Adamic year 3402, or about the year 481 BC prophet A prophet is one who has the testimony of Jesus. No one in this dispensation has been more personally acquainted with the Lord Jesus Christ than the prophet Joseph Smith. 1.4 The return to Jerusalem from Babylon had taken place at Cyrus command 3,362 years after Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden, or about the year 521 BC. Forty years had passed. The homes in which the city dwellers lived were comfortable, the walls of the city were modestly rebuilt, but Temple construction was at a standstill. It would take another five years to finish the task of rebuilding the House of the Lord. 1.5 This is a simple request. Should not He who had restored them to the lands of their inheritance be properly honored, as had originally been intended? 1.6 Haggai asks why it is that after forty years they had not progressed any more than they have. They engage in agricultural pursuits but they do not have abundance. The vineyards do not provide sufficient fruit to satisfy the thirst of the inhabitants of the city of Jerusalem. The affordable clothing is not of a standard quality. The hired man cannot make any headway against the economic winds of the region; he is unable to save anything. How can this possibly be? What could possibly have caused this stagnation? 1.7 Again, this is a simple request. Should not He who had restored them to the lands of their inheritance be properly honored, as had originally been intended? 1.8 The kings of Persia had given a standing order to the people of Lebanon that the inhabitants were to have all of the timber that they needed to rebuild the city and the Temple. They were to take advantage of the materials that had been promised and set themselves to work on the House of the Lord. 1.9 When the returning exiles arrived in Jerusalem, they began well, receiving the means and materials necessary to rebuild the city walls, the homes within, and the Temple itself. When the Samaritans began making noises against their efforts, threatening them on every hand, they slackened their efforts until little or no progress was being made. The foundations of the Temple had long since 2. Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the LORD S house should be built. 3. Then came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4. Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste? 5. Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. 6. Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. 7. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. 8. Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD. 9. Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye Hag. 1:7 CR 88-O 39 15

16 been laid as well as portions of the walls, but all substantive work had ceased. The inhabitants of the city began to look for ways to improve their own circumstances instead and their efforts had come to naught. The Jews were frustrated. Haggai pointed out where the problem lay The climate changed when all work had ceased on the Temple. The moisture that was needed to give life to their crops had been withheld. They maintained a bare subsistence from year to year The whole of the economy of the city of Jerusalem and environs came to a halt. Without rain, nothing could prosper. The crops would fail in the fields, the pastures would turn to dust, the various species of fruit trees would be stressed to such an extent that little or no produce would appear on their branches. What little could be harvested had to be supplemented by imports. What money that the people possessed flowed out of Jerusalem as if their purses had been filled with holes. All manual labor seemed to be acts of futility corn The grain referred to here was probably wheat or barley. Indian corn or maize was unknown in the eastern hemisphere during this time The activity on the Temple would accelerate, the whole being completed in about four years from the time that Haggai raised his voice against their indolence Zerubbabel The prince of the kingdom of Judah at the time of the return from Babylon. He is sometimes identified with Sheshbazzar. Under his leadership, the walls of the city of Jerusalem were rebuilt and the Temple raise up. He is known in other places in the scriptures as Zorobbabel and Zorobabel. The certainty regarding Zerubbabel s ancestry is somewhat missing as well. In one place he is declared to be the son of Pedaiah, one of the brothers of Salathiel; in others he is, as Matthew records, the son of Salathiel. Again, as has been suggested before, Matthew s concern has to do with the manner in which the crown would have been transferred, all things being as they should have been. In any event, all of the names proffered were of the royal line, and though we cannot know precisely what the rationale was for the selections of the various Kings in exile, yet we may be assured that they all had legitimate claims. Luke s concern has to do with the literal descent. Given that dichotomy, we might very well be satisfied that Salathiel was directly related to Zorobabel in some fashion. In any event, both Pedaiah and Salathiel were undoubtedly of the royal family by reason of their father Jeconiah, or Jehoiachin Shealtiel Elsewhere Salathiel. The father of Zerubbabel. One of the pressing questions in Zerubbabel s ancestry is whose son is Salathiel. The Scriptures assert that Jechoniah was childless, which perhaps explains the fulfillment of Jeremiah s prophecy that none of Jechoniah s posterity would sit upon the throne of Judah. Other genealogical accounts clearly state that Salathiel was the son of Neri, which would imply that the connection between Salathiel and Jechoniah was regal rather than biological. Adam Clarke suggests that Neri was Salathiel s father-in-law, an equally satisfying resolution Joshua Elsewhere Jeshua. Most likely this Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, was the grandson of Seraiah, the high priest at the time of the destruction of the Temple and of the city of Jerusalem Josedech Elsewhere Jozadak. The son of Seraiah and the father of Jeshua, high priests of Israel. He spent most of his life in exile in run every man unto his own house. 10. Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit. 11. And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labour of the hands. 12. Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him, and the people did fear before the LORD. 16

17 Babylon high priest By definition, the priests of Israel were all descendants of Aaron and his sons. The high priest of the Aaronic and Levitical priesthoods was to be the eldest righteous descendant of Aaron Haggai A postexilic prophet in Jerusalem who encouraged resumption of the building of the Temple. A portion of his record is found in the pages of the Old Testament among the so-called minor prophets. His prophecies may be dated to the Adamic year 3402, or about the year 481 BC prophet A prophet is one who has the testimony of Jesus. No one in this dispensation has been more personally acquainted with the Lord Jesus Christ than the prophet Joseph Smith We cannot overestimate the value to a community in having one the Lord s Houses within its walls. The nature of the region changes, together with the hearts and minds of the faithful Haggai A postexilic prophet in Jerusalem who encouraged resumption of the building of the Temple. A portion of his record is found in the pages of the Old Testament among the so-called minor prophets. His prophecies may be dated to the Adamic year 3402, or about the year 481 BC The word of the Lord through Haggai stirred up the hearts and minds of the governor and his people. They renewed their efforts and in short order the Temple was ready for dedication Zerubbabel The prince of the kingdom of Judah at the time of the return from Babylon. He is sometimes identified with Sheshbazzar. Under his leadership, the walls of the city of Jerusalem were rebuilt and the Temple raise up. He is known in other places in the scriptures as Zorobbabel and Zorobabel. The certainty regarding Zerubbabel s ancestry is somewhat missing as well. In one place he is declared to be the son of Pedaiah, one of the brothers of Salathiel; in others he is, as Matthew records, the son of Salathiel. Again, as has been suggested before, Matthew s concern has to do with the manner in which the crown would have been transferred, all things being as they should have been. In any event, all of the names proffered were of the royal line, and though we cannot know precisely what the rationale was for the selections of the various Kings in exile, yet we may be assured that they all had legitimate claims. Luke s concern has to do with the literal descent. Given that dichotomy, we might very well be satisfied that Salathiel was directly related to Zorobabel in some fashion. In any event, both Pedaiah and Salathiel were undoubtedly of the royal family by reason of their father Jeconiah, or Jehoiachin Shealtiel Elsewhere Salathiel. The father of Zerubbabel. One of the pressing questions in Zerubbabel s ancestry is whose son is Salathiel. The Scriptures assert that Jechoniah was childless, which perhaps explains the fulfillment of Jeremiah s prophecy that none of Jechoniah s posterity would sit upon the throne of Judah. Other genealogical accounts clearly state that Salathiel was the son of Neri, which would imply that the connection between Salathiel and Jechoniah was regal rather than biological. Adam Clarke suggests that Neri was Salathiel s father-in-law, an equally satisfying resolution Judah The fourth son of Jacob and Leah. The family of Judah would be given the responsibility to preside in Israel, beginning with the reign of David the King. His posterity would include the mortal 13. Then spake Haggai the LORD S messenger in the LORD S message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the LORD. 14. And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the LORD of hosts, their God, Hag. 1:13 AF

18 Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will reign over the children of men throughout the Millennium and in the eternities. His name mean praised, celebrated. The marriage of Judah to the daughter of Shuah took place about the year 2221, the year that Jacob returned to the land of Canaan and was living in Succoth east of the river Jordan. He was probably 19 at the time. We do not know why he did not marry while in the land of Padanaram. The daughter of Shuah died about the Adamic Year 2237, at which time Judah had his liaison with his widowed daughter-in-law Tamar, the result of which was the birth of Pharez and Zerah Joshua Elsewhere Jeshua. Most likely this Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, was the grandson of Seraiah, the high priest at the time of the destruction of the Temple and of the city of Jerusalem Josedech Elsewhere Jozadak. The son of Seraiah and the father of Jeshua, high priests of Israel. He spent most of his life in exile in Babylon high priest By definition, the priests of Israel were all descendants of Aaron and his sons. The high priest of the Aaronic and Levitical priesthoods was to be the eldest righteous descendant of Aaron A little over three weeks transpired from the time that Haggai delivered the word of the Lord to the inhabitants of the city of Jerusalem and the work resumed at the Temple site. This transpired in the 3402nd year of the Adamic era or about the year 481 BC. The Temple would be completed about four years later in 3406, or about the year 477 BC sixth month The sixth month in the days of Moses was called Elul. After the Babylonian Captivity it was called Ululu and corresponds to portions of August and September in our present calendar. It was the last month in the civil calendar Darius Most likely in reference to Darius I, the son of Hystaspes, the fourth of the so-called Achaemenid kings of Persia. If our chronology be accurate, he began his reign in the year of Adam 3400, or about the year 483 BC. 15. In the four and twentieth day of the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king. 2.1 A little over a month after Haggai uttered his last message to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, he is inspired to raise another issue with the returning exiles. This transpired in the 3,402nd year of the Adamic era or about the year 481 BC. The Temple would be completed about four years later in 3406, or about the year 477 BC seventh month This month typically occurs in the ancient Jewish calendar about the same time as September and October do in modern calendars. Ethanim is considered to be the seventh month of the ecclesiastical year. After the Babylonian captivity, the names of many of the months changed. Ethanim is known today as Tishrei. It is the first month of the civil year prophet A prophet is one who has the testimony of Jesus. No one in this dispensation has been more personally acquainted with the Lord Jesus Christ than the prophet Joseph Smith Haggai A postexilic prophet in Jerusalem who encouraged resumption of the building of the Temple. A portion of his record is found in the pages of the Old Testament among the so-called minor prophets. His prophecies may be dated to the Adamic year 3402, or about the year 481 BC. Chapter 2 1. In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, came the word of the LORD by the prophet Haggai, saying, Hag. 2 DS

19 2.2 Surely the Lord God will do nothing save He first reveal His secrets unto His servants the prophets Zerubbabel The prince of the kingdom of Judah at the time of the return from Babylon. He is sometimes identified with Sheshbazzar. Under his leadership, the walls of the city of Jerusalem were rebuilt and the Temple raise up. He is known in other places in the scriptures as Zorobbabel and Zorobabel. The certainty regarding Zerubbabel s ancestry is somewhat missing as well. In one place he is declared to be the son of Pedaiah, one of the brothers of Salathiel; in others he is, as Matthew records, the son of Salathiel. Again, as has been suggested before, Matthew s concern has to do with the manner in which the crown would have been transferred, all things being as they should have been. In any event, all of the names proffered were of the royal line, and though we cannot know precisely what the rationale was for the selections of the various Kings in exile, yet we may be assured that they all had legitimate claims. Luke s concern has to do with the literal descent. Given that dichotomy, we might very well be satisfied that Salathiel was directly related to Zorobabel in some fashion. In any event, both Pedaiah and Salathiel were undoubtedly of the royal family by reason of their father Jeconiah, or Jehoiachin Shealtiel Elsewhere Salathiel. The father of Zerubbabel. One of the pressing questions in Zerubbabel s ancestry is whose son is Salathiel. The Scriptures assert that Jechoniah was childless, which perhaps explains the fulfillment of Jeremiah s prophecy that none of Jechoniah s posterity would sit upon the throne of Judah. Other genealogical accounts clearly state that Salathiel was the son of Neri, which would imply that the connection between Salathiel and Jechoniah was regal rather than biological. Adam Clarke suggests that Neri was Salathiel s father-in-law, an equally satisfying resolution Judah The fourth son of Jacob and Leah. The family of Judah would be given the responsibility to preside in Israel, beginning with the reign of David the King. His posterity would include the mortal Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will reign over the children of men throughout the Millennium and in the eternities. His name mean praised, celebrated. The marriage of Judah to the daughter of Shuah took place about the year 2221, the year that Jacob returned to the land of Canaan and was living in Succoth east of the river Jordan. He was probably 19 at the time. We do not know why he did not marry while in the land of Padanaram. The daughter of Shuah died about the Adamic Year 2237, at which time Judah had his liaison with his widowed daughter-in-law Tamar, the result of which was the birth of Pharez and Zerah Joshua Elsewhere Jeshua. Most likely this Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, was the grandson of Seraiah, the high priest at the time of the destruction of the Temple and of the city of Jerusalem Josedech Elsewhere Jozadak. The son of Seraiah and the father of Jeshua, high priests of Israel. He spent most of his life in exile in Babylon high priest By definition, the priests of Israel were all descendants of Aaron and his sons. The high priest of the Aaronic and Levitical priesthoods was to be the eldest righteous descendant of Aaron. 2.3 The destruction of the city of Jerusalem and the Temple by the Babylonians took place 3,292 years after our first parents were driven from the Garden of Eden, or about the year 591 BC. No less than 110 years had passed since the Babylonian captivity began. It is unlikely that any of the men present 2. Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the residue of the people, saying, 3. Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in 19