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Haggai Chapter One

 

Haggai 1 Outlines

The Command to Build God’s House (v.1~11)

The People’s Obedience (v.12~15)

New King James Version (NKJV)

 

INTRODUCTION TO HAGGAI 1

This chapter contains the first sermon of the Prophet Haggai to the people of the Jews directed to Zerubbabel the governor and Joshua the high priest; the date of which is fixed Haggai 1:1. It begins with a charge against that people; saying the time to build the house of the Lord was not come Haggai 1:2 which is refuted by the prophet; arguing that if the time to panel their dwelling houses was come then much more the time to build the Lord's house Haggai 1:3. They are urged to consider how unsuccessful they had been in their civil employments and labours which was owing to their neglect of building the temple; wherefore if they consulted their own good and the glory of God the best way was to set about it in all haste and with diligence Haggai 1:5 yea even the famine which they had been afflicted with for some time and which affected both man and beast sprung from the same cause Haggai 1:10. This discourse had such an effect upon the governor high priest and people that they immediately rose up and went about the work they were exhorted to; upon which the prophet by a special message from the Lord promises his presence with them Haggai 1:12.

 

Haggai 1:1   In the second year of King Darius in the sixth month on the first day of the month the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel governor of Judah and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak the high priest saying

   YLT  1In the second year of Darius the king in the sixth month in the first day of the month hath a word of Jehovah been by the hand of Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel governor of Judah and unto Joshua son of Josedech the high priest saying:

In the second year of Darius the King .... That is of Persia; he is spoken of as if he was the only king in the world; and indeed he was the then greatest king in it; and therefore is emphatically called "the king". This was not Darius the Mede as Genebrard; who was contemporary with Cyrus and partner in the kingdom; nor Darius Nothus as Scaliger and those that follow him; since the second year of this Darius was according to Cocceius who follows this opinion one hundred and thirty eight years after the first edict of Cyrus; and so Zerubbabel and Joshua must exercise their office the one of governor the other of high priest such a term of years and more which is not credible; and some of the Jews in captivity must have lived upwards of two hundred years; even those who saw the temple in its first glory before the captivity and now behold it in Haggai's time in a very different condition Haggai 2:3. It seems therefore more probable according to JosephusF9Antiqu. l. 11. c. 3. sect. 1. and c. 4. sect. 5 7. and others that this was Darius Hystaspis who was chosen king by the nobles of Persia upon his horse's neighing first as HerodotusF11Thalia sive l. 3. c. 84 85 86. relates: the second year of his reign was about seventeen or eighteen years after the proclamation of Cyrus; during whose reign he being much engaged in affairs abroad and the reign of his successor Cambyses the enemies of the Jews encouraged by the latter greatly obstructed the building of the temple and discouraged them from going on with it; but when this king came to the throne things took another turn being favoured by him; for JosephusF12Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 11. c. 3. sect. 1. and c. 4. sect. 5 7.) relates that when a private person he vowed if ever he became king whatever of the holy vessels were in Babylon he would send to the temple at Jerusalem; and upon solicitations made to him the Jews were encouraged to go on with the building of it:

in the sixth month; the month Elul answering to part of August and part of September; which was the sixth reckoning from the month Nisan:

in the first day of the month; which was the feast of the new moon:

came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet; or "by the hand of Haggai"F13ביד חגי "in manu Aggaei" V. L. Pagninus Montanus Cocceius. ; by his means; he was the instrument by whom the Lord delivered his word; the word was not the prophet's but the Lord's; and this is observed to give weight and authority to it:

unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel: the same who is called Salathiel Matthew 1:12 according to Kimchi and Ben Melech he was the grandson of Salathiel; though rather Salathiel seems to be his uncle he being the son of Pedaiah his brother 1 Chronicles 3:17 however he was his heir and successor in the government and so called his son; See Gill on Matthew 1:12

governor of Judah; not king; for the country was under the dominion of the king of Persia and Zerubbabel was a deputy governor under him; so the apocryphal Ezra calls him governor of Judea

"And also he commanded that Sisinnes the governor of Syria and Phenice and Sathrabuzanes and their companions and those which were appointed rulers in Syria and Phenice should be careful not to meddle with the place but suffer Zorobabel the servant of the Lord and governor of Judea and the elders of the Jews to build the house of the Lord in that place.' (1 Esdras 6:27)

and according to JosephusF14Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 11. c. 3. sect. 1. and c. 4. sect. 5 7.) he was made governor of the captive Jews when in Babylon being in great favour with the king of Babylon; and with two more were his body guards; and he was continued governor by the Persians when the Jews returned to their land:

and to Joshua the son of Josedech the high priest; who is called Jeshua and his father Jozadak Ezra 3:2 his father was carried captive by Nebuchadnezzar 1 Chronicles 6:15 now to these two principal persons in the commonwealth of Judea was the word of the Lord sent by the prophet; the one having the chief power in civil things and the other in things ecclesiastical; and both had an influence upon the people; but very probably were dilatory in the work of building the temple; and therefore have a message sent to them to stir them up to this service:

saying: as follows:

 

Haggai 1:2   2 “Thus speaks the Lord of hosts saying: ‘This people says “The time has not come the time that the Lord’s house should be built.”’”

   YLT  2Thus spake Jehovah of Hosts saying: This people! -- they have said `The time hath not come The time the house of Jehovah [is] to be built.'

Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts .... Of armies above and below; whom all ought to reverence honour and obey; who was able to support his people in building his house and protect them from their enemies which should have been an encouragement to them; and to punish them for their neglect of it which might have deterred them from it. This preface is made to show that what follow were not the words of the prophet but of the Lord; and therefore to be the more regarded and the truth of them not to be doubted of:

saying This people say; repeating the words of the people of the Jews to Zerubbabel and Joshua that they might observe them and the wickedness and ingratitude in them. "This people" lately brought out of the captivity of Babylon and loaded with various blessings and benefits; and not a few of them but the generality of them the body of them expressed themselves after this manner when pressed to build the temple:

The time is not come the time that the Lord's house should be built; suggesting that the seventy years of Jerusalem and the temple lying in ruins reckoning from the destruction of them in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar were not yet fulfilled; or rather intimating that it was not the time in Providence since they had been forbid and hindered in former reigns from going on with the work; or since it had been a time of famine and distress with them it was not a time fit and convenient to carry on such a service; and though they did not lay aside all thoughts of it yet they judged it right and proper to defer it to a more convenient time when they were better settled and in a better capacity to engage in it.

 

Haggai 1:3   3 Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet saying

   YLT  3And there is a word of Jehovah by the hand of Haggai the prophet saying:

Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet .... This is a second prophecy distinct from the former; that was delivered to the two governors setting forth the sentiments and language of the people concerning the building of the temple which was left with them to consider how just it was; but this is sent to the people themselves expostulating with them about the folly and ingratitude of it:

saying; as follows:

 

Haggai 1:4   4 Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses and this temple[a] to lie in ruins?”

   YLT  4Is it time for you -- you! To dwell in your covered houses And this house to lie waste?

Is it time for you O ye to dwell in your panelled houses .... They could not only find time leisure and convenience to build houses to dwell in; but to wainscot them and line them with boards of cedar as the Targum; as bad as the times were complained of; and could sit in them indulging themselves in luxury ease and sloth; and why then was it not a fit and convenient time as well to build the house of the Lord in?

and this house lie waste? or "and shall this house lie waste?" or "when this house lies waste?"F15והבית הזה חרב "et domus ista deserta manebit?" Drusius; "quum domus haec vasta est?" Junius & Tremellius Piscator; "dum domus haec desolata est?" Cocceius. not indeed in its rubbish and ruins as it was demolished by the Chaldeans and left; but with a bare foundation laid some years ago; and ever since neglected; the superstructure not carried on and much less built up to be fit for service; and therefore might be said with propriety to lie waste and desolate being unfinished unfit for use and no regard had unto it. David was of another mind 2 Samuel 7:2 and truly religious persons will be more concerned for the house of God than for their own houses.

 

Haggai 1:5   5 Now therefore thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways!

   YLT  5And now thus said Jehovah of Hosts Set your heart to your ways.

Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts .... The Lord God omniscient and omnipotent that saw all their actions and could punish for them; since they were so careful of their own houses and adorning them and so careless of his house; he would have them now sit down and seriously think of these things and of what he should further observe unto them:

Consider your ways; their sinful ways and repent of them and forsake them particularly their ingratitude before observed; and their civil ways their common ways of life; their labour work and business they were continually employed in; and observe the event of them; what success they had what these issued in; whether there were not some visible tokens of the divine displeasure on them which rendered all their attempts to support and enrich themselves and families vain and of no effect: and they would do well to consider to what all this was to be imputed; whether it was not chiefly owing to this their neglect of the house of God; and this he would have considered not in a slight cursory way; but with great earnestness diligence and application of mind: "put" or "set your hearts upon your ways"F16שימו לבבכם "ponite corda vestra" V. L.; "ponite cor vestrum" Burkius. ; so it may be literally rendered.

 

Haggai 1:6   6 “You have sown much and bring in little; You eat but do not have enough; You drink but you are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves but no one is warm; And he who earns wages Earns wages to put into a bag with holes.”

   YLT  6Ye have sown much and brought in little To eat and not to satiety To drink and not to drunkenness To clothe and none hath heat And he who is hiring himself out Is hiring himself for a bag pierced through.

Ye have sown much and bring in little .... Contrary to what is usually done; the seed that is sown is but little in comparison of what springs up is reaped and gathered into the barn; which commonly affords seed again to the sower and bread to the eater; but here much land was tilled and a great deal of seed was sown in it; but a thin crop was produced little was gathered into the barn; a blessing being withheld from the earth and from their labours because of their sins which they would do well to think of and the cause of it:

ye eat but ye have not enough; what the earth did yield and which they gathered in they made food of and ate of it; yet it was not sufficient to satisfy their hunger; or it was not blessed for their nourishment; or they had a canine appetite in judgment given them so that they were never satisfied: or it was "not for fulness"F17לשבעה "ad satietatem" Calvin De Dieu; "ad saturitatem" Munster. ; they were not filled with it to satisfaction but still craved more; and yet it may be durst not eat more if they had it lest they should want the next day:

ye drink but ye are not filled with drink; or "not to inebriation"F18לשכרה "ad ebrietatem" Tigurine version Vatablus Calvin De Dieu. ; it was not sufficient to quench their thirst much less to make them merry and; cheerful: the vines produced such a small quantity of grapes and those so little wine that they had not enough to drink at least could not drink freely but sparingly lest it should be all spent before another vintage came:

ye clothe you but there is none warm; or "but" it is "not for heat to him"F19ואין לחם לו "et non est ad calorem ei" De Dieu; "sed nemo ita ut sit calor ipsi" Junius & Tremellius Piscator; "ut calefiat ei" Burkius. ; to anyone; so rigorous the season so extreme the cold that his clothes will not keep him warm even though the climate was naturally and usually hot:

and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes; or "pierced through"F20נקוב "pertusum" V. L. Munster Tigurine version Vatablus Junius & Tremellius Piscator; "perforatum" Munster Varenius. ; if a man is hired as a labourer and gets much wages and brings it home and lays it up; or if he trades and merchandises and has great gains by it and thinks to amass great riches; yet what through losses and the dreariness of provisions and the many ways he has for the spending of his money it is as if he put it into a bag full of holes and it ran through as fast as put into it; signifying hereby that all his pains and labour were in vain.

 

Haggai 1:7   7 Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways!

   YLT  7Thus said Jehovah of Hosts: Set your heart to your ways.

Thus saith the Lord of hosts Consider your ways. What they have been; what has been the consequence of them; and to what the above things are to be ascribed. This exhortation is repeated to impress it the more upon their minds; and to denote the importance of it and the necessity of such a conduct; See Gill on Haggai 1:5.

 

Haggai 1:8   8 Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified ” says the Lord.

   YLT  8Go up the mountain and ye have brought in wood And build the house and I am pleased with it. And I am honoured said Jehovah.

Go up to the mountain .... Or "that mountain"F21ההר "in istum montem" Junius & Tremellius Piscator. ; pointing either to Lebanon to cut down cedars and bring them from thence for the building of the temple; or Mount Moriah on which the temple was to be built; and thither carry the wood they fetched from Lebanon or were brought from thence by the Tyrians:

and bring wood; or "that ye may bring wood"; from Lebanon or any other mountain on which wood grew to Mount Moriah:

and build the house; the temple whose foundation was already laid but the superstructure was neglected: now the Lord would have them go on with it immediately out of hand with the utmost diligence alacrity and vigour; and not desist till the whole building was completed:

and I will take pleasure in it; as a type of Christ for whose sake he was so desirous of having it built; into which he was to come and there appear as the promised Saviour. It signifies moreover that the Lord would not only take pleasure in the temple built but in their work in building it; which would be acceptable to him being according to his mind and will; and that he would take pleasure in and accept of them being worshippers therein when they worshipped him in spirit and in truth in it; and in their services sacrifices prayers and praises being rightly offered; and that he would forgive their sins and be propitious to them for his Son's sake the antitype of the temple:

and I will be glorified saith the Lord; by his people here and by the worship and service they should perform: or "I will show myself glorious"F23אכבד "gloriosum me ostendam" Vatablus. ; that is show his glory causing his Shechinah to dwell here in glory as the Targum is. The Jews observe that the letter ה is wanting in the word here used which numerically signifies "five"; hence they gather that five things were wanting in the second temple the ark the Urim and Thummim the fire from heaven the Shechinah or the divine Majesty and the Holy Ghost.

 

Haggai 1:9   9 You looked for much but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home I blew it away. Why?” says the Lord of hosts. “Because of My house that is in ruins while every one of you runs to his own house.

   YLT  9Looking for much and lo little And ye brought [it] home and I blew on it Wherefore? -- an affirmation of Jehovah of Hosts Because of My house that is waste And ye are running -- each to his house

Ye looked for much and lo it came to little .... They looked for a large harvest and very promising it was for a while; but in the end it came to little; it was a very small crop very little was reaped and gathered in: or "in looking" ye looked "to increase"F24אל הרבה "ad rem augendam" Grotius. ; your substance; had raised expectations of making themselves and families by their agriculture and by their plantations of vines and olives and by their trade and merchandise; and it dwindled away and came to little or nothing; their riches instead of being increased were diminished:

and when ye brought it home I did blow upon it; when they brought into their barns or houses the produce of their land labour and merchandise which was but little the Lord blew a blast upon that little and brought rottenness and worms into it as Jarchi; so that it was not a blessing to them but a curse. So the Targum interprets it

"behold I sent a curse upon it:'

or "I blew it away"F25נפחתי בו "exsufflo illud" Vatablus; "efflo illud" Junius & Tremellius; "difflo" Piscator; "difflavi" Drusius Cocceius. ; as any light thing straw or stubble or thistle down are blown away with a wind; so easily can the Lord and sometimes he does strip men of that little substance they have; riches by his orders make themselves wings and flee away; or he by one providence or another blows them away like chaff before the wind:

Why? saith the Lord of hosts; what was the cause and reason of this? which question is put not on his own account who full well knew it; but for their sakes to whom he speaks that they might be made sensible of it; and in order to that to introduce what follows which is an answer to the question:

because of mine house that is waste; which they suffered to lie waste and did not concern themselves about the rebuilding of it: this the Lord resented and for this reason blasted all their labours:

and ye run every man unto his own house; were very eager earnest and diligent in building beautifying and adorning their own houses; taking care of their own domestic affairs; sparing no cost nor pains to promote their own secular interest; running in all haste to do any thing and everything to increase their worldly substance; but sat still were idle and slothful careless and negligent about the house of God and the affairs of it.

 

Haggai 1:10   10 Therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew and the earth withholds its fruit.

   YLT  10Therefore over you refrained have the heavens from dew And the land hath refrained its increase.

Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew .... Or "therefore over" or "upon you"F1על־כן עליכם "propterea super vos" Varenius Reinbeck Burkius. ; where should be a stop; that is because of your neglect of the house of God; therefore upon you and upon you only and not upon other nations the heaven is restrained from letting down the dew: or "therefore I am against you"F2"Idcirco contra vos" Junius & Tremellius Piscator. ; for the above reason and which the following things show; and sad it is to have God to be an enemy and against a people! or "for your sake"; so the Syriac version to which sense is the Targum

"therefore for your sins;'

and so Jarchi "the heaven is stayed from dew"; none descends from it; the Lord who has the ordering of it will not suffer it: to have the dew fall upon the earth in the night season is a great blessing; it makes the earth fruitful revives the corn plants and herbs and causes them to flourish and increase; and to have it restrained is a judgment:

and the earth is stayed from her fruit; from bringing forth its increase which is the consequence of the dew being withheld.

 

Haggai 1:11   11 For I called for a drought on the land and the mountains on the grain and the new wine and the oil on whatever the ground brings forth on men and livestock and on all the labor of your hands.”

   YLT  11And I proclaim draught on the land And on the mountains and on the corn And on the new wine and on the oil And on what the ground doth bring forth And on man and on beast And on all labour of the hands.'

And I called for a drought upon the land .... Upon the whole land of Judea; as he withheld the dew and rain from falling on it to moisten it refresh it and make it fruitful; so he ordered a vehement heat to dry and parch it; and directed the rays of the sun to strike with great force upon it and cause the fruits of it to wither; and which is done by a word of his; when he calls every creature obeys. There is an elegant play on words which shows the justness of such a proceeding that it was according to the law of retaliation; they suffered the house of God to lie חרב "waste" and therefore he calls for חרב a "wasting" drought to come upon their land:

and upon the mountains; where herbage grew and herds of cattle and flocks of sheep were fed; but now the grass through the drought was withered away and so no pasturage for them and in course must perish:

and upon the corn and upon the new wine and upon the oil; that is upon the grain fields and upon the vines and olive trees; so that they produced but very little grain wine and oil and that not very good and which was not satisfying and refreshing; at least there were not enough for their support and comfort: now these three things were the principal necessaries of life in the country of Judea and therefore a scarcity of them was very distressing:

and upon that which the ground bringeth forth; whatever else not mentioned the earth produced as figs pomegranates and other fruit:

and upon men and upon cattle; who not only suffered in this drought by the above said things it came upon; but by diseases it produced upon them as the pestilence and fever among men and murrain upon the cattle:

and upon all the labour of the hands: of men; whatsoever fields and gardens trees and plants of every kind that were set and cultivated by them. Of this drought and the famine that came upon it we nowhere else read; but there is no doubt to be made of it.

 

Haggai 1:12   12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Joshua the son of Jehozadak 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 feared the presence of the Lord.

   YLT  12And Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Joshua son of Josedech the high priest and all the remnant of the people do hearken to the voice of Jehovah their God and unto the words of Haggai the prophet as Jehovah their God had sent him and the people are afraid of the face of Jehovah.

Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Joshua the son of Josedech the high priest .... Here follows an account of the success of Haggai's prophecy; with what power and efficacy the word of the Lord by him was attended; how it at once reached and affected the hearts of princes and people and brought them to obedience to the will of God. The governor and high priest are mentioned first as being the principal persons and who very probably first declared their sense of their former neglect and their readiness to do as they were directed; which was setting a good example to the people and doubtless had some influence upon them:

with all the remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the Lord their God; not the two leading men in church and state only; but all the people that came out of the Babylonish captivity who were but a remnant; a few that were left through various calamities they had been exposed unto; these one and all signified how willing and ready they were to do the work of the Lord enjoined them: or "they heard the voice of the Lord"F3וישמע "et audivit" V. L. Pagninus Montanus Burkius. ; by the prophet very attentively and seriously; and received and regarded it not as the word of men but as the word of God; and determined to act according to it:

and the words of Haggai the prophet; or "and for the words of Haggai the prophet"F4ועל דברי חגי "idque propter verba Chaggai" Varenius Reinbeck. ; because of them considering them as coming from the Lord himself:

as the Lord their God had sent him; regarding him as having a mission and commission from the Lord to deliver them to them:

and the people did fear before the Lord; perceiving that he was displeased with them for the neglect of his house; and that this drought upon them was a chastisement and correction for this sin; and fearing lest his wrath should continue and they should be more severely dealt with on account of their transgressions.

 

Haggai 1:13   13 Then Haggai the Lord’s messenger spoke the Lord’s message to the people saying “I am with you says the Lord.”

   YLT  13And Haggai messenger of Jehovah in messages of Jehovah speaketh to the people saying: `I [am] with you an affirmation of Jehovah.'

Then spoke Haggai the Lord's messenger .... Which some render "angel"; hence sprung that notion imbibed by some that he was not a man but an angel; whereas this only respects his office being sent of God as an ambassador in his name with a message to his people: he now observing what effect his prophecy had upon the people; they being convinced of their sin and terrified with the judgments of God upon them and fearing that worse still would attend them; in order to revive their spirits and comfort them spake the words unto them which follow: and this he did

in the Lord's message unto the people; not of his own head nor out of the pity of his own heart merely; but as a prophet of the Lord having a fresh message from him to carry a promise to them for their comfort and encouragement:

saying I am with you saith the Lord; to pardon their sins; to accept their persons; to remove his rod from them; to assist them in the work of building the temple they were now willing to engage in; to protect them from their enemies and to strengthen them to go on with the work till they had finished it; a short promise but a very full one: it was saying much in a little and enough to remove all their fears to scatter all their doubts and to bear them up and through all discouragements.

 

Haggai 1:14   14 So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel governor of Judah and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak the high priest and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts their God

   YLT  14And Jehovah doth stir up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel governor of Judah and the spirit of Joshua son of Josedech the high priest and the spirit of all the remnant of the people and they come in and do work in the house of Jehovah of Hosts their God

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 .... He roused them up from that sleep and sloth in which they were before both the governors and common people; he wrought in them both to will and do; or a willing mind to do his work in building his house; he gave them a spirit both of industry and courage; he enabled them to shake off that sluggish disposition they were attended with and that fear of men which possessed them; he inspired them with zeal and resolution to enter upon the work at once and pursue it with close application; the Lord only could do this:

and they came and did work in the house of the Lord of hosts their God; the governor and high priest came to direct and oversee encourage and animate the people by their presence and example; and the people to do the several parts of service that belonged to them according to their genius and employment.

 

Haggai 1:15   15 on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month in the second year of King Darius.

   YLT  15in the twenty and fourth day of the sixth month in the second year of Darius the king.

In the four and twentieth day of the sixth month .... Or "in the four and twentieth of the month in the sixth"; in that sixth month before mentioned Haggai 1:1. On this day they came and worked; not the sixth from Tisri for the Jews had two ways of beginning their years which would have answered to part of February; and therefore chose by some interpreters as being a proper time to begin building; but no regard is had to the fitness of the season but to the order of the Lord; but the sixth month from Nisan and answers to part of August; for so the months are reckoned in the prophecy of Zechariah who began to prophecy the same year as Haggai did; see Zechariah 1:1 Zechariah 7:1 this was three and twenty days after the prophecy was delivered out; during which time they might be employed in cutting of stones and sawing and hewing of wood as Jarchi suggests and preparing for work in the temple:

in the second year of Darius the king; See Gill on Haggai 1:1. Here some begin a new chapter but wrongly; since if these words do not belong to the preceding there would be a contradiction in joining them with the beginning of the next.

 

──John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible

 

New King James Version (NKJV)

Footnotes:

  1. Haggai 1:4 Literally house and so in verse 8