¹sn The first day of the sixth month was Elul 1 by the Jewish calendar; August 29, 520 b.c. by the modern (Julian) calendar
²sn King Darius is the Persian king Darius Hystaspes who ruled from 522-486 b.c.
³tn Heb “the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet” (yG~j^-dy~B=, b^eyad-khaggay). This suggests that the prophet is only an instrument of the Lord who is indeed the true author (see 1:3; 2:1; Mal 1:1).
⁴tn The typical translation “Joshua (the) son of Jehozadak, the high priest” can be understood to mean that Jehozadak was high priest. However, Zech 3:1, 8 clearly indicates that Joshua was high priest (see also Ezra 5:1-2). The same potential misunderstanding occurs in Hag 1:12, 14 and 2:2, and the same solution has been employed in the translation.
⁵sn The epithet sovereign Lord is one of Haggai’s favorite divine titles (see 1:5, 7, 9, 14; 2:4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 23). This name (toab*x= hw`hy+, y<sup>e</sup>hvah ts<sup>e</sup>va’ot), traditionally translated “Lord of hosts,” emphasizes the majestic sovereignty of the Lord, an especially important concept in the postexilic world of great human empires and rulers. For a thorough study of the divine title, see T. N. D. Mettinger, In Search of God, 123-57.
<sup>6</sup>tn Heb “the time has not come, the time for the house of the Lord to be built.”
<sup>7</sup>tn Heb “and the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, saying.”
<sup>8</sup>sn Paneled houses. Paneling is otherwise known in the OT only in connection with the temple (1 Kgs 6:9) and the royal palace (2 Kgs 7:3, 7). It implies decoration and luxury. The impropriety of the people living in such lavish accommodations while the temple lay unfinished is striking.
<sup>9</sup>tn Heb “Is it time for you, [yes] you, to live in paneled houses, while this house is in ruins?”
<sup>10</sup>tn Heb “Set your heart upon your ways” (see 2:15, 18).
<sup>11</sup>tn Some translate “pockets,” but the Hebrew word rorx= (ts<sup>e</sup>ror) refers to a bag, pouch, or purse of money (BDB 865 s.v. rorx=; HALOT 1054 s.v. rorx= 1). Because coinage was invented by the Persians and was thus in use in Haggai’s day, this likely is a money bag or purse rather than pouches or pockets in the clothing.
<sup>12</sup>tn Heb “Set your heart upon your ways”; see v. 5.
<sup>13</sup>tn Heb “and build.”
<sup>14</sup>sn The temple was built primarily of stone, so the timber here refers to interior paneling (see v. 4) and perhaps to scaffolding (see Ezra 5:8; 6:4).
<sup>15</sup>tn The Hebrew verb d*b=K*a# (’ekkavda) appears to be a defectively written cohortative (“that I may be glorified”). The cohortatives (note that the preceding hx#r+a#, ’ertseh, “I will be pleased,” may also be taken as cohortative) indicate purpose/result following the imperatives of v. 8a (“go up,” “bring back,” “build”).
<sup>16</sup>tn Heb “look!” (hN}h!, hinneh). The word draws attention to the point being made.
<sup>17</sup>tn Heb “I blew it away.” The imagery here teaches that man’s achievements are so fragile and temporal that a mere breath from God can destroy them (see Ezek 22:20, 21; and Isa 40:7 with bv^n`, nashav).
¹⁸tn Heb “and each of you runs to his own house.”
¹⁹tn The Hebrew text adds “over you,” but this is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.
²⁰sn This linkage of human sin to natural disaster is reminiscent of the curse brought upon the earth by Adam’s disobedience (Gen 3:17-19; see Rom 8:20-22).
²¹tn Heb “all the labor of hands.”
²²tn Typically “Joshua [the] son of Jehozadak, the high priest.” See the note on the name “Jehozadak” at the end of v. 1.
²³tn Heb “all the remnant of the people.” The Hebrew phrase <u*h* tyr]a@v= (sh^e’erit ha’am) in this postexilic context is used technically to refer to the returned remnant (see Ezra 9:14; Isa 10:20-22; 11:11, 16; Jer 23:3; 31:7; and many other passages).
²⁴tn Heb “heard the voice of.”
²⁵tn Heb “and according to the words of Haggai the prophet just as the Lord their God sent him.”
²⁶tn Heb “and the people feared from before the Lord.”
²⁷tn Heb “Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, said by the message of the Lord to the people.” The Hebrew is highly repetitive; in keeping with contemporary English style the translation is less repetitious.
²⁸sn God initiated the rebuilding by providing the people with motivation and ability.
²⁹tn Heb “stirred up.” Only one verb appears in the Hebrew text, but the translation “energized and encouraged” brings out its sense in this context.
³⁰tn Heb “the spirit of Zerubbabel.”
³¹tn Heb “the spirit of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest.” For the reason behind the translation’s change in word order in this phrase, see the note on the name “Jehozadak” at the end of v. 1.
³²tn Heb “and the spirit of all the remnant of the people.”
³³sn The twenty-fourth day of the sixth month of King Darius’ second year. The date was September 21, 520 b.c., twenty-three days after the original command by Haggai to rebuild . Perhaps the reason for the delay was the pressing need to bring in the late summer harvest.