The Glory to Come
1On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the
2“Ask the following questions to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, and the remnant of the people:
3‘Who among you survivors saw the former splendor of this temple? How does it look to you now? Isn’t it nothing by comparison?
4Even so, take heart, Zerubbabel,’ says the
5‘Do not fear, because I made a promise to your ancestors when they left Egypt, and my spirit even now testifies to you.’
6Moreover, the
7I will also shake up all the nations, and they will offer their treasures; then I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the
8‘The silver and gold will be mine,’ says the
9‘The future splendor of this temple will be greater than that of former times,’ the
The Promised Blessing
10On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month of Darius’ second year, the
11“The
12If someone carries holy meat in a fold of his garment and that fold touches bread, a boiled dish, wine, olive oil, or any other food, will that item become holy?’” The priests answered, “It will not.”
13Then Haggai asked, “If a person who is ritually unclean because of touching a dead body comes in contact with one of these items, will it become unclean?” The priests answered, “It will be unclean.”
14Then Haggai responded, “‘The people of this nation are unclean in my sight,’ says the
15Now therefore reflect carefully on the recent past, before one stone was laid on another in the
16From that time when one came expecting a heap of twenty measures, there were only ten; when one came to the wine vat to draw out fifty measures from it, there were only twenty.
17I struck all the products of your labor with blight, disease, and hail, and yet you brought nothing to me,’ says the
18‘Think carefully about the past: from today, the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, to the day work on the temple of the
19The seed is still in the storehouse, isn’t it? And the vine, fig tree, pomegranate, and olive tree have not produced. Nevertheless, from today on I will bless you.’”
Zerubbabel the Chosen One
20Then the
21Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah: ‘I am ready to shake the sky and the earth.
22I will overthrow royal thrones and shatter the might of earthly kingdoms. I will overthrow chariots and those who ride them, and horses and their riders will fall as people kill one another.
23On that day,’ says the