Definition: 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,

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Haggae 1:1. It's a really important passage in the Bible that tells us about a rebuilding project! Here’s what it means in simpler terms: Basically, God is telling Haggai and Joshua to start working on rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem. Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “In the second year of Darius the king…” – This tells us who is speaking. It's a message from God to King Darius, who was ruling over Judah (which includes parts of modern-day Israel and Palestine). It's like a royal decree from the heavens. “…in the sixth month, in the first day of the month…” – This gives us a specific date: June 6th. It’s important because it marks a crucial time for the rebuilding. “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…” – This is the big part! It says God is speaking directly to Haggai, who is a prophet (someone who speaks for God). He's telling him that he’s important. He’s also telling him to speak to Joshua, the high priest, and Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah. So, put it all together: God has given Haggai a message – a command – to start rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem. He's specifically instructing him to tell Zerubbabel (who was in charge of overseeing the rebuilding) and Joshua (the high priest) about this important task. It’s like God saying, “Hey, you need to start working on this big project!” Why is this significant? This verse is a key part of the Old Testament story of the Temple's rebuilding. It establishes that God wants to bring the Jewish people back to their traditions and worship Him in a physical place. It’s a foundational moment for the restoration of Israel. --- Do you want me to: Explain a specific aspect of this verse further? (like the role of Haggai or Zerubbabel?) Give you some context about the rebuilding project itself?

Definition: Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed [from] her fruit.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Haggai 1:10. It's a pretty interesting one with layers of meaning! Here’s what it says in simpler terms: Basically, this verse is saying that God is protecting something precious and valuable – the earth – from being spoiled or damaged. Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “Therefore the heaven over you…” - This refers to God's presence, His protection, and His care. It suggests that He’s watching over everything and safeguarding things for our benefit. “…is stayed from dew” – Dew is water droplets that form on plants and surfaces. It's a natural process that makes things wet and can cause damage. So, it means God is keeping the earth dry. “and the earth is stayed [from] her fruit.” - This is the key part! “Fruit” refers to harvest – the bounty of crops and plants. It’s saying that God is protecting the earth's ability to produce food and provide for people. It's ensuring a good harvest. The overall message: The verse emphasizes God’s active protection over His creation, particularly the land where we live. He’s safeguarding it so that we can have enough food and resources. What does this mean in a bigger picture? This passage is often seen as a blessing to the Israelites, who were living in a time of hardship and uncertainty. It's a reminder that God cares deeply about His people and their prosperity. It’s also a message about responsibility – we are called to be stewards of the earth, to protect it with care, and to appreciate its gifts. Do you want me to explain anything further? For example: What does "stayed" mean in this context? Why is this verse important for the Israelites?

Definition: 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.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Haggai 1:11. It’s a really important passage about God’s plan for Israel and its future. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: God is sending a serious problem – a drought – to the land, including the crops, livestock, and people themselves. He's essentially saying, "You need to take action now to fix this." Let’s unpack each part: “And I called for a drought upon the land…” This means God is actively causing a period of hardship – a severe lack of rain and water – to occur. It's not just a coincidence; it's deliberate. “…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…” This is where it gets more specific. God is instructing people to focus on everything that comes from the land – everything they cultivate: Corn: This is a staple crop for many people. New Wine: Refers to wine, often used in celebration and as a gift. Oil: Used for fragrance, healing, and as a symbol of God’s presence. “That which the ground bringeth forth” – This is a general phrase referring to all the produce from the fields – everything that grows. “…and upon men, and cattle, and upon all the labour of the hands.” This is the most important part. God isn’t just focusing on the crops; he's calling for a restored effort - a renewed commitment to work hard. It means he wants people to return to their tasks – farming, building, and working – with a renewed sense of purpose. Overall Meaning: Haggai 1:11 is essentially a call to repentance and action. God is saying that he is causing a drought, and he’s asking the people to respond by putting their work back into motion to rebuild what was broken. It’s a plea for restoration and a reminder of God's plan for Israel. In short, it’s about a serious problem being set in motion, and the importance of getting back to work to fix it. --- Do you want me to: Explain any of these terms further? Give an example of what this verse might have been used for in ancient Israel? Discuss the context of this verse within Haggai’s prophecy?

Definition: 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.

Explanation: Okay, let's break down this verse from Haggai 1:12. It’s a really important passage about rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem! Here's what it means in simple terms: The Basic Story: A Mess is Happening: The verse comes after a period of silence and a mess had been happening – the Israelites were scattered, and the Temple was neglected. God wanted to bring people back together and rebuild something truly holy. Zerubbabel Steps In: Someone named Zerubbabel, who was a respected priest, is given a task: to lead the rebuilding effort. He's chosen because he’s good at organizing and coordinating things. Haggai the Prophet is Called: Haggai, a prophet (someone who speaks for God), is appointed to guide this process. He’s essentially a leader of the rebuilding. God Sends Him: The Bible says God directly sent Haggai to lead the rebuilding. This shows that God is actively involved and wants the task to be completed. The People Fear God: Crucially, it's not just Zerubbabel or Haggai who are obeying. The people of Israel – all of them – are feeling fear before God. This isn’t a casual moment; it’s a deep sense that something significant is happening and that they need to respect the divine presence. Putting It All Together - What's Happening? Basically, Zerubbabel and Haggai are leading the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. They’re doing it because God wants it to happen, and because He wants people to feel a sense of reverence and trust in Him. The fear they experience is a reminder that they're dealing with something truly powerful – a divine presence. Why is this important? This verse highlights several things: God’s Active Role: It shows that God isn’t just watching from afar; He's directly involved in the process of restoration and bringing people back to Himself. Responsibility: Zerubbabel and Haggai are responsible for leading and guiding this effort, emphasizing their importance. Faith and Obedience: It emphasizes the importance of obeying God’s commands, even when it feels difficult or uncertain. In short, it's a moment of hope and faith as the Israelites begin to rebuild something incredibly sacred – the Temple. --- Do you want me to: Explain any part of this verse in more detail? Give you a quick summary of what Haggai was doing? Compare this passage to other stories about rebuilding in the Bible?

Definition: Then spake Haggai the LORD’S messenger in the LORD’S message unto the people, saying, I [am] with you, saith the LORD.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Haggai 1:13. It’s a really important and slightly mysterious passage! Here's what it means in simpler terms: Basically, God is speaking to a group of people – likely builders – and telling them he’s with them. Let’s unpack it further: “Haggai the LORD messenger”: Haggai was a man who was part of a team called the Builders. He was a messenger, meaning someone who carried God's word or instructions. The "LORD" part suggests this is a divine message. “in the LORD’s message”: This means he’s speaking from a position of authority and guidance – guided by God himself. “saying, I [am] with you…” This is the core of it. Haggai is declaring his presence and support. He's saying, “I am here with you.” So, the whole verse is a declaration of God’s involvement and blessing on the construction project. What does this tell us about the context? This passage comes after a pause in building – a time where God had given them a specific instruction to finish the work. It's a moment of encouragement and reassurance that God is watching over them and supporting their efforts. In short, it’s a powerful statement of God’s presence and blessing on a vital task. --- Do you want me to: Explain why this verse is significant in the Bible? Give you a little more context about the Builders or what they were building?

Definition: 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,

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Haggai 1:14. It's a really important passage about rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem! Here’s what it means in simpler terms: Basically, God is telling these three people – Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the remnant of the people – to start working on the rebuilt Temple. Let’s unpack each part: “And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah…” - This means God gave these three men a special “spirit” or blessing to help them. Zerubbabel was the leader of the Jewish community before the exile. He’s essentially a guide for the rebuilding. “…and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest…” - This refers to Joshua, who was a very important priest in the Temple. His role was to lead prayers and rituals. He's getting a blessing too! “…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.” - This is the big part! The “remnant of the people” means everyone who was Jewish – those who still lived in Judah. The "spirit" is a reminder that God wants them to actively participate. They were instructed to come and work within the Temple. So, what’s the point? It's telling us that God is calling people back to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. It's a very significant event because it was a huge undertaking – rebuilding a temple was incredibly important for Jewish worship and connection to God. It’s essentially a call to action! In short, this verse is like saying: "Let's get back to rebuilding the most sacred place in our faith - the Temple - and work diligently to honor God!" --- Do you want me to explain any of these parts in more detail? Would you like me to relate it to a specific event or story from the Bible?

Definition: In the four and twentieth day of the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this passage from Haggai 1:15. It's a really important part of understanding what happened in ancient Israel and why it was so significant. Here’s the explanation in simple terms: What it says: “In the four and twentieth day of the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.” Let’s unpack it: “Haggai 1:15” : This refers to a specific event that happened during the reign of King Darius I of Persia (modern-day Iran). Haggai was a priest who was called by God to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. “In the four and twentieth day of the sixth month…” : This tells us when it happened. It was on the fourth twenty-fourth day of June, six months into the sixth month of the year. Think of it as a specific date. “…in the second year of Darius the king.” : This is the crucial part. King Darius I had just become king – he’d been ruling for about a decade at this point. So, this event took place after his reign had begun. What does it mean? Essentially, this verse describes a special rebuilding ceremony . It's telling us that God wants to make a huge and significant effort to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. Here’s what it’s suggesting: God is calling for a focus on the temple: The verse emphasizes that the rebuilding isn’t just about building a large structure; it’s about focusing on the temple as a sacred place dedicated to God. It's a time of urgency and importance: The fact that it happened in the second year of Darius, who was already established as king, highlights how important this task was. It wasn’t just an afterthought; it was a priority . In short, it’s a message about God’s plan to rebuild his house (the temple) and it's happening after he has started his reign. It’s a reminder of the ongoing covenant between God and Israel. --- Do you want me to explain any of this in more detail? For example, would you like me to: Explain the context of the Old Testament? Talk about the significance of the temple itself?