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?