Haggai 1-2

Chaggai is the first prophet of the three prophets of the Second Temple – Chaggai, Zechariah and Malachi- who are called the “latter prophets”. The prophecies of Chaggai which are included in the book were all said in the second year of Daryavesh’s reign, eighteen years after the decree of Koresh (520 BCE), in the very short time period of 4 months (from the first of Elul to the 24th of Kislev).

The prophecies mainly revolve around the building of the Second Temple. The picture that arises from these prophecies is gloomy, due to the difference between the enthusiasm and great vision and the expectation of redemption which those who returned to Zion felt, and the harsh reality with which they were dealing. Chaggai is faced with the problems of the people’s despair and their lack of motivation to rebuild the Temple, and seeks to give them hope and desire despite the difficult reality in the Land of Israel. His prophecies turn to the people and their leaders- Zerubavel ben Shealtiel, the governor appointed by the Persian government, and Yehoshua ben Yehotzadak the high priest.

The book comprises four prophecies which can be divided into two pairs. In the first pair, which includes the first prophecy, (perek 1) and the second prophecy (2:1-9), Chaggai deals with the problems which thwarted the building of the Temple and seeks to inspire the nation to build. The third (2:10-19) and fourth (2:20-23) prophecies were said on the same day and they parallel the first two prophecies.