Study questions, maps, charts, outlines, and links to help you study the Old Testament book of Haggai.
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Basics
- Author: The Prophet Haggai, written in 520 BC while Zerubbabel was governor.
- Haggai is know only from this book and from Ezra 5:1 and Ezra 6:14.
- Haggai returned to Jerusalem from Babylon with the remnant that returned with Zerubbabel.
- Haggai 2:3 may suggest that he had seen the glory of Solomon’s temple before it was destroyed, making him at least 70 years of age when writing his prophecy.
- Both Haggai and Zechariah urged the people to rebuild the temple.
- At the time Haggai prophecies it had been 15 years since the initial work on rebuilding the temple had begun.
- Zerubbabel was an ancestor of both Joseph (Matthew 1:13) and Mary (Luke 3:27).
- The occasion of each of Haggai’s 4 prophecies is clearly specified (1:1; 2:1; 2:10; 2:20), occurring within a 4 month span in the second year (ca. 520 B.C.) of Persian king Darius (ca. 521–486 B.C.).
Chronology
- 538 – Zerubbabel and first return of the exiles ( Ezra 1-6).
- 536 BC – Work on the temple begins (Ezra 3:8).
- 530-520 BC – Work on the temple stops (Ezra 4:24).
- 520 BC – Work on the temple resumes (Ezra 5:2).
- 520 BC – Events of the book of Haggai
- 520-518 BC – Events of Zechariah 1-8.
- 516 BC – Work on the temple is completed.
Genre: Understanding Prophecy
Background
Introduction to the Exile & Return
Chart: Bible History at a glance
Blue Letter Bible: Old Testament Timeline
Minor Prophets Quotes in the NT
Ray C Stedman: Overview of the Book
John MacArthur: Author, Date, Background
BibleHistory.com: List of the Kings of Persia
JVernon McGee: Haggai – Introductory Notes, Outlines
David Malick (Bible.org): An Introduction to the Book of Haggai
ESV: The Global Message of Haggai
NIV: Introduction to the Minor Prophets
NIV: An Introduction to Haggai
William Orr: Keys to Haggai
Arend Remmers: The Prophet Haggai (Overview)
Charles Swindoll: The Prophet Haggai
Maps from Holman Bible Atlas
The Kingdoms of Israel and Judah
The Kingdoms of Israel and Judah (1)
The Kingdoms of Israel and Judah (2)
The Kingdoms of Israel and Judah (3)
Conflicts between Israel and Aram-Damascus
The Golden Ages of the 9th & 8th centuries BCE
Phoenician Trade and Civilization
Trade Routes throughout the Middle East
Israel & Judah in the days of Jeroboam II and Uzziah
The Assyrian Empire under Tiglath-Pileser III
Fall of Samaria and Deportation of Israelites
The Fall of the Kingdom of Israel
Assyrian Districts after the Fall of Samaria
Prophets of the 8th Century BCE
Judah Alone amid International Powers
Hezekiah’s Preparation for Revolt
Sennacherib’s Campaign against Judah
Assyria in the 7th century BCE
The Rise of the Neo-Babylonian Empire
The Districts of Judah under King Josiah
Nebuchadnezzar’s Campaigns against Judah
The Persian Period
World Powers of the 6th century BCE
The Conquests of Cyrus the Great
The Return of the Jewish Exiles to Judah
ESV Study Bible Maps
Key Words
LORD (24x) – Strong’s H3068 in Hag 1:1; Hag 1:2; Hag 1:3; Hag 1:5; Hag 1:7; Hag 1:8; Hag 1:9; Hag 1:12; Hag 1:13; Hag 1:14; Hag 2:1; Hag 2:4; Hag 2:6; Hag 2:7; Hag 2:8; Hag 2:9; Hag 2:10; Hag 2:11; Hag 2:14; Hag 2:15; Hag 2:17; Hag 2:18; Hag 2:20; Hag 2:23.
hosts (Lord of Hosts; 12x) – Strong’s H6635 in Hag 1:2; Hag 1:5; Hag 1:7; Hag 1:9; Hag 1:14; Hag 2:4; Hag 2:6; Hag 2:7; Hag 2:8; Hag 2:9; Hag 2:11; Hag 2:23.
word (of the Lord came; 5x) – Strong’s H1697 in Hag 1:1; Hag 1:3; Hag 2:1; Hag 2:10; Hag 2:20.
rebuilt/rebuild (2x) – Strong’s H1129 in Hag 1:2; Hag 1:8.
consider (4x) – Strong’s H7760 in Hag 1:5; Hag 1:7; Hag 2:15; Hag 2:18.
house (6x) – Strong’s H1004 in Hag 1:2; Hag 1:4; Hag 1:9; Hag 1:14; Hag 2:7; Hag 2:9.
temple (4x) – Strong’s H1004 in Hag 1:8; Hag 2:3; Strong’s H1964 in Hag 2:15; Hag 2:18.
glory (3x) – Strong’s H3519b in Hag 2:3; Hag 2:7; Hag 2:9.
shake (3x) – Strong’s H7493 in Hag 2:6; Hag 2:7; Hag 2:21.
Dictionaries & Encyclopedias
Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology: Haggai, Theology Of
American Tract Society: Haggai
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary: Haggai
Easton’s Bible Dictionary: Haggai, Book Of; Haggai
Fausset Bible Dictionary: Haggai, the Book Of; Haggai
Holman Bible Dictionary: Haggai
Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Haggai
Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature: Haggai
Morrish Bible Dictionary: Haggai
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Haggai
McClintock and Strong: Haggai, Prophecy Of; Haggai
The Nuttall Encyclopedia: Haggai
The Jewish Encyclopedia: Haggai, Book Of; Haggai
Hitchcock’s Bible names: Haggai means feast; solemnity
Commentaries & Study Bibles
Ligionier.org Top 5 Commentaries: Haggai
Tim Challies Best Commentaries:
Commentary Reviews: Haggai
Walter Kaiser – Preacher’s Commentary
Calvin’s Commentary on the Bible: Haggai
Matthew Henry: Haggai
Albert Barnes Notes: Haggai
Reformation Study Bible Notes: Haggai
Geneva Study Bible: Haggai
Precept Austin Commentaries & Sermons: Haggai
Articles
Haggai Master Rhetorician — M.J. Boda
The Shaking Of The Nations An Eschatological View — John A. Kessler
Literary Connectors And A Haggai-Zechariah-Malachi Corpus — Ronald W. Pierce
A Thematic Development Of The Haggai-Zechariah-Malachi Corpus –Ronald W Pierce
Impulse And Design In The Book Of Haggai — By Duane L. Christensen
The Theological Basis for the Prohibition of Images in the Old Testament – Edward M Curtis
Composition, Rhetoric and Theology in Haggai 1:1-11 (Note: Jewish perspective) – Elie Assis
The Building of the Second Temple- by J. Stafford Wright
Greg Herrick: Conceptions of Davidic Hope in Ezekiel, Zechariah, Haggai, and the Chronicles
JHampton Keathley: The Minor Prophets
GotQuestions.org
Why were the Israelites not rebuilding the temple?
Is it wrong to live in nice houses?
Does God use frustrations in life to awaken and/or punish us?
Who is the desired of all nations?
What does it mean that Zerubbabel was the LORD’s signet ring?
What was Zerubbabel’s temple/the second temple?
What are the Major Prophets and Minor Prophets?
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