There are five books dealing with the returned remnants to Jerusalem and Judea. Two are mainly historical, namely, Nehemiah and Ezra; the former treating of the civil condition of things, while the latter is occupied with the ecclesiastical state of the people. The three closing books of the Old Testament, sometimes termed "Prophets of the Restoration," prophesied in midst of these returned Jews, but in view of their utter and complete failure and ruin, uttering predictions not of judgment only, but, blessed be God! rich also in anticipations of that blessed future awaiting Israel and the earth, when after every testimony committed to man, and every steward and witness for God has proved a signal failure; when after a full and lengthened trial of the "first man," the kingdom and glory will be established in power in the hands of the "Second man." These times of blessing are nigh at hand.
The prophets Haggai and Zechariah (Ezra 5:11Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them. (Ezra 5:1)) were commissioned to encourage the people to recommence the building of the temple, which had been interrupted for a number of years by the assiduous efforts of the Samaritans, who succeeded in getting a decree from the Persian King—Artaxerxes, forbidding the work (Ezra 41Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the Lord God of Israel; (Ezra 4:1)). Our prophet, therefore, abounds in reproofs, warnings and encouragements. Under the faithful and energetic ministry of these two prophets, the work of the temple which had been interrupted for about 14 years, was quickly resumed and finished. During that long interval, the people displayed a remarkable zeal for their own interests, planting, house-building, and the like, but were utterly regardless of Jehovah's things indolently and carelessly saying:-"The time is not come that the Lord's house should be built." The energetic remonstrances of the prophets named, Haggai especially, prevailed, and the people commenced building before Darius reversed the decree of Artaxerxes (Ezra 41Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the Lord God of Israel; (Ezra 4:1)), and granting another confirming the commandment of Cyrus, given 21 years before, and which had been so much in the people's favor (Ezra 61Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon. (Ezra 6:1)); this is to be noted as showing that Jehovah was working for and His blessing resting upon the people; His presence too was with them (Hag. 1:1313Then spake Haggai the Lord's messenger in the Lord's message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the Lord. (Haggai 1:13)). Thus the unalterable laws of the Medes and Persians, which bound even the monarchs themselves to obedience (Dan. 6:1515Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed. (Daniel 6:15)), are changed according to the Divine pleasure. "The glory of this latter house," Hag. 2:99The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts. (Haggai 2:9), reads "the latter glory of this house." Paul beautifully and powerfully comments on Hag. 2:6, 76For thus saith the Lord of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; 7And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts. (Haggai 2:6‑7), in his Epistle to the Hebrews, Heb. 12:25-2925See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: 26Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 27And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 29For our God is a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:25‑29).
The book contains four messages, in each case termed "The word of the Lord." These charges from Jehovah to the people were all delivered in the second year of Darius, and within the brief period of four months.
The five post-captivity books may be thus briefly regarded:-
BOOKS OF THE JEWISH RESTORATION.
1. Ezra, who unfolds the ecclesiastical state of things.
2. Nehemiah, who depicts the civil condition.
3. Haggai, the prophet of encouragement.
4. Zechariah, the prophet of the future.
5. Malachi, the prophet of the people's moral condition.
" Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Consider your ways." May writer and reader lay the exhortation to heart.
GENERAL DIVISIONS.
1.-Sharp and solemn reproof as to the people's indifference to the Lord's interests; the gracious effect produced. Hag. 1, or message one.
2.-Exceedingly cheering and encouraging, and withal, beautifully prophetic of latter-day glory connected with the Temple. Hag. 2:1-91In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, came the word of the Lord by the prophet Haggai, saying, 2Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the residue of the people, saying, 3Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing? 4Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the Lord; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work: for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts: 5According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not. 6For thus saith the Lord of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; 7And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts. 8The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts. 9The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts. (Haggai 2:1‑9), or message two.
3.-A solemn call to the people to consider their ways. Hag. 2 10-19, or message three.
4.-Jehovah will overturn and destroy the kingdoms and might of the earth, but will also remember His chosen. Hag. 2:20-2320And again the word of the Lord came unto Haggai in the four and twentieth day of the month, saying, 21Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth; 22And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother. 23In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the Lord, and will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee, saith the Lord of hosts. (Haggai 2:20‑23), or message four.