How do leaders respond to Aggeus?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

The contrast of ceiled homes and the desolate house leads to consideration, obedience and work.

Chapter breakdown

The heading reproves neglect of the temple and encourages work. On the first day of the sixth month in Darius’s second year, Aggeus brings God’s word to Zorobabel son of Salathiel, governor of Juda, and Jesus son of Josedec, high priest. The people say the time to build God’s house has not arrived. Aggeus contrasts their ceiled homes with that house’s desolation and twice commands consideration of their ways. Much sowing brings little, food and drink do not fill, clothing does not warm, and wages go into a bag with holes.

They are commanded to go to the mountain, bring timber and build the house, which God will accept and through which he will be glorified. Expected abundance becomes little, brought home and blown away, because God’s house is desolate while each hastens to his own. Heaven withholds dew and earth fruit; God calls drought on land, mountains, corn, wine, oil, produce, men, beasts and hand-labor. These are the stated circumstances and explanation, not a general formula for every economic hardship.

Zorobabel, Jesus and all the remnant heed God and the sent prophet’s words, fearing before the Lord. Aggeus delivers the assurance of God’s presence. God stirs the spirits of governor, high priest and people, and they go in and work in his house. The chapter does not yet report completed construction or restored harvests.

The story inside

Dew and fruit are withheld in this account. The command names mountain and timber. The chapter reports work beginning, not finished construction.

Lessons worth keeping

1
Dew and fruit are withheld in this account.
2
The command names mountain and timber.
3
The chapter reports work beginning, not finished construction.

Test your recall

Which governor and high priest hear the message?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 102874–102877
1:1. In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the hand of Aggeus the prophet, to Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, governor of Juda, and to Jesus the son of Josedec the high priest, saying:
Lines 102885–102886
1:4. Is it time for you to dwell in ceiled houses, and this house lie desolate?
Lines 102891–102894
1:6. You have sowed much, and brought in little: you have eaten, but have not had enough: you have drunk, but have not been filled with drink: you have clothed yourselves, but have not been warmed: and he that hath earned wages, put them into a bag with holes.
Lines 102923–102926
1:14. And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zorobabel the son of Salathiel governor of Juda, and the spirit of Jesus the son of Josedec the high priest, and the spirit of all the rest of the people: and they went in, and did the work in the house of the Lord of Hosts their God.