Historical Background
HITORICAL BACKROUND
I- Author
As we study the book of Haggai, We discover that Haggai was a minor prophet in the Bible according to the Bible whose name means “festive or festival of the LORD”, was the first post –exile prophet. About 50,000 Jews had come back from Babylon after 70 years of captivity. The task before this people was (of the temple, and the reviving) the rebuilding of the wall and city of Jerusalem, the restoration of the temple, and reviving of its religious activities. He is called “Jehovah’s messenger”. Although his style was plain and his language simple, God place upon him the honor of being his spokesperson. Haggai preached for sermons to this returned remnant during a period of three months. They give us the structure of the book. As the book of Haggai begins, 15 months have already elapsed since their return. The temple remains in ruin, and no one was attempted to repair it.[1] In line of this, we also know the prophet already prophesied the prophecies of Haggai before his time. “According to J. Vernon McGee, in the study of this prophecy we will note how important it is to consider the historical book along with the prophetic books. There is a little cluster of the books that belong together; Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther for the historical records and Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi for the prophetic section. Haggai, the writer of this short book, is mentioned in Ezra 5:1-2 and 6:14”[2] “Also according to Samuel J. S Schultz, Haggai delivered four messages to the people before the end of the year. The brevity of this book way indicate that he recorded but a summary of his oral messages”[3]
II- Date of Writing
Haggai begins his book by saying, “In the second year of Daruis the king in the sixth month, in the first day of the month. “Hystaspes (The Daruis Mentioned here), began to reign in 521 B. C, making the second year of his reign about 520 B. C. The second year of Daruis
I- Author
As we study the book of Haggai, We discover that Haggai was a minor prophet in the Bible according to the Bible whose name means “festive or festival of the LORD”, was the first post –exile prophet. About 50,000 Jews had come back from Babylon after 70 years of captivity. The task before this people was (of the temple, and the reviving) the rebuilding of the wall and city of Jerusalem, the restoration of the temple, and reviving of its religious activities. He is called “Jehovah’s messenger”. Although his style was plain and his language simple, God place upon him the honor of being his spokesperson. Haggai preached for sermons to this returned remnant during a period of three months. They give us the structure of the book. As the book of Haggai begins, 15 months have already elapsed since their return. The temple remains in ruin, and no one was attempted to repair it.[1] In line of this, we also know the prophet already prophesied the prophecies of Haggai before his time. “According to J. Vernon McGee, in the study of this prophecy we will note how important it is to consider the historical book along with the prophetic books. There is a little cluster of the books that belong together; Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther for the historical records and Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi for the prophetic section. Haggai, the writer of this short book, is mentioned in Ezra 5:1-2 and 6:14”[2] “Also according to Samuel J. S Schultz, Haggai delivered four messages to the people before the end of the year. The brevity of this book way indicate that he recorded but a summary of his oral messages”[3]
II- Date of Writing
Haggai begins his book by saying, “In the second year of Daruis the king in the sixth month, in the first day of the month. “Hystaspes (The Daruis Mentioned here), began to reign in 521 B. C, making the second year of his reign about 520 B. C. The second year of Daruis
Bibliography: [1] Paul R. Gorger, The Old Testament Present (Radio Bible Class, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1982), 184 [2] J [5] Samuel J. Schultz, Te Old Testament Speaks, ( Harper and Row Publisher, New York, Evanston and London, 1960 ), 413 [6] Ronald L [7] James C. Galvin, Life Application Study Bible, (Tydale House Publisher 1988 ), 1497 [8] Lawrence O [19] Prof. R. k. Harrison and others, The New Testament Bible Commentary Revised (Inter Varsity Press Downers Grove, Illinois 1970) 783 [20] Rev