1 Haggai is the first prophet given to the people after the prison of Babylon, through whose prophecy the temple and the service of God were restored, and Zechariah was given to him as a companion for two months, so that God's word might be believed all the more surely through the mouth of two witnesses. The people were almost in doubt as to whether the temple would be rebuilt.
002 And we observe that it is said of this prophet Daniel in the ninth, v. 25, saying, From the time that the commandment shall go forth, that Jerusalem shall be built again until Christ the Prince, there shall be no more buildings.
seven weeks, and sixty-two weeks" etc. For even though a command had gone out before through Cyrus the king to build the temple in Jerusalem at his (the king's) expense, it was prevented until the time of Haggai and Zechariah, when God's command went out through their prophecy; then it took place.
(3) And he reproved the people, because they had not cared to prepare the temple and the service of God, but had been diligent only for their goods and houses. Therefore they were also afflicted with precious time and damage to crops, wine, grain and all kinds of cereals, as an example to all the wicked, who have not kept God's word and service.
* ) This preface is found in Walch, in the Leipzig edition, vol. XII, p. 46 and in the Erlanger, vol. 63, p. 85. **) This preface is found in Walch, in the Leipzig edition, vol. XII, p. 47 and in the Erlanger, vol. 63, p. 86.
and are always stingy in their sackcloth. To such alone this text applies, since it says: "Their sack shall be empty.
4 In all histories, where God's servants do not want to be fed, nor do they want to receive his word, he confidently lets them be stingy for themselves and always gather. But in the end he makes the sack full of holes and blows into it so that it sputters and melts away, so that no one knows where it remains. He also wants
with eat, or they shall also not find to eat.
(5) He also prophesies of Christ in the second chapter, v. 8, that he should soon come, a comfort to all the Gentiles. So that he secretly indicates that the kingdom and law of the Jews will come to an end, and all the kingdoms of the world will be destroyed, and Christ will become their subject, which has happened until now, and will continue to happen until the last day, when it will all be fulfilled.