CHAPTER 2 Dec. 18 
The Glory of the New House of God 
In the seventh month, in the twenty-first day of the month, the word of Yahweh came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 2Speak now to Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remainder of the people, saying, 3‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Isn’t it in your eyes as nothing? 4Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel!’ says Yahweh. ‘Be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest! Be strong, all you people of the land’, says Yahweh, ‘and work, for I am with you’, says Yahweh of Armies. 5This is the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, and My Spirit dwelt among you. ‘Don’t be afraid’. 6For this is what Yahweh of Armies says: ‘Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, the earth, the sea, and the dry land; 7and I will shake all nations. The precious things of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory, says Yahweh of Armies. 8The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine’, says Yahweh of Armies. 9‘The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former’, says Yahweh of Armies; ‘and in this place will I give peace’, says Yahweh of Armies.
Blessings 
10In the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the Word of Yahweh came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 11Thus says Yahweh of Armies: Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying, 12‘If someone carries holy food in the fold of his garment, and the garment touches bread, stew, wine, oil, or any food, will it too become holy?’.  The priests answered, No.  13Then Haggai said, If one who is unclean by reason of a dead body touch any of these, will it be unclean?  The priests answered, It will be unclean.  14Then Haggai answered, ‘So is this people, and so is this nation before Me’, says Yahweh; ‘and so is every work of their hands. That which they offer there is unclean. 15Now, please consider from this day and backward, before a stone was laid on a stone in Yahweh’s temple. 16Through all that time, when one came to a heap of twenty measures, there were only ten. When one came to the wine vat to draw out fifty, there were only twenty. 17I struck you with blight, mildew, and hail in all the work of your hands; yet you didn’t turn to Me’, says Yahweh. 18‘Consider, please, from this day and backward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, since the day that the foundation of Yahweh’s temple was laid, consider it. 19Is the seed still in the barn? Yes, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree haven’t brought forth. From this day on I will bless you’.
Zerubbabel Is a Chosen Signet Ring
20The Word of Yahweh came the second time to Haggai in the twenty-fourth day of the month, saying, 21Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, ‘I will shake the heavens and the earth. 22I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms. I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations. I will overthrow the chariots, and those who ride in them. The horses and their riders will come down, everyone by the sword of his brother. 23In that day, says Yahweh of Armies, will I take you, Zerubbabel, My servant, the son of Shealtiel’, says Yahweh, ‘and will make you as a signet ring, for I have chosen you’, says Yahweh of Armies.

Commentary