The Pulpit Commentary — Haggai — Section 23

of the girts. 'fhls seems scarooly ee.tiefao- conscience which ie given by him who is the tory. Mo.y it not be, o.s Knnbenbo.uer sug- Prince of Peace (Isa.. ix. 6), e.nd which in- gests, tuo.t "tho desire of o.11 nations" forms cludes e.ll ~e graces of the Christian cove. one notion, in which the words, "e.11 nations," ne.nt (Ezek. xxxiv. 25). The first temple hove e. predominating influence, e.nd so the was built by the king whose name is pluro.l eneues by constructio ad sensum ? "Peaceful; " the second ie glorified by the The meoning, then, is that e.11 nations with presence of the "Peace-bringer" (Gen. xlix. their wealth come, tho.t the Gentiles shall 10). At the end of this verse the LXX. devote their treasures, their powers, what- has an addition not found in the Hebrew, ever they most highly prize, to the service " even peace of soul for a. possession to every of God. This is what is predicted else• one who buildeth, to raise up this shrine." where (e.g. Isa. lx. 5-7, 11, 13, 17), e.nd it Vere. 10-19.-Part Ill. THE THIRD is called, metaphorically, coming with trea- ADDRESS: THE CAUSE 011' THE CALAlliTillS sures to the temple. 'fo hee.r of such 11 glorious future might well be a topic of WHICH BAD BEFALLEN' THE PEOPLE, AND ..1. consolation to the depressed Israelites. (For PROMISE OF BLESSING. 11 further development of the se.me idea, see Vera. 10-17.-§ 1. By an anal,ogy draum Rev. xxi. 24, 26.) I will fill this house from the Law, Haggai show, that residence with glory. There is a verbal allusion to the glory which filled Solomon's temple at in the Holy Land and the oferi11g of sacri- the dedice.tion (2 Chron. vii. 1), but the fice do not suffice to make the people aeceptable, especial mode in which it is to be manifested as long as they themselves are unclean through in this case is not here mentioned. The neglect of the house of the Lord. Hence previous clause would make the reference comes the pwniahment of sterility. rather t.o the material offerings of the Gentiles, but a further and e. deeper signifi- Ver. 10.-In the four and twentieth l!ay oe.tion is connected with the advent of of the ninth month. The ninth mouth is Messiah (as Mal. iii. 1), witli which the Chisleu, answering t.o parts of November complete fulfilment commenced. and December. It we.a now three months Ver. 8.-The silver is mine. All the from the time the people had commenced to riches of the world are the Lord's, and he build, and two from the da.y when the second dispoees of them as he wills ; if he has address was delivered. On the weather at promised the.t the Gentiles shall offer their this time depended the hope of the yearly treasures for his service, be sure he will crops. Between the second and third perform his word. There me.y also be in- address Zeche.ria.h's first prophecy Wai tended a word of comfort for the despond- uttered (Zech. i. 2-6). ing; they need not grieve because they he.d Ver. 11.-Concerning the Law. Others lmt poor offerings to bring to the house; translate, " for instruction." Ask the priests he wanted not gold or silver, for all was his. these two legal questions, such as they wi;:e Ver. 9.-The glory of this latter house appointed to expound (Dent. xvii. 8, etc. ; shall be greater than of the former. Re- xxxiii. 10; Mai. ii. 7). By this e.ppee.l the vised Version, following the Septuagint, prophet me.kes his lesson sink deeper into "The latter glory of. this house she.II be the people's mind. greater the.n the former." "This house" Ver. 12.-If one bear; litero.lly, behold, means the temple at Jerusalem, regard not one beareth, which is equivalent to" suppose being paid to the special building (ver. 3), a man bears." Perowne compares J er. iii. whether of Solomon, or Zerubbabel, or 1, •• Lo, e. man puts away liis wife;" and Herod. As understood by the hearers, this 2 Cliron. vii. 13. Holy 11.esh. The flesh of promise referred to the me.te1ial riches, the animals sacrificed to God, which we.a set precious things offered by the Gentiles. a.pa.rt from profane uses, a.nu might be ea.ten To us it speaks of the presence of Christ, only by the priests or persons ritually pure God incarnate, in tile holy city and in the (Lev.vi. 26; vii.15-20; x. 13; comp. Jer. temple itself, and of his presence in the xi. 15). The skirt of his garment; literally, Church, wherein he a.bides for ever. Here wing of his garment, as Deut. =ii. 12; l is the complete answer to the complaint Sam. :n. 27. Any mee.t; .-aVThs {3p.J,µ.a:ros: of ver. 3. In this ple.oe will I give pGaoe. anytliin~ eatablo. And so.id, No. The priests Primarily this means in Jerusalem, tliu answered co,rcctly a.ccordiu:s to Lev. vi. 27. place whero the temple stood, God would Whl\te\'el' touclicd the h,dlowed flesh became grant peace froru enemies, freedom from itself holy, b,1t it could not communicate di:LDger, and quiet enjoyment of promised this holiness to anything else. blessings (comp. Iso. b. 18; Joel iii. 17; Ver. 13.-Unclae.n by a dead body; Sep- :Mimli v. 4, 5). But the promise is not tuo.giut, 0.Kd9apros E1rl 'f'uxii: V nl:..(n te, fulfille,l Ly this; the peace promised to the po/l,itus in a1<i,na. Theso versions 11re closer lll,liyitunl temple is tliot i,euoe of heart und to tile Hel>rew, "uuch·l\ll by a soul," thau  THE 'BOOlt OF E:AGGAl.