Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Haggai 2:2

Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the residue of the people, saying,

Speak now; once again acquaint them with what I now impart for their encouragement.

To Zerubbabel, & c.: see Hag 1:1,12.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

Speak now to Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah,…. Of whom, his descent and dignity, [See comments on Hag 1:1]. The Septuagint version wrongly renders it “of the tribe of Judah”; in which it is followed by the Arabic version; for, though he was of the tribe of Judah, this does not sufficiently distinguish him; nor does it answer to the word here used, which is expressive of his office and dignity. The Vulgate Latin version, Luther, and Castalio, omit the particle , rendered “now”, which is very emphatic. The prophet is ordered to go and say what he is bid, directly, immediately, at once, without any delay; the very day before mentioned, yea, at that very instant or moment, the people being now at work, under the eye of their governor; in order to remove an offence, which might discourage them in their work, taken from the meanness of the building, in comparison of the former temple:

and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the residue of the people; these, besides the two former, even the whole body of the people, the remnant that were come out of the captivity of Babylon:

saying; to the above persons, as follows:

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(2) The residue.See Hag. 1:12, Note.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

Hag 2:2 Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the residue of the people, saying,

Ver. 2. Speak now to Zerubbabel, &c. ] The better to hearten them on in the work, the prophet is sent again to them, with a like message as before. Note here, 1. That there are none so forward for God and his work but may stand in need of continual quickening; there being more snares and backbiting earth than there are stars in heaven; and the good gift of God having so much need of righting up; for, like a dull sea coal fire, if it be not now and then blown or stirred up, though there be no want of fuel, yet will of itself at length die and go out. Besides that, every inch, every artery of our bodies, if it could, would swell with hellish venom to the size of the largest giant, that it might make resistance to the work of God’s sanctifying Spirit. Let us, therefore, consider one another, and study every man his brother’s case, to stir up, or whet on, to love and good works, Heb 10:24 . God will not forget this our labour of love, but abundantly both regard and reward it, Mal 3:16 . See the notes there. 2. That continual preaching makes men continue in well doing. Therefore it was that Barnabas was sent to Antioch, Act 11:22-23 , who, when he came and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. And hence also it was that Paul and Barnabas, Act 14:21 returned again to Lystra and to Iconium and Antioch, confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and ordaining preachers everywhere for that very purpose, for the increase of their knowledge, for the strengthening of their faith, for the help of their memories, and for the quickening of their affections. Gutta cavat lapidem, non vi sed saepe cadendo. God’s tender plants need be often watered that they may spring and sprout, Plantas tenellas frequentius adaquare proderit (Primas.).

And to the residue of the people ] Non enim sacris Eleusiniis, quae in vulgus apargi nefas erat similia sunt oracula Dei, saith an interpreter here. God’s oracles are not to be hidden from the common sort, as Sibylla’s were, and as the Popish doctors hold, lest men should be made heretics thereby, that is, right believers. It is heresy, saith one of them, to read the Scriptures. It was the invention of the devil, saith another. A husbandman, reading the Scriptures, was possessed, saith a third. It is not needful for the common sort to know more of God’s mind than the Articles of the Creed, saith Aquinas, Bellarmine, &c. John Barclay, in his Parenesis, excusing the Church of Rome for taking away the Scriptures from the common people, saith thus, Sed de his quoque providit Ecclesia concionibus, in quibus Evangelia referuntur, &c.: But for this the Church hath made sufficient provision by appointing sermons to be made upon the Gospels for the day, and by permitting books of devotion wherein much use is made of the Holy Scriptures. And for the historical part of the Old Testament, saith he, men may read Josephus’s Antiquities, where it is set down more plainly and plentifully than in the Bible, &c. But I am weary of raking in this foul channel.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

Zerubbabel. . . Shealtiel, governor. . . Joshua . . . Josedech. See notes on Hag 1:1.

the residue = the remnant.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

governor: Hag 1:14, Ezr 1:8, Ezr 2:63, Neh 8:9

Reciprocal: Exo 17:14 – memorial 1Ch 3:19 – Zerubbabel 1Ch 6:15 – Jehozadak Ezr 2:2 – Zerubbabel Ezr 3:2 – Jeshua Ezr 5:14 – whom Ezr 6:14 – through Neh 12:1 – Zerubbabel Zep 2:7 – the remnant Zec 4:6 – Not Mat 1:12 – and

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Hag 2:2. The Lord then gave the prophet instructions to call the attention of the builders and the people to the work as it then appeared.

Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary

The audience was the same as the one that received the first message: Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the entire Judean population.

Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)