Haggai 2

“In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, came the word of the LORD by the prophet Haggai…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest…” Naming Josedech and Joshua keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the LORD ; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be…” Naming Josedech and Joshua keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye…” Naming According and Egypt keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.” The line’s distinctive content terms include gold, hosts, LORD. Its relationship to verses 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

“The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“In the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD by Haggai…” The number four makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying,” Naming Ask keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the LORD ; and so is every…” Naming Haggai keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And now, I pray you, consider from this day and upward, from before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of the…” The line’s distinctive content terms include stone, consider, laid. Its relationship to verses 14 and 16 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Since those days were, when one came to an heap of twenty measures, there were but ten: when one came to the pressfat…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the labours of your hands; yet ye turned not to me…” The line’s distinctive content terms include blasting, hail, hands. Its relationship to verses 18 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Consider now from this day and upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, even from the day that the…” The number four makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And again the word of the LORD came unto Haggai in the four and twentieth day of the month, saying,” The number four makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth;” Naming Judah and Speak keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen; and I…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the LORD…” Naming Shealtiel and Zerubbabel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.