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{{Short description|Book of the Bible}}
{{Redirect |Hag.|rabbinic text Ḥag.|Hagigah}}
{{Tanakh OT|Nevi'im|prophetic}}

The '''Book of Haggai''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|h|æ|ɡ|aɪ}}; {{langx|he|ספר חגי|Sefer Ḥaggay}}) is a book of the [[Hebrew Bible]] or [[Tanakh]], and is the third-to-last of the [[Twelve Minor Prophets]].<ref>[[Bruce M. Metzger|Metzger, Bruce M.]], et al. ''The Oxford Companion to the Bible''. New York: Oxford University Press, 1993.</ref><ref>Keck, Leander E. 1996. ''The New Interpreter's Bible: Volume: VII''. Nashville: Abingdon.</ref> It is a short book, consisting of only two chapters. The historical setting dates around 520&nbsp;BC, before the [[Temple in Jerusalem|Temple]] had been rebuilt.<ref>Coogan, Michael D. "A Brief Introduction to the Old Testament." Oxford University Press, 2009. o. 346.</ref> The original text was written in [[Biblical Hebrew]].

== Authorship ==
The Book of Haggai is named after the prophet [[Haggai]] whose prophecies are recorded in the book. The authorship of the book is uncertain. Some presume that Haggai wrote the book himself but he is repeatedly referred to in the third person which makes it unlikely that he wrote the text: it is more probable that the book was written by a disciple of Haggai who sought to preserve the content of Haggai's spoken prophecies.{{cn|date=December 2024}}

There is no biographical information given about the prophet in the Book of Haggai.  Haggai's name is derived from the Hebrew verbal root ''hgg'', which means "to make a pilgrimage". W. Sibley Towner suggests that Haggai's name might come "from his single-minded effort to bring about the reconstruction of that destination of ancient Judean pilgrims, the Temple in Jerusalem".<ref>Towner, W. Sibley, ''The Harper Collins Study Bible''. HarperCollins Publishers. 2006. p. 1265.</ref>

== Date ==
The ''Book of Haggai'' records events in 520&nbsp;BC, some 18 years after [[Cyrus the Great|Cyrus]] had conquered [[Babylon]] and issued a decree in 538&nbsp;BC, allowing the captive Judahites to return to Judea. Cyrus saw the restoration of the temple as necessary for the restoration of religious practices and a sense of peoplehood, after the long exile.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=The Book of Haggai {{!}} Hebrew Prophecy, Minor Prophet, Restoration {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Book-of-Haggai |access-date=2023-12-25 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref> The precise date of the written text is uncertain but most likely dates to within a generation of Haggai himself.<ref name=":0" /> A traditional consensus dates the completion of the text to c. 515 BC.<ref>Joachimsen, Kristin, (2022). [https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/3/262 "Yehudite Imaginations of King Darius and His Officials: Views from the Province beyond the River"], in: Religions, Vol. 13, Issue 3: "Hag 2:18 describes how the temple’s foundations were laid in the second year of Darius, but neither Haggai nor Zechariah 1–8 mentions the completion of the temple. For that reason, many have concluded that these writings must be dated before 515 BCE (Ristau 2016, p. 119)."</ref> Other scholars consider the book to be completed around 417 BC, arguing that it did not refer to [[Darius the Great]] (Darius I), but to [[Darius II]] (424-405 BC).<ref>Joachimsen, Kristin, (2022). [https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/3/262 "Yehudite Imaginations of King Darius and His Officials: Views from the Province beyond the River"], in: Religions, Vol. 13, Issue 3: "While most scholars identify Darius referred to in the Books of Haggai, Zechariah, and Ezra as Darius I (522–486 BCE), some take these references to be Darius II (424–405 BCE) (Dequeker 1993; Hallaschka 2010; Becking 2018)."</ref>

== Early surviving manuscripts ==
Some early manuscripts containing the text of this book in [[Biblical Hebrew]] are of the [[Masoretic Text]], which includes the [[Codex Cairensis]] (895), [[Codex Babylonicus Petropolitanus|the Petersburg Codex of the Prophets]] (916), and [[Leningrad Codex|Codex Leningradensis]] (1008).{{sfn|Würthwein|1995|pp=35-37}}{{efn|Since the [[1947 anti-Jewish riots in Aleppo|anti-Jewish riots in Aleppo]] in 1947, the whole book has been missing from the [[Aleppo Codex]].<ref name="nce2-bible">{{Citation | author=P. W. Skehan | contribution=BIBLE (TEXTS) | title=[[New Catholic Encyclopedia]] | edition=2nd | volume=2 | publisher=Gale | year=2003 | pages=355–362}}</ref>}} Fragments of the Hebrew text of this book were found among the [[Dead Sea Scrolls]], including 4Q77 (4QXII<sup>b</sup>; 150–125 BCE){{sfn|Ulrich|2010|p=618}}<ref name=thewaytoyahuweh>{{Cite web|url=https://thewaytoyahuweh.com/dead-sea-scrolls/general-info/|title=General Info &#124; The Way To Yahuweh|date=January 5, 2018}}{{self-published inline|date=June 2023}}</ref>{{sfn|Fitzmyer|2008|p=38}} 4Q80 (4QXII<sup>e</sup>; 75–50 BCE);{{sfn|Ulrich|2010|p=619}}<ref name=thewaytoyahuweh />{{sfn|Fitzmyer|2008|p=39}} and [[Wadi Murabba'at]] Minor Prophets (Mur88; MurXIIProph; 75-100 CE).<ref name=thewaytoyahuweh />{{sfn|Fitzmyer|2008|pp=140-141}}

There is also a translation into [[Koine Greek]] known as the [[Septuagint]], made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of the [[Septuagint]] version include [[Codex Vaticanus]] ('''B'''; <math> \mathfrak{G}</math><sup>B</sup>; 4th century), [[Codex Sinaiticus]] ('''S'''; [[Biblia Hebraica (Kittel)|BHK]]: <math> \mathfrak{G}</math><sup>S</sup>; 4th century), [[Codex Alexandrinus]] ('''A'''; <math> \mathfrak{G}</math><sup>A</sup>; 5th century) and [[Codex Marchalianus]] ('''Q'''; <math> \mathfrak{G}</math><sup>Q</sup>; 6th century).{{sfn|Würthwein|1995|pp=73-74}}

== Synopsis ==
[[File:Leningrad-codex-13-twelve-minor-prophets.pdf|thumb|250px|The [[Leningrad Codex]] (AD. 1008) contains the complete Hebrew text of the Book of Haggai.]]
{{multiple image
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| footer    = The whole Book of Haggai in [[Latin]] as a part of [[Codex Gigas]], made around 13th century.
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Haggai's message is filled with an urgency for the people to proceed with the rebuilding of the [[Second Temple|second Jerusalem temple]]. Haggai attributes a recent drought to the people's refusal to rebuild the temple, which he sees as key to [[Jerusalem]]’s glory. The book ends with the prediction of the downfall of kingdoms, with one [[Zerubbabel]], governor of [[Kingdom of Judah|Judah]], as the Lord's chosen leader. The language here is not as finely wrought as in some other books of the minor prophets,{{Citation needed|date=May 2014}} yet the intent seems straightforward.

The first chapter contains the first address (2–11) and its effects (12–15).

The second chapter contains:
#The second prophecy (1–9), which was delivered a month after the first
#The third prophecy (10–19), delivered two months and three days after the second; and
#The fourth prophecy (20–23), delivered on the same day as the third.

These discourses are referred to in [[Book of Ezra|Ezra]] 5:1 and 6:14. (Compare Haggai 2:7, 8 and 22)
[[File:Synagogue Alkmaar 05.jpg|thumb|Text from Haggai 2:9 on a synagogue in [[Alkmaar]]: "The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house."]]
Haggai reports that three weeks after his first prophecy the rebuilding of the Temple began on September 7 521&nbsp;BC. "They came and began to work on the house of the LORD Almighty, their God, on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month in the second year of Darius the King." (Haggai 1:14–15) and the Book of Ezra indicates that it was finished on February 25 516&nbsp;BC "The Temple was completed on the third day of the month Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius." (Ezra 6:15)

== Outline ==
{{cleanup section|reason=Needs merging into Synopsis section|date=December 2022}}
#Divine Announcement: The Command to Rebuild the Temple  ({{Bibleref2-nb|Haggai|1:1–15}} )
##Introduction: Reluctant Rebuilders  ({{Bibleref2-nb|Haggai|1:1–2}} )
##Consider your ways: fruitless prosperity ({{Bibleref2-nb|Haggai|1:3–12}} )
##Promise and Progress  ({{Bibleref2-nb|Haggai|1:13–15}} )
#Divine Announcement: The Coming Glory of the Temple  ({{Bibleref2-nb|Haggai|2:1–2.9}} )
##God will fulfill his promise ({{Bibleref2-nb|Haggai|2:1–5}} ) <ref name="Achtemeier, Paul J. 1996">Achtemeier, Paul J., and Roger S. Boraas. The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary. San Francisco, CA: HarperSanFrancisco, 1996. Print.</ref>
##Future Splendor of the temple ({{Bibleref2-nb|Haggai|2:6–9}} )<ref name="Achtemeier, Paul J. 1996" />
#Divine Announcement: Blessings for a Defiled People ({{Bibleref2-nb|Haggai|2.10–19}} )
##Former Misery ({{Bibleref2-nb|Haggai|2.10–17}} )<ref name="Achtemeier, Paul J. 1996" />
##Future Blessing ({{Bibleref2-nb|Haggai|2.18–19}} )<ref name="Achtemeier, Paul J. 1996" />
#Divine Announcement: Zerubbabel Chosen as a Signet ({{Bibleref2-nb|Haggai|2.20–23}} )

==Musical usage==
The [[King James Version]] of Haggai 2:6–7 is used in the libretto of the English-language [[oratorio]] "[[Messiah (Handel)|Messiah]]" by [[George Frideric Handel]] (HWV 56).<ref name="Block 2001">{{Cite journal
| last = Block
| first = Daniel I.
| author-link = Daniel I. Block
| year = 2001
| title = Handel's Messiah: Biblical and Theological Perspectives
| journal = [[Didaskalia (journal)|Didaskalia]]
| volume = 12
| number = 2
| url = http://www.sbts.edu/documents/icw/messiah.pdf
| access-date = 19 July 2011
}}</ref>

== See also ==
*[[Darius I]]
*[[Joshua the High Priest]], son of Jehozadak
*[[Old Testament messianic prophecies quoted in the New Testament]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

=== Works cited ===
* {{Cite book |last=Fitzmyer |first=Joseph A. |title=A Guide to the Dead Sea Scrolls and Related Literature |author-link=Joseph Fitzmyer |publisher=William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TILXeWJ2eNAC |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-8028-6241-9 |location=Grand Rapids, MI }}
*{{Cite book |editor-last=Ulrich |editor-first=Eugene |editor-link=Eugene Ulrich |title=The Biblical Qumran Scrolls: Transcriptions and Textual Variants |year=2010 |publisher=Brill |url=https://archive.org/details/TheBiblicalQumranScrolls}}
*{{Cite book |last=Würthwein |first=Ernst |author-link=Ernst Würthwein |title=The Text of the Old Testament |publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans |location=Grand Rapids, MI |year=1995 |translator-first1=Erroll F.|translator-last1=Rhodes |isbn=0-8028-0788-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FSNKSBObCYwC}}

== External links ==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Wikisource|Haggai (Bible)|Haggai}}
*[[Judaism|Jewish]] translations:
** [http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=15767 Chaggai – Haggai (Judaica Press)] translation with [[Rashi]]'s commentary at [[Chabad.org]]
*[[Christianity|Christian]] translations:
**[http://www.gospelhall.org/bible/bible.php?passage=Haggai+1 ''Online Bible'' at GospelHall.org] (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English)
* {{librivox book | title=Haggai}} Various versions

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{{s-hou | [[Minor prophet]]s|||}}
{{s-bef | before= [[Book of Zephaniah|Zephaniah]] | rows = 2 }}
{{s-ttl | title  = [[Tanakh|Hebrew Bible]] }}
{{s-aft | after= [[Book of Zechariah|Zechariah]] | rows = 2 }}
{{s-ttl | title = [[Christianity|Christian]]<br />[[Old Testament]] }}
{{s-end}}
{{Book of Haggai}}
{{Books of the Bible}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Haggai}}
[[Category:Book of Haggai| ]]
[[Category:6th-century BC books]]
[[Category:Twelve Minor Prophets| 10]]