Background
Haggai motivates the leaders (Zerubbabel and Joshua) and the people of God to consider their current economic and spiritual circumstances and to renew their efforts to complete the work of temple restoration.
The historical setting of the book is in the sixth century B.C. among the returned exiles from the Babylonian captivity. The Persian ruler Cyrus the Great (559–530 B.C.) captured Babylon in 539. His edict in 538 B.C. permitted the return of Jews to Jerusalem so that they might rebuild the temple (Ezra 1–2). Initial work stalled, however, when opposition arose (Ezra 3:1–4:5).
The events within the book of Haggai take place during the reign of Darius I (522–486 B.C.), a general who rose to power following the death of Cyrus’s son Cambyses (530–522). The specific mention of the “second year of Darius” (Hag. 1:1) places the book firmly in the year 520 B.C. Darius’s support was vital for the completion of the temple (Ezra 5–6).
History of Salvation Summary
After the exile, the Lord is renewing his promises to his people and calls on them to finish rebuilding the temple so that he might be with them and fulfill his promises to bless the whole world through them (Hag. 2:9), particularly through the Messiah from the house of David (Hag. 2:23).
Taken from the ESV® Study Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright ©2008 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For more information on how to cite this material, see permissions information here.