Haggai 1:12 Study Bible: Then Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD, their God, and the words of Haggai, the prophet, as the LORD, their God, had sent him; and the people feared the LORD.

◄ Haggai 1:12 ►

Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, as well as all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God and the words of the prophet Haggai, because the LORD their God had sent him. So the people feared the LORD.

Study Bible

Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest
Zerubbabel and Joshua were key leaders during the post-exilic period. Zerubbabel, a descendant of David, played a crucial role in the rebuilding of the temple, symbolizing the restoration of the Davidic line. Joshua, the high priest, represented the spiritual leadership necessary for the community's renewal. Their partnership highlights the importance of both political and spiritual leadership in guiding the people.

as well as all the remnant of the people
The "remnant" refers to those who returned from Babylonian exile. This group was a small fraction of the original population, emphasizing themes of faithfulness and divine preservation. The concept of a remnant is significant throughout Scripture, often representing those who remain faithful to God amidst widespread unfaithfulness.

obeyed the voice of the LORD their God and the words of the prophet Haggai
Obedience to God's voice, as conveyed through His prophets, is a recurring biblical theme. Haggai's message was a call to prioritize the rebuilding of the temple, reflecting the need for the community to align their actions with God's will. This obedience is a response to divine authority and prophetic revelation, underscoring the role of prophets as God's messengers.

because the LORD their God had sent him
The authority of Haggai's message is rooted in his divine commissioning. The acknowledgment that God sent Haggai reinforces the legitimacy of his prophetic words. This divine sending is a common motif in the prophetic tradition, where the prophet's authority is derived from their calling by God.

So the people feared the LORD
The fear of the LORD is a foundational biblical concept, often associated with reverence, awe, and obedience. It signifies a recognition of God's holiness and authority. In this context, the people's fear leads to action, demonstrating a proper response to God's commands and the prophetic message. This fear is not merely emotional but is reflected in their commitment to rebuild the temple.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel
A governor of Judah, a descendant of David, and a leader in the rebuilding of the temple.

2. Joshua son of Jehozadak
The high priest at the time, playing a crucial role in the spiritual leadership of the people.

3. The Remnant of the People
The group of Israelites who returned from Babylonian exile and were tasked with rebuilding the temple.

4. The Prophet Haggai
A prophet sent by God to encourage the rebuilding of the temple and to call the people to obedience.

5. The LORD their God
The covenant God of Israel, who speaks through His prophets and commands reverence and obedience.

Teaching Points

Obedience to God's Word
The importance of listening to and acting upon God's commands as delivered through His prophets.

Leadership and Responsibility
The roles of Zerubbabel and Joshua demonstrate the importance of godly leadership in guiding people towards obedience and reverence for God.

The Fear of the LORD
A healthy fear of the LORD leads to obedience and is foundational for a relationship with God.

Community Response
The collective response of the remnant shows the power of community in pursuing God's purposes.

Divine Commissioning
Recognizing and responding to God's commissioning, as Haggai was sent by God to deliver His message.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does the obedience of Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the remnant in Haggai 1:12 inspire you to respond to God's commands in your life?

2. In what ways can you demonstrate a healthy fear of the LORD in your daily decisions and actions?

3. How can the leadership qualities of Zerubbabel and Joshua be applied to your roles in your community or church?

4. What are some modern-day "temples" or tasks that God is calling you to rebuild or restore in your life or community?

5. How can you encourage others in your community to collectively respond to God's call, as the remnant did in Haggai 1:12?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Ezra 5:1-2
This passage describes the same event, where Haggai and Zechariah prophesy, leading Zerubbabel and Joshua to begin rebuilding the temple.

Exodus 14:31
The Israelites feared the LORD and believed in Him and His servant Moses, similar to how the remnant feared the LORD and obeyed Haggai.

Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, highlighting the importance of reverence and obedience to God.

Hebrews 12:28-29
Encourages believers to worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, reflecting the fear of the LORD seen in Haggai 1:12.

Sermons

Duty Followed	Homilist	Haggai 1:12
The Voice of the Lord	George Hutcheson.	Haggai 1:12
The Hearty Response	S.D. Hillman	Haggai 1:12-15

People

Darius, Haggai, Jehozadak, Josedech, Joshua, Shealtiel, Zerubbabel

Places

Jerusalem

Topics

Afraid, Ear, Face, Fear, Feared, Haggai, Hearken, Hearkened, Jehozadak, Jehoz'adak, Josedech, Joshua, Message, Obeyed, Priest, Prophet, Remnant, Rest, Reverence, Shealtiel, She-al'ti-el, Showed, Voice, Zerubbabel, Zerub'babel

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Haggai 1:12

8208 commitment, to God

Haggai 1:1-15

5508 ruins

Haggai 1:5-12

8479 self-examination, examples

Haggai 1:12-14

7145 remnant
7377 high priest, OT

Haggai 1:12-15

8149 revival, nature of

Library

Vain Toil
'Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.'--HAGGAI i. 6 A large emigration had taken place from the land of captivity to Jerusalem. The great purpose which the returning exiles had in view was the rebuilding of the Temple, as the centre-point of the restored nation. With true heroism, and much noble and unselfish …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Lost Earnings
He that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.' (Haggai i. 6.) In our Holiness Meetings we often speak of Full Salvation as a blessing to be obtained, and also a blessing to be retained; but I want now to turn the truth the other way round, and speak about 'losing the blessing'. These words of Haggai about the man who lost his earnings through a faulty bag will serve me as a text, and are very significant. As a figure of speech, the words are well understood. From the boy …
T. H. Howard—Standards of Life and Service

The Abiding of the Spirit the Glory of the Church
By the mouth of His servant Haggai stern rebukes were uttered, and the whole people were aroused. We read in verse twelve of the first chapter, "Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent him, and the people did fear before the Lord." All hands were put to the work; course after course of stone began to rise; and …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 32: 1886

The Last Days of the Old Eastern World
The Median wars--The last native dynasties of Egypt--The Eastern world on the eve of the Macedonian conquest. [Drawn by Boudier, from one of the sarcophagi of Sidon, now in the Museum of St. Irene. The vignette, which is by Faucher-Gudin, represents the sitting cyno-cephalus of Nectanebo I., now in the Egyptian Museum at the Vatican.] Darius appears to have formed this project of conquest immediately after his first victories, when his initial attempts to institute satrapies had taught him not …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 9

How those are to be Admonished who Desire not the Things of Others, but Keep their Own; and those who Give of their Own, yet Seize
(Admonition 22.) Differently to be admonished are those who neither desire what belongs to others nor bestow what is their own, and those who give of what they have, and yet desist not from seizing on what belongs to others. Those who neither desire what belongs to others nor bestow what is their own are to be admonished to consider carefully that the earth out of which they are taken is common to all men, and therefore brings forth nourishment for all in common. Vainly, then, do those suppose …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

Appendix ii. Philo of Alexandria and Rabbinic Theology.
(Ad. vol. i. p. 42, note 4.) In comparing the allegorical Canons of Philo with those of Jewish traditionalism, we think first of all of the seven exegetical canons which are ascribed to Hillel. These bear chiefly the character of logical deductions, and as such were largely applied in the Halakhah. These seven canons were next expanded by R. Ishmael (in the first century) into thirteen, by the analysis of one of them (the 5th) into six, and the addition of this sound exegetical rule, that where two …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Haggai
The post-exilic age sharply distinguished itself from the pre-exilic (Zech. i. 4), and nowhere is the difference more obvious than in prophecy. Post-exilic prophecy has little of the literary or moral power of earlier prophecy, but it would be very easy to do less than justice to Haggai. His prophecy is very short; into two chapters is condensed a summary, probably not even in his own words, of no less than four addresses. Meagre as they may seem to us, they produced a great effect on those who heard …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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