CHAPTER VII.

NUMBERS, xix. EZRA, v., vi. PSALMS, cxviii. HAGGAI, i., ii., ZECHARIAH, i.-viii.

BUILDING THE TEMPLE.

Haggai the Prophet-Why the Jews are Miserable-Jehovah's House is not Built-Work on the Temple Resumed-The Governor Interferes-Appeal to King Darius-Haggai Promises Success-Zechariah the Prophet-Turn unto Me-Law of the Unclean-The Jews Unclean-Their Touch Pollutes-Jehovah hath Chosen Zerubbabel-Zechariah's Vision of the Horses-The World yet at Rest-The Overthrow not yet Begun-Jehovah will Punish the Nations-Will Make Jerusalem Great-Vision of the Horns-The Nations that Scattered Judah-Jehovah shall Smite them-Vision of the Measuring Line-Jerusalem too Great for Walls-Jehovah her Wall-The Exiles Return-Judah Jehovah's Portion-Vision of Joshua and Satan-The High-Priest Clean Clothed-Jehovah Accepts the Worship of the Jews-The Servant Branch-Guilt Removed-Zerubbabel shall Complete the Temple-Vision of the Book Roll-Two Tables of the Law-Punishment of the Breach of them-Vision of the False Measure-Removed from Judah-The Governor's Report-Darius' Favorable Answer-Royal SubsidyJoshua the Branch-He shall Build the Temple-Embassy from Bethel-Answer of Zechariah-Lesson of Past Formalism-Cause of the Captivity-Restored to Favor-Failure to Build the Temple -Jehovah's Wrath-The Temple Begun-Jehovah's Favor Regained-What True Religion is-Fasts Turned to Feasts-God with the Jews-The Temple Finished-Keeping the Passover-A Psalm of Dedication.

In the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of Jehovah

by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high-priest, saying: Thus speaketh Jehovah of Hosts, saying: This people say, The time is not come for Jehovah's house to be built. Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your ceiled houses, and this house lie waste? And now thus saith Jehovah of Hosts: Consider your ways. Ye have sown much, and bring in little; eat, but have not enough; drink, but are not filled; clothe you, but there is no warmth thereto; and he that earneth wages earneth wages in a bag with holes. Thus saith Jehovah of Hosts: Consider your ways. Go up to the mountains, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and be glorified, saith Jehovah.

A looking for much, and, lo, it came to little; and ye brought it home, and I did blow it away. Why? saith Jehovah of Hosts. Because of Mine house that lieth waste, while ye run each to his own house. Therefore over you the heaven is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit. And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the grain, and upon the wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labor of the hands.

Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high-priest, and all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of Jehovah their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as Jehovah their God had sent him; and the people feared before Jehovah. And Haggai Jehovah's messenger spake in Jehovah's message unto the people, saying: I am with you, saith Jehovah. And Jehovah stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son

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of Jehozadak, the high-priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and began to work in the house of Jehovah of Hosts, their God, in the twenty-fourth day of the month, in the sixth month, in the second year of King Darius. Then came unto them Tattenai, governor west of the river (Euphrates), and Shethar-bozenai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who gave you commandment to build this house, and to finish this wall? Furthermore spake they after this manner unto them, What are the names of the men that do this building? But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, and they did not make them cease, till the matter should come to Darius, and answer be returned by letter concerning it.

In the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month, came the word of Jehovah by Haggai the prophet, saying: Speak now to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the highpriest, and to the remnant of the people, saying: Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes as nothing? And now be strong, Zerubbabel, saith Jehovah ; and be strong, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high-priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith Jehovah, and work; for I am with you, saith Jehovah of Hosts (that which I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt), and My spirit abideth among you; fear ye not. For thus saith Jehovah of Hosts: Yet a little while, and I shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; and I shake all nations, and the treasure of all nations shall come, and I will fill this house with glory, saith Jehovah of Hosts. Mine is the silver, and Mine the gold, saith Jehovah of Hosts. The latter

glory of this house shall be greater than the former, saith Jehovah of Hosts; and in this place will I give prosperity, saith Jehovah of Hosts.

And in the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of Jehovah unto Zechariah son of Berechiah son of Iddo, the prophet, saying: Jehovah was sore displeased with your fathers. But say unto them, Thus saith Jehovah of Hosts: Turn unto Me, saith Jehovah of Hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith Jehovah of Hosts. Be ye not like your fathers, unto whom the former prophets preached, saying, Thus saith Jehovah of Hosts: Turn now from your evil ways, and your evil works; but they heard not, nor hearkened unto Me, saith Jehovah. Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live forever? But My words and My statutes, which I commanded My servants the prophets, did they not overtake your fathers? that they turned and said, Like as Jehovah of Hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our works, so hath He dealt with us.

In the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of Jehovah by Haggai the prophet, saying: Thus saith Jehovah of Hosts: Ask now of the priests the law, saying, If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any food, is it holy? And the priests answered and said, No. Then said Haggai : If one polluted by a dead body touch any of these, is it unclean? And the priests answered and said: It is unclean. (As it is written, say

ing :) He that toucheth the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days. And on the seventh day he shall purify himself, and wash his clothes, and bathe himself

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in water; and at even he shall be clean. And whatsoever the unclean person toucheth shall be unclean; and whosoever toucheth it shall be unclean until even.

Then answered Haggai and said: So is this people, and so is this nation before Me, saith Jehovah; and so is every work of their hands; and the place where they offer is unclean. And now, consider from this day backward, since before stone was laid to stone in the temple of Jehovah, the times that have been. One came to an heap of twenty measures, and there were but ten; one came to the winefat to draw out fifty treadings, and there were but twenty. I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the labors of your hands; yet ye turned not to Me, saith Jehovah. Consider now from this day backward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, unto the day that the foundation of Jehovah's temple was laid, consider it. Is there yet grain in the barn? and as for the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, they have not borne. From this day will I bless you.

And the word of Jehovah came the second time unto Haggai in the twenty-fourth day of the month, saying: Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I shake the heavens, and the earth, and overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations, and overthrow the chariots, and those that ride therein; and the horses and their riders fall, each by the sword of the other. In that day, saith Jehovah of Hosts, will I take thee, Zerubbabel, My servant, son of Shealtiel, saith Jehovah, and make thee as a signet; for I have chosen thee, saith Jehovah of Hosts.

Upon the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month(that is the month Shebat), in the second year of Darius,