Hag 2:10-19 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Hag 2:10-19: 2:10-19 The theme of the third message is the law’s instructions about ritual purity. These instructions were still operative. God expects his people to be holy, even as he is holy (Lev 11:44-45 ).

Summary for Hag 2:10-19: 2:10-19 ^a The theme of the third message is the law’s instructions about ritual purity. These instructions were still operative. God expects his people to be holy, even as he is holy (Lev 11:44-45 ^b).
2:11 ^c Ask the priests: The priests’ job was to teach and interpret the law (Deut 33:10 ^d; Mal 2:7-9 ^e), so the message about ceremonial purity was directed to them.
2:12 ^f will it also become holy? This question refers to meat from a holy sacrifice and the way in which ceremonial purity and impurity could be transferred (see thematic note for Clean, Unclean, and Holy at end of chapter). Carrying the holy sacrifice—the meat set aside and prepared for the offering—rendered one’s robe holy (cp. Lev 6:18 ^g). This holiness, however, could not be transmitted to a third object.
2:13 ^h Ceremonial uncleanness is transmitted much more easily than ceremonial purity. Anyone touching a corpse became defiled and thus unclean. Anything touched by a ceremonially unclean person was also rendered impure (see Num 19:11-13 ⁱ, 22 ^j). Haggai applies this in Hag 2:14 ^k.
2:14 ^l That is how it is with this people: Simply returning from exile to the land God promised Israel did not make the people of Judah holy. They were still unclean, since they were not obeying the instructions of God’s covenant with them. Their work and even their worship were contaminated by impurity; the ruins of the Lord’s Temple had symbolized the people’s disobedience. The rebuilding of the Temple was a tangible sign of changed hearts and renewed obedience to God’s covenant.
2:15 ^m Look at what was happening (see study note on 1:5): Divine blessing, whether spiritual or material, is contingent upon the obedience of God’s people (Deut 30:6-10 ⁿ). Haggai called the people to persist in the self-examination that leads to repentance and in the fear of the Lord that his first message initiated (see Hag 1:7 ^o, 12 ^p).
2:17 ^q Return often signifies repentance.

• you refused: The Hebrew people were stubborn and rebellious from the time of Moses (Deut 31:27 ^r) to the time of Jesus (Matt 17:17 ^s).

• blight and mildew: What happened was the result of disobedience to God’s covenant (see Deut 28:22 ^t).
2:18 ^u Think about this eighteenth day of December, the day: Or On this eighteenth day of December, think about the day; literally Think about this day onward, this twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. Some believe that the phrase “this day” refers to the date of the initial clearing of rubble from the Temple site and the procuring of building materials (September 21, 520 BC; see 1:14-15 ^v).
2:19 ^w I am giving you a promise now while the seed is still in the barn: The promise of a bountiful crop calls attention to God’s faithfulness to his covenant people. The Temple was not yet complete, but God was promising to extend its blessings at once.

• But from this day onward I will bless you: God was gracious in responding immediately to his people’s efforts toward spiritual renewal and obedience (see Ps 111:4-5 ^x).