Haggai 2 Chapter Introduction

Structure and Formatting

This chapter contains the second ([2:1–9](../02/01.md)), third ([2:10–19](../02/10.md)), and fourth ([2:20–23](../02/20.md)) oracles that Haggai delivered from Yahweh to the Judeans who had returned from exile.Some translations set each line of poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to make it easier to read. The ULT does this with the poetry in [verses 6–7](../02/06.md) and [21–22](../02/21.md).

Translation Issues in This Chapter

The teaching example of uncleanness ([verses 12–14](../02/12.md))

In the third oracle, Yahweh has Haggai speak with the priests in front of the people in order to teach the people by using an example. Haggai has the priests confirm that a person in a state of holiness does not communicate that holy state to foods that he touches. Haggai then has the priests confirm that a person in a state of uncleanness does communicate that unclean state to foods that he touches. Haggai then tells the people that Yahweh considers them to be unclean, meaning not in a proper state to take part in worship, because they have not obeyed him and rebuilt the temple. They have communicated that unclean state to the foods that they have offered in sacrifice, and so those sacrifices are not acceptable to Yahweh. Stated plainly, the message of this example is that the sacrifices the people are offering on the altar do not make up for their disobedience in not rebuilding the temple. Rather, their disobedience in not rebuilding the temple is making their sacrifices unacceptable. Notes to [verses 11–14](../02/11.md) will suggest ways in which you can indicate this meaning in your translation.