Haggai (Continental Commentary | CC)

by Hans Walter Wolff

Publisher:

Fortress Press

, 1988

Overview

In this distinguished commentary, Wolff’s task is to defend Haggai as much more than a minor prophet. He was a man whose feet were placed firmly on the ground, one of the dominating figures of the postexilic community, the main instigator of the rebuilding of the Jerusalem temple, and so responsible for inaugurating a new era in Jewish history.

Contents

Top Highlights

“It is an upheaval that leads to salvation, to a new order, which will put aside many anxieties about the building of the temple.” (Page 81)

“Haggai’s time is a short time, and more accurately fixed than that of any other prophet. His sayings are dated, and belong within three and a half months during the second half of the year 520 b.c.: the 1st day of the 6th month of the 2nd year of King Darius (= August 29, 520: see 1:1*); the 24th day of the 6th month of the same year (= September 21: see 1:15a*); the 21st day of the 7th month (= October 17: see 1:15b–2:1*); and the 24th day of the 9th month, 520 (= December 18, 520: see 2:10a*, 18b*, 20*).” (Page 15)

“Nor can we conclude with certainty from 2:3* that Haggai himself was one of the people who in 520 could still remember the beauty of the temple destroyed in 587—which would make him more than 70 years old.” (Page 17)

“It is more difficult to answer the question whether Haggai belonged to the original group of Judaeans who had never been deported, or whether he was one of the gola, or exiles, who returned home with Zerubbabel and Joshua.” (Page 17)

“Later the building of the walls is subjected to similar mockery: ‘Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish?’ (Neh. 3:34*). Haggai knows the difficulty of every new start. The questions he puts show his sympathy. But he is aware of, and resists, the danger of letting the bleak and disconsolate findings of the elderly undermine the vigor and enthusiasm of the people who are working on the building.” (Page 78)

Product Details

• Title: Continental Commentary Series: Haggai
• Author: Hans Walter Wolff
• Translator: Margaret Kohl
• Publisher: Fortress Press
• Publication Date: 1990
• Pages: 128

About Hans Walter Wolff

Hans Walter Wolff is emeritus professor of Old Testament at the University of Heidelberg. His books include the commentaries on Obadiah and Jonah, Micah, and Haggai in the Continental Commentary Series and the commentary on Joel and Amos from the Hermeneia series.