{"id":78526,"date":"2018-07-09T17:49:00","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T14:49:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-2024\/"},"modified":"2020-08-19T18:08:17","modified_gmt":"2020-08-19T15:08:17","slug":"wall-2024","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"book-Prophets-Haggai"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"book","wall_id":"2024","book":"Haggai","books_group":"Prophets","date":"","hide_acf":true,"home_image":false,"home_posts":false,"home_posts_title":"","posts_home":[],"static_cube_title":"\u05e1\u05d9\u05db\u05d5\u05dd \u05e1\u05e4\u05e8 \u05d7\u05d2\u05d9","static_cube_brief":"","static_cube_color":"","updates_last_update":"19\/04\/2020","date_from":"20200820","date_to":"","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"79048","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"2","name":"Haggai Tells It Like It Is, With Hope ","post_title":"Haggai Tells It Like It Is, With Hope","slug":"haggai-tells-it-like-it-is-with-hope","old_id":"79048","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":36303,"post_title":"Esther Israel","slug":"esther-israel","old_id":"36303","first_name":"Esther","last_name":"Israel","description":"Esther Israel is a Jerusalem educator who teaches in different places and settings, working with different age-groups and varied audiences. She has an M.A. in Bible from Hebrew U. and is active in the Jerusalem community gardens and works in narration \/ dubbing. \r\n","short_description":"Esther Israel is a Jerusalem educator ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":36351,"alt":"","title":"esther israel","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/esther-israel-e1532930792793.jpg","width":840,"height":852,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/esther-israel-e1532930792793-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/esther-israel-e1532930792793-296x300.jpg","medium-width":296,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/esther-israel-e1532930792793-768x779.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":779,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/esther-israel-768x1024.jpg","large-width":768,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/esther-israel-e1532930792793.jpg","1536x1536-width":840,"1536x1536-height":852,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/esther-israel-e1532930792793.jpg","2048x2048-width":840,"2048x2048-height":852,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/esther-israel-900x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":900,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/esther-israel-e1532930792793-414x420.jpg","home_baner-width":414,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"2024","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"And in so doing becomes a role model for preachers and leaders\u00a0\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

If you\u2019ve made it through the prophets to Haggai, you\u2019ve probably noted the unfortunate dynamic that existed and persisted throughout Israelite \/Judean history between the prophets and the people they hoped to touch \u2013 the leaders, both religious and royal \u2013 and the people. It seems almost a lost cause, with a systematic disregard of the prophecies and the inevitable bad ending. Then we reach Haggai, and \u2013 wham! What\u2019s going on? Don\u2019t they know they\u2019re supposed to ignore him? Ridicule him, perhaps? Instead, he inspires them, gives them hope and helps them recalculate their route and leads them to a blessed change.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Haggai\u2019s listeners have a broader perspective, as they \u2013 or more likely, their parents or even grandparents experienced the exile to Babylon after the destruction of the Temple that resulted from that unfortunate practice. In exile they had time to ponder the past and consider what their share in the catastrophe had been. Not adhering to God\u2019s commandments and the prophetic messages sent by God was a part of it all, and the returnees brought with them a greater willingness to listen. They are not the people who jeered at Ezekiel for being a cabaret show, those who accused Jeremiah of lying and treason, or those who forbade Amos to proclaim condemning messages in the capital city.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

And so, finally, we have pristine conditions for testing the ability of a prophet to affect his audience, of a Divine message to rally the people to better their lives and their relationship with God. Telling it like it is, not too aggressive, every-so-often throwing in a verse of hope and divine support \u2013 Haggai is a role model for prophets, and any would-be preacher or leader should read and reread him.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":79050,"alt":"","title":"hag-end-clouds hope","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag-end-clouds-hope.jpg","width":5754,"height":3539,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag-end-clouds-hope-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag-end-clouds-hope-300x185.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":185,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag-end-clouds-hope-768x472.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":472,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag-end-clouds-hope-1024x630.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":630,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag-end-clouds-hope.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":945,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag-end-clouds-hope.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1260,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag-end-clouds-hope-1200x738.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":738,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag-end-clouds-hope-683x420.jpg","home_baner-width":683,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Summing Up Haggai","tile_main_caption":"Haggai Tells It Like It Is, With Hope","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"And in so doing becomes a role model for preachers and leaders\u00a0","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":79050,"alt":"","title":"hag-end-clouds hope","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag-end-clouds-hope.jpg","width":5754,"height":3539,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag-end-clouds-hope-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag-end-clouds-hope-300x185.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":185,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag-end-clouds-hope-768x472.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":472,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag-end-clouds-hope-1024x630.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":630,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag-end-clouds-hope.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":945,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag-end-clouds-hope.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1260,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag-end-clouds-hope-1200x738.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":738,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag-end-clouds-hope-683x420.jpg","home_baner-width":683,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Haggai","chapter":false,"chapter_main_number":false,"date":false,"wall_id":"2024"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":2,"id":"78959","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"A Message For Rosh Chodesh Elul, This Week ","post_title":"A Message For Rosh Chodesh Elul, This Week","slug":"a-message-for-rosh-chodesh-elul-this-week","old_id":"78959","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":36303,"post_title":"Esther Israel","slug":"esther-israel","old_id":"36303","first_name":"Esther","last_name":"Israel","description":"Esther Israel is a Jerusalem educator who teaches in different places and settings, working with different age-groups and varied audiences. She has an M.A. in Bible from Hebrew U. and is active in the Jerusalem community gardens and works in narration \/ dubbing. \r\n","short_description":"Esther Israel is a Jerusalem educator ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":36351,"alt":"","title":"esther israel","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/esther-israel-e1532930792793.jpg","width":840,"height":852,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/esther-israel-e1532930792793-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/esther-israel-e1532930792793-296x300.jpg","medium-width":296,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/esther-israel-e1532930792793-768x779.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":779,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/esther-israel-768x1024.jpg","large-width":768,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/esther-israel-e1532930792793.jpg","1536x1536-width":840,"1536x1536-height":852,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/esther-israel-e1532930792793.jpg","2048x2048-width":840,"2048x2048-height":852,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/esther-israel-900x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":900,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/esther-israel-e1532930792793-414x420.jpg","home_baner-width":414,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"549","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"From 2540 years ago...\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Haggai is the first of the three\u00a0 prophets recognized as the prophets of \u201cShivat Tziyon<\/em>\u201d \u2013 The Return of (the exiles) to Zion from Babylon.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Haggai prophecies in the second year of King Darius the Great, 520 BCE, or 66 years and three weeks after the destruction of the First Temple.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The number of the returnees is small, there have been years of drought, and the economic situation is harsh. The people are understandably dejected and despairing of their lives in Judah.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Haggai 1:1 dates his first prophecy on the 1<\/span>st<\/span> of the 6<\/span>th<\/span> month; or, as we now tell the months, the first of Elul. Rosh Chodesh, a day when a lack of temple ritual (for it has not yet been rebuilt) would be felt.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Haggai speaks to the priests, leaders, and apparently the people, too, about the prevalent attitude that holds that these difficult times are no time to build a temple. Their reality influences their choices and perception of proper order of action. Haggai provides them with an alternative explanation of reality. In verse 6 he demonstrates that no matter what they eat, drink, or wear, they are still hungry, thirsty and cold. From v.9 on he explains that it\u2019s not that their physical wants prevent them from building the temple, it\u2019s their decision to not build that is holding them back in want. \u201cYou\u2019ve been expecting much and getting little, and when you brought it home, I would blow on it! \u2026 Because of My house which lies in ruins, while you all hurry to your own houses!\u201d Thus he explains the droughts and unusually hot weather they\u2019ve experienced, and also stresses that this will be the case until they take positive action.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Haggai, in God\u2019s name, sends them to the mountains to gather building materials, and next thing you know, the Jews and their leaders, Zerubbabel and High Priest Yehoshua are all doing his bidding. 23 days later, on the 24<\/span>th<\/span> of the 6<\/span>th<\/span> month \u2013\u00a0 Elul - (6 days before Rosh Hashanah), they have got all the materials gathered and are prepared to begin building. The text relates that their fear of God and adherence to Haggai\u2019s prophecy elicits God\u2019s assurance of the reversal of their fate when \u201cHaggai, the Lord\u2019s messenger, \u2026 spoke to the people: \u201cI am with you \u2013 declares the Lord\u201d (verse 13).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The message Haggai gave on the 1<\/span>st<\/span> of Elul resonated loud and fast, and the people decided to try his suggested way. Within 3 weeks they changed their way of thinking and their actions and in essence created a paradigm for the month of Elul as the month of soul searching, repentance, change of personal and national conduct, and forgiveness.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":78960,"alt":"","title":"hag1-elul","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-elul.jpg","width":1024,"height":768,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-elul-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-elul-300x225.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-elul-768x576.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":576,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-elul-1024x768.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":768,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-elul.jpg","1536x1536-width":1024,"1536x1536-height":768,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-elul.jpg","2048x2048-width":1024,"2048x2048-height":768,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-elul.jpg","post_full_size-width":1024,"post_full_size-height":768,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-elul-560x420.jpg","home_baner-width":560,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Follow the Dates (Part 1)","tile_main_caption":"A Message For Rosh Chodesh Elul, This Week","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"From 2540 years ago...","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":78960,"alt":"","title":"hag1-elul","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-elul.jpg","width":1024,"height":768,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-elul-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-elul-300x225.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-elul-768x576.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":576,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-elul-1024x768.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":768,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-elul.jpg","1536x1536-width":1024,"1536x1536-height":768,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-elul.jpg","2048x2048-width":1024,"2048x2048-height":768,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-elul.jpg","post_full_size-width":1024,"post_full_size-height":768,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-elul-560x420.jpg","home_baner-width":560,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Haggai","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"549","date":"20271006","wall_id":"549"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":3,"id":"79027","color":"#f6f5de","size":"1","name":"From Haggai To The Maccabees ","post_title":"From Haggai To The Maccabees","slug":"from-haggai-to-the-maccabees","old_id":"79027","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":36303,"post_title":"Esther Israel","slug":"esther-israel","old_id":"36303","first_name":"Esther","last_name":"Israel","description":"Esther Israel is a Jerusalem educator who teaches in different places and settings, working with different age-groups and varied audiences. She has an M.A. in Bible from Hebrew U. and is active in the Jerusalem community gardens and works in narration \/ dubbing. \r\n","short_description":"Esther Israel is a Jerusalem educator ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":36351,"alt":"","title":"esther israel","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/esther-israel-e1532930792793.jpg","width":840,"height":852,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/esther-israel-e1532930792793-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/esther-israel-e1532930792793-296x300.jpg","medium-width":296,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/esther-israel-e1532930792793-768x779.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":779,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/esther-israel-768x1024.jpg","large-width":768,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/esther-israel-e1532930792793.jpg","1536x1536-width":840,"1536x1536-height":852,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/esther-israel-e1532930792793.jpg","2048x2048-width":840,"2048x2048-height":852,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/esther-israel-900x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":900,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/esther-israel-e1532930792793-414x420.jpg","home_baner-width":414,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"550","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"An eternal paradigm for the month of Kislev\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

The previous chapter ended with the Judeans ready to begin work on the Temple on the 24<\/span>th<\/span> of the 6<\/span>th<\/span> month (Elul). Chapter 2 begins on the 21<\/span>st<\/span> of the 7<\/span>th<\/span> month (Tishri), the 7<\/span>th<\/span> day of Sukkot, less than a month later, with Haggai\u2019s prophetic message of consolation:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cWho is there \u2026 among you who saw this house in its former splendor? How does it look \u2026 now? It must seem like nothing to you. But \u2026 be strong, Oh Zerubbabel \u2026 the high priest Joshua all you people \u2026 \u00a0 \u2026 says the Lord \u2013 and act! For I am with you!\u00a0 \u2026 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than the former one, said the Lord \u2026 and in this place I will grant prosperity \u2026 (vss. 3-9)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The consolation is offered for the crowd\u2019s inevitable comparison between the splendor of the destroyed \u2013 yet still remembered\u2013 Temple, and the simple beginnings of the early Second Temple which we discover has been built in less than a month! God is satisfied, despite the discrepancy, and wants the people to be happy, too. Time will come for greatness, later on; they have done a tremendous job considering the short time it took, especially if they might not have worked full time through the New Year, Yom Kippur and all of Sukkot.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Work goes on and the Temple is officially founded two months later, on the 24<\/span>th<\/span> of the 9<\/span>th<\/span> month (Kislev), the date being mentioned three times in the second half of our chapter. The harsh situation described in chapter 1 is recalled also in our chapter:\u00a0 \u201cAs long as no stone had been laid on another in the House of the Lord\u2026 I struck at you- all the works of your hands \u2026 \u201c (vss. 15-17).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

All that will now change:\u00a0 \u201cTake note, from this day forward, from the 24<\/span>th<\/span> of the 9<\/span>th<\/span> month, from the day the foundation was laid for the Lord\u2019s Temple - \u2026. From this day on I will send blessings \u2026\u201d. (18-19)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The 24<\/span>th<\/span> of the 9<\/span>th<\/span> (Kislev) is familiar to us: Even if <\/span>they<\/span><\/em> could not know that the 25<\/span>th<\/span> of Kislev is the date that Hellenists would desecrate the Temple, and of course, much more famous as the date the Maccabees will choose for the purification of the Temple (according to the 1<\/span>st<\/span> book of Maccabees), we do.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

So did the Maccabees.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

We have previously seen Haggai creating a paradigm for the character of the month of Elul in the early second Temple days; now we see him creating the paradigm for the dedication of the Temple on the 24<\/span>th<\/span> of Kislev, a.k.a. the Eve of Channukah.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":79028,"alt":"","title":"hag2-chanukah","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-chanukah.jpg","width":2272,"height":1704,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-chanukah-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-chanukah-300x225.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-chanukah-768x576.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":576,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-chanukah-1024x768.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":768,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-chanukah.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1152,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-chanukah.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1536,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-chanukah-1200x900.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":900,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-chanukah-560x420.jpg","home_baner-width":560,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Follow the Dates, Part 2\u00a0","tile_main_caption":"From Haggai To The Maccabees","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"An eternal paradigm for the month of Kislev","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":79028,"alt":"","title":"hag2-chanukah","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-chanukah.jpg","width":2272,"height":1704,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-chanukah-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-chanukah-300x225.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-chanukah-768x576.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":576,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-chanukah-1024x768.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":768,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-chanukah.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1152,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-chanukah.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1536,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-chanukah-1200x900.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":900,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-chanukah-560x420.jpg","home_baner-width":560,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Haggai","chapter":"2","chapter_main_number":"550","date":"20271007","wall_id":"550"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":4,"id":"78951","color":"#efefef","size":"1","name":"Welcome to the Latter Prophets ","post_title":"Welcome to the Latter Prophets","slug":"welcome-to-the-latter-prophets","old_id":"78951","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34243,"post_title":"Moshe Sokolow","slug":"moshe-sokolow","old_id":"34243","first_name":"Moshe","last_name":"Sokolow","description":"Dr. Moshe Sokolow is Associate Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University, and teaches a weekly class in parashat hashavu`a at Lincoln Square Synagogue. He is the author of TANAKH: An Owner\u2019s Manual (Jerusalem: Urim\/Ktav, 2015).\r\n\r\n","short_description":"Dr. Moshe Sokolow is Associate Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34244,"alt":"","title":"sokolow","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","width":302,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow-300x298.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":298,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","medium_large-width":302,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","large-width":302,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","1536x1536-width":302,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","2048x2048-width":302,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","post_full_size-width":302,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","home_baner-width":302,"home_baner-height":300}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"549","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Following the 70 year exile\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

The Talmud states: \u201cWhen the latter prophets Haggai, Zachariah, and Malachi died, prophecy disappeared from Israel\u201d (Yoma 9b, Sanhedrin 11a). Its use of the term \u201clatter\u201d prophets (<\/span>nevi\u2019im acharonim<\/span><\/em>) clearly distinguishes them from their predecessors, who are called \u201cearly\u201d prophets (<\/span>nevi\u2019im rishonim<\/span><\/em>). Since Jeremiah and Ezekiel lived through the destruction of the First Temple (and, as we speculated, Obadiah was even later than Jeremiah), the time lag between them and Haggai did not exceed fifty years. It would appear, then, that the designations of \u201cearly\u201d and \u201clate\u201d are as much categorical as chronological: the former were active during the First Temple, and the latter, during the Second.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

One more Talmudic designation is relevant: In reference to the Men of the Great Assembly who directed the Jewish community in the Land of Israel in the early years of the Second Temple, the Talmud notes that \u201camong them were several prophets\u201d (Megillah 17b) ), an implicit reference to Haggai, Zachariah, and Malachi.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

With the knowledge that Jeremiah had prophesied a 70 year exile (49:10), Radak provided the historical background necessary for pinpointing Haggai chronologically, and, thereby, explaining why the people he was instructed to address were of the opinion that \u201cthe time for the House of the Lord has not come to be rebuilt\u201d (2).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cIn the second year of King Darius\u201d (1): That is Darius, son of Ahasuerus, of whom [the Sages] said that he was the son of [Queen] Esther. He is the one who ordered the rebuilding of the Temple after its construction was halted by the Judeans\u2019 adversaries at the start of the reign of Ahasuerus. When [the Jews] returned from exile, there had not yet elapsed 70 years from the destruction of Jerusalem\u2026 and they had been in exile only 52 years\u2026 So the construction was halted until the second year of Darius, King of Persia, at which point 70 years had elapsed to the destruction of Jerusalem\u2026<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Now it was time to rebuild the Temple, so the prophecy came to Haggai, who was in Jerusalem, to arouse Zerubbabel to rebuild because they had been lax on account of their adversaries who forced them to cease work these many years. The Holy Spirit had not aroused them until now because the 70 years had not elapsed to the destruction of Jerusalem until now, as reported in the Book of Ezra: \u201cHaggai the Prophet, and Zachariah bar Ido the Prophet, prophesied to the Judeans in Judea and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel\u201d (Ezra 5:1).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: John Singer Sargent, Frieze of Prophets, East Wall (Haggai, Malachi, Zechariah), 1890s, Boston Public Library \/ didgitalcommonwealth<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":78952,"alt":"","title":"hag1-Frieze-of-latter-Prophets","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-Frieze-of-latter-Prophets.jpg","width":559,"height":742,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-Frieze-of-latter-Prophets-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-Frieze-of-latter-Prophets-226x300.jpg","medium-width":226,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-Frieze-of-latter-Prophets.jpg","medium_large-width":559,"medium_large-height":742,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-Frieze-of-latter-Prophets.jpg","large-width":559,"large-height":742,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-Frieze-of-latter-Prophets.jpg","1536x1536-width":559,"1536x1536-height":742,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-Frieze-of-latter-Prophets.jpg","2048x2048-width":559,"2048x2048-height":742,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-Frieze-of-latter-Prophets.jpg","post_full_size-width":559,"post_full_size-height":742,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-Frieze-of-latter-Prophets-316x420.jpg","home_baner-width":316,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Welcome to the Latter Prophets","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Following the 70 year exile","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":78952,"alt":"","title":"hag1-Frieze-of-latter-Prophets","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-Frieze-of-latter-Prophets.jpg","width":559,"height":742,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-Frieze-of-latter-Prophets-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-Frieze-of-latter-Prophets-226x300.jpg","medium-width":226,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-Frieze-of-latter-Prophets.jpg","medium_large-width":559,"medium_large-height":742,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-Frieze-of-latter-Prophets.jpg","large-width":559,"large-height":742,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-Frieze-of-latter-Prophets.jpg","1536x1536-width":559,"1536x1536-height":742,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-Frieze-of-latter-Prophets.jpg","2048x2048-width":559,"2048x2048-height":742,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-Frieze-of-latter-Prophets.jpg","post_full_size-width":559,"post_full_size-height":742,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-Frieze-of-latter-Prophets-316x420.jpg","home_baner-width":316,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Haggai","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"549","date":"20271006","wall_id":"549"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":5,"id":"78962","color":"#f2e9df","size":"1","name":"Haggai, A Prophet In The Time Of Darius ","post_title":"Haggai, A Prophet In The Time Of Darius","slug":"haggai-a-prophet-in-the-time-of-darius","old_id":"78962","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":78133,"post_title":"Josh Blechner","slug":"josh-blechner","old_id":"78133","first_name":"Josh ","last_name":"Blechner ","description":"Josh first finished the Tanach during Yeshiva in Mevaseret Zion. He and his daughter studied the Tanach again for her bat mitzvah. Josh has taught many classes on Tanach throughout the years and currently in the New Rochelle 929 group. When not studying for 929, Josh works as an in-house lawyer in New Jersey.","short_description":"Josh has taught many classes on Tanach throughout the years and currently in the New Rochelle 929 group, and is an in-house attorney in New Jersey. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":78134,"alt":"","title":"josh blechner","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","width":276,"height":351,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-236x300.jpg","medium-width":236,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","medium_large-width":276,"medium_large-height":351,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","large-width":276,"large-height":351,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","1536x1536-width":276,"1536x1536-height":351,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","2048x2048-width":276,"2048x2048-height":351,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","post_full_size-width":276,"post_full_size-height":351,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","home_baner-width":276,"home_baner-height":351}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"549","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"God still speaks\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

In the opening verse of Haggai, we are introduced to the prophet as follows: \"In the second year of Darius the King, in the sixth month on the first day of the month, the word came to Haggai the prophet...\"\u00a0 For the first time, we are introduced to a prophet not based on the years of the king of Israel or a king of Judah. Instead it is the foreign king. This shift in the narrative is a jarring reminder of the time period in which the last three prophets lived.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

There is a second part of this opening line that is a little out of sorts- the fact that Haggai is referred to as \"the prophet.\"\u00a0 The reference to a prophet of God as a prophet was ubiquitous in the books of Samuel and Kings. Nathan, Gad, Ahiah, Yahu, Elijah, Elisha, Jonah (in the book of Kings), Isaiah and Jeremiah are all referred to as \"[name] the prophet.\"\u00a0 In the Twelve prophets, only Habakkuk is referred to as \"the prophet\". Ezekiel is also not referred to as \"the Prophet\". Perhaps this reference to Haggai as \"the Prophet\" is meant to counter the description of Haggai as having lived during the reign of a foreign king.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Bereft of the Temple and with most of its people exiled from their homeland, the Jews at the start of the second Temple period had every reason to believe that God was no longer on speaking terms with his downtrodden people. By opening this last epoch of prophecy and the start of the Second Temple period with a reminder that God still speaks to the people, the prophet is both emphasizing his credentials, but also reassuring a worried nation.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: Haggai predikt, Jan Frederik Christiaan Reckleben, 1829 - 1879, Rijksmuseum, CC<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":78963,"alt":"","title":"hag1-haggai-predikt","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-haggai-predikt.jpg","width":665,"height":901,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-haggai-predikt-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-haggai-predikt-221x300.jpg","medium-width":221,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-haggai-predikt.jpg","medium_large-width":665,"medium_large-height":901,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-haggai-predikt.jpg","large-width":665,"large-height":901,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-haggai-predikt.jpg","1536x1536-width":665,"1536x1536-height":901,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-haggai-predikt.jpg","2048x2048-width":665,"2048x2048-height":901,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-haggai-predikt.jpg","post_full_size-width":665,"post_full_size-height":901,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-haggai-predikt-310x420.jpg","home_baner-width":310,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Haggai, A Prophet In The Time Of Darius","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"God still speaks","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":78963,"alt":"","title":"hag1-haggai-predikt","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-haggai-predikt.jpg","width":665,"height":901,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-haggai-predikt-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-haggai-predikt-221x300.jpg","medium-width":221,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-haggai-predikt.jpg","medium_large-width":665,"medium_large-height":901,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-haggai-predikt.jpg","large-width":665,"large-height":901,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-haggai-predikt.jpg","1536x1536-width":665,"1536x1536-height":901,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-haggai-predikt.jpg","2048x2048-width":665,"2048x2048-height":901,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-haggai-predikt.jpg","post_full_size-width":665,"post_full_size-height":901,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-haggai-predikt-310x420.jpg","home_baner-width":310,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Haggai","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"549","date":"20271006","wall_id":"549"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":6,"id":"78966","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"An Angelic Prophet ","post_title":"An Angelic Prophet","slug":"an-angelic-prophet","old_id":"78966","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33877,"post_title":"Marc Bregman","slug":"marc-bregman","old_id":"33877","first_name":"Marc","last_name":"Bregman","description":"Marc Bregman received his Ph.D. from The Hebrew University in Jerusalem in 1991. He taught at the Hebrew Union College (Jerusalem), The Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the Schechter Institute for Judaic Studies in Jerusalem, and at the Ben-Gurion University in Beer Sheba, Israel. During 1993 he was Visiting Associate Professor at Yale University, and during 1996 he was the Stroum Professor of Jewish Studies and Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Washington in Seattle. During 2005, Bregman served as the Harry Starr Fellow in Judaica at Harvard University and was awarded a Teaching Fellowship at the Center for Advanced Judaic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. He also has served as Forchheimer Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Humanities at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He is the author of The Tanhuma-Yelammedenu Literature: Studies in the Evolution of the Versions (Gorgias Press, 2003). In 2006, Bregman was appointed the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro, where he also headed the program in Jewish Studies, until 2013. Bregman retired from UNCG as of July 31, 2017. He has now returned to Jerusalem where he is continuing his research and teaching activities.","credit":"","image_url":"","short_description":"Marc Bregman is the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies emeritus, at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro.","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":33878,"alt":"Marc Bregman","title":"Marc Bregman","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","width":361,"height":488,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-222x300.jpg","medium-width":222,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","medium_large-width":361,"medium_large-height":488,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","large-width":361,"large-height":488,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","1536x1536-width":361,"1536x1536-height":488,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","2048x2048-width":361,"2048x2048-height":488,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","post_full_size-width":361,"post_full_size-height":488,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-311x420.jpg","home_baner-width":311,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"549","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Survivor, visionary, halachist\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

The Book of Haggai opens with a detailed superscription: \u201cIn the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, this word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, the governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest\u201d (Haggai 1:1). This allows modern Biblical scholars to date Haggai\u2019s opening prophecy very precisely to August 29, 520 BCE. In this year, Darius the Great decisively completed his rule over the immense Persian Empire including Judah, which he memorialized in<\/span> the famous trilingual Behistun Inscription<\/span><\/a>. Darius\u2019 predecessor, Cyrus, founder of the first Persian Empire, allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple (see Ezra 1:1-4, 2 Chronicles 36:22-23), a policy that was followed by his successors including Darius.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Significantly, the name Haggai, which might be translated \u201cmy pilgrimage festivals\u201d, reflects this Prophet\u2019s insistence on taking the opportunity provided to immediately begin the rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem, which would have permitted the renewal of the annual pilgrimages to Jerusalem. In 520 BCE, Haggai would have been very old, if as adduced in 2:3 he was among those who could still recall having seen the first Temple. Moreover, Baba Batra 15a includes Haggai among \u201cthe Men of the Great Assembly\u201d that led the Jewish People from the time of the last of Biblical prophets until the beginning of the Rabbinic period. Indeed, the Rabbinic Sages credited the Prophet Haggai with a number of Halakhic rulings, which he pronounced while \u201csitting on the mortar -- <\/span>medukhah<\/span><\/em>\u201d (Yevamot 16a). This dramatic depiction of the Prophet Haggai as a halakhic authority became a proverbial expression in later Hebrew \u2013 \u201che sat on the mortar \u2013 <\/span>yashav \u2018al ha-medukhah<\/span><\/em>\u201d \u2013 he mentally \u201cpulverized\u201d a problem at length.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Toward the end of our opening chapter, we are told: \u201cAnd Haggai, the Lord\u2019s messenger (<\/span>malakh<\/span><\/em>), fulfilling the Lord\u2019s mission (<\/span>malakhut<\/span><\/em>), spoke to the people, \u201cI am with you\u2014declares the Lord\u201d (1:13).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Midrash Leviticus Rabbah 1:1 preserves a Rabbinic tradition that Haggai, and other prophets, were referred to as <\/span>Malakhim<\/span><\/em>, i.e. angelic messengers. \u201cBless the Lord, O His angels (<\/span>malakhim<\/span><\/em>)<\/span><\/i>, mighty creatures who do His bidding, ever obedient to His bidding\u201d (Psalms 103:20). Scripture is here using the term <\/span>malakhim<\/span><\/em> to refer not to heavenly angels, but rather to earthly messengers, i.e. prophets. As it is written: \u201cHe sent a messenger (<\/span>malakh<\/span><\/em>) who freed us from Egypt\u201d (Numbers 20:16). Was this \u201cmessenger\u201d then a celestial angel of the Lord? No! Surely, it was Moses! So, why then does Scripture here refer to Moses as a <\/span>malakh<\/span><\/em>? To teach us that the prophets are called <\/span>malakhim<\/em> <\/span>\u2026Rabbi Yohanan (180\u2013279 CE) said: From their paternity (<\/span>mi-bet av shelahem<\/span><\/em>, <\/span><\/i>i.e. the decisive text that) the prophets were called <\/span>malakhim<\/span><\/em> is: \u201cAnd Haggai, the Lord\u2019s messenger (<\/span>malakh<\/span><\/em>), fulfilling the Lord\u2019s mission (<\/span>malakhut<\/span><\/em>), spoke to the people, I am with you\u2014declares the Lord\u201d (1:13).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: The Prophet Haggai, from Prophets and Sibyls, Rosselli and Baldini, c. 1485 \/ wikimedia<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":78967,"alt":"","title":"hag1-the_Prophet_Haggai-sitting","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-the_Prophet_Haggai-sitting.jpg","width":492,"height":559,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-the_Prophet_Haggai-sitting-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-the_Prophet_Haggai-sitting-264x300.jpg","medium-width":264,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-the_Prophet_Haggai-sitting.jpg","medium_large-width":492,"medium_large-height":559,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-the_Prophet_Haggai-sitting.jpg","large-width":492,"large-height":559,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-the_Prophet_Haggai-sitting.jpg","1536x1536-width":492,"1536x1536-height":559,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-the_Prophet_Haggai-sitting.jpg","2048x2048-width":492,"2048x2048-height":559,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-the_Prophet_Haggai-sitting.jpg","post_full_size-width":492,"post_full_size-height":559,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-the_Prophet_Haggai-sitting-370x420.jpg","home_baner-width":370,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"An Angelic Prophet","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Survivor, visionary, halachist","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":78967,"alt":"","title":"hag1-the_Prophet_Haggai-sitting","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-the_Prophet_Haggai-sitting.jpg","width":492,"height":559,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-the_Prophet_Haggai-sitting-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-the_Prophet_Haggai-sitting-264x300.jpg","medium-width":264,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-the_Prophet_Haggai-sitting.jpg","medium_large-width":492,"medium_large-height":559,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-the_Prophet_Haggai-sitting.jpg","large-width":492,"large-height":559,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-the_Prophet_Haggai-sitting.jpg","1536x1536-width":492,"1536x1536-height":559,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-the_Prophet_Haggai-sitting.jpg","2048x2048-width":492,"2048x2048-height":559,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-the_Prophet_Haggai-sitting.jpg","post_full_size-width":492,"post_full_size-height":559,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-the_Prophet_Haggai-sitting-370x420.jpg","home_baner-width":370,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Haggai","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"549","date":"20271006","wall_id":"549"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":7,"id":"79043","color":"#e8ecf6","size":"2","name":"A Triad Of Inspirational Prophecies ","post_title":"A Triad Of Inspirational Prophecies","slug":"a-triad-of-inspirational-prophecies","old_id":"79043","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":46656,"post_title":"Molly Morris","slug":"molly-morris","old_id":"46656","first_name":"Molly ","last_name":"Morris ","description":"Molly Morris holds a Masters degree in Leadership and Community Engagement. Her particular area of interest is biblical leadership. Molly participates in the 929 initiative with a dedicated group from the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto congregation. \r\n\r\n","short_description":"Molly Morris holds a Masters degree in Leadership and Community Engagement. Molly participates in the 929 initiative with a dedicated group from the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto congregation. \r\n\r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":92561,"alt":"","title":"molly morris","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris.jpg","width":2192,"height":2488,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-264x300.jpg","medium-width":264,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-768x872.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":872,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-902x1024.jpg","large-width":902,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris.jpg","1536x1536-width":1353,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris.jpg","2048x2048-width":1804,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-1057x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1057,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-370x420.jpg","home_baner-width":370,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"550","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"You, too, can be holy\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

The work of rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem had begun about sixteen years prior to Haggai\u2019s prophecy but had been forestalled by the Persian government through a Samaritan plot. The people feel dejected and hopeless now, and Haggai needs to spur them to action. Unlike many of our prophets, Haggai does not use his prophecy to remonstrate the people, but rather works to build their self-confidence. And he does so, according to Rabbi Mordechai Torczyner (YU Torah), in three ways.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In Chapter 1, Haggai promised the Jewish people a future with God. <\/span>To paraphrase a certain movie, if they build it (the Temple), God will come<\/span><\/a>. \u201cRebuild the house and I will look on it with favor and I will be glorified (1:8).\u201d This promise assured the people that God was still with them.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Chapter 2 includes two more prophecies to strengthen the peoples\u2019 sense of self-worth and bolster their confidence. Not only does God promise to reside in the Temple, He promises to this dejected people that his presence in the Temple will bring them honor. \u201cThe treasure of all the nations will come, and I will fill this House with honor (2:7).\u201d The Jewish people will be successful, and they will regain their honor.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But perhaps the most inspiring of prophecies given by Haggai is the third one. The discussion that Haggai has with the <\/span>cohanim<\/em> <\/span>(the priests), beginning in 2:11 relates that if a priest is carrying something holy within his garment and the garment touches something else, that third object does not take on the holiness of what touched it. The flip side of the discussion is that someone who is impure (with the example of having been defiled by a corpse) will, in fact, pass on the impurity to any object they touch.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What does this have to do with the issue at hand of strengthening the resolve of the people and improving their mindset? Ibn Ezra explains it this way: impurity (corruption) is very easy to spread but holiness doesn\u2019t work that way. Holiness cannot be passed from one person, or object to another, because it is uniquely given to each individual by God.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Could there be anything more powerful than the reminder of your unique, inherent holiness? Just as that reminder empowered the Jewish people to resume building the Temple, so too can we be empowered, in every generation and every instance of individual and national dejection, that our singular relationship with God makes each of us holy.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":64970,"alt":"","title":"is6-holy-holy-holy","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/is6-holy-holy-holy.jpg","width":428,"height":425,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/is6-holy-holy-holy-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/is6-holy-holy-holy-300x298.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":298,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/is6-holy-holy-holy.jpg","medium_large-width":428,"medium_large-height":425,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/is6-holy-holy-holy.jpg","large-width":428,"large-height":425,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/is6-holy-holy-holy.jpg","1536x1536-width":428,"1536x1536-height":425,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/is6-holy-holy-holy.jpg","2048x2048-width":428,"2048x2048-height":425,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/is6-holy-holy-holy.jpg","post_full_size-width":428,"post_full_size-height":425,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/is6-holy-holy-holy-423x420.jpg","home_baner-width":423,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"A Triad Of Inspirational Prophecies","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"You, too, can be holy","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":64970,"alt":"","title":"is6-holy-holy-holy","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/is6-holy-holy-holy.jpg","width":428,"height":425,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/is6-holy-holy-holy-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/is6-holy-holy-holy-300x298.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":298,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/is6-holy-holy-holy.jpg","medium_large-width":428,"medium_large-height":425,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/is6-holy-holy-holy.jpg","large-width":428,"large-height":425,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/is6-holy-holy-holy.jpg","1536x1536-width":428,"1536x1536-height":425,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/is6-holy-holy-holy.jpg","2048x2048-width":428,"2048x2048-height":425,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/is6-holy-holy-holy.jpg","post_full_size-width":428,"post_full_size-height":425,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/is6-holy-holy-holy-423x420.jpg","home_baner-width":423,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Haggai","chapter":"2","chapter_main_number":"550","date":"20271007","wall_id":"550"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":8,"id":"78969","color":"#faeed8","size":"1","name":"Reflect, Refocus, Rebuild ","post_title":"Reflect, Refocus, Rebuild","slug":"reflect-refocus-rebuild","old_id":"78969","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":73524,"post_title":"Yaakov Beasley","slug":"yaakov-beasley","old_id":"73524","first_name":"Yaakov ","last_name":"Beasley ","description":"Yaakov Beasley is the Tanakh Coordinator at Yeshivat Hesder Lev haTorah, the host of the TanachTalks podcast, and the author of Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah: Lights in the Valley (Maggid Press, 2020). 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With Haggai, we begin a new period in Jewish history \u2013 the return to the land of Israel following the replacement of the Babylonian Empire with the more benign Persians. His prophecy is one of the few where every speech is given an explicit date, all in the latter half of 520 BCE. At the time, the nascent community of returnees had been in Judah for eighteen years, since Cyrus originally decreed that the Jewish people had permission to return to their land. The original returnees were optimistic and hopeful, and began laying the foundation for the building of the second Temple.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

However, they faced growing opposition from the Samaritan community, who were rebuffed in their attempt to join in the rebuilding \u2013 first by attempting to infiltrate the ranks of the builders, and when that didn\u2019t work, resorting to scare tactics, and slandering the Jewish community to the Persian authorities, who abruptly withdrew their consent, leaving the small and fledgling community defenseless and unable to proceed. Sixteen years, we find them discouraged and vulnerable, having quit the rebuilding and waiting passively for an uncertain future.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Enter Haggai. He remains largely unique among the prophets for one key reason: the people of Judah listened to him! His message is simple yet passionate - rebuild the Temple! He begins his prophecy acknowledging their opposition: \"This people has said, \u2018The time has not come-the time for the house of the Lord to be built.\u2019\" They suffer from a lack of food, clothing, and shelter, and there were plenty of external factors that they could blame their suffering and difficulties on.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This is\u00a0 where Haggai's message is so powerful. It wasn't enough for him to play the role of enthusiastic cheerleader, encouraging them to finish building the Temple and to have hope in God for the promise of blessings in the future. Instead, he changes their focus. He completely ignores the external factors described in Ezra (ch. 4 and 5). Instead, he focuses on the internal issues \u2013 specifically, their egocentric behavior and mistaken priorities. They placed their own interests before the Lord\u2019s interests, looking after their own safety and security without giving consideration to the status of the Lord\u2019s house, and then bewailing their personal difficulties.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Haggai challenges them to first reflect:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Now thus said the LORD of Hosts: Consider how you have been faring! You have sowed much and brought in little; you eat without being satisfied; you drink without getting your fill; you clothe yourselves, but no one gets warm...Thus said the LORD of Hosts: Consider how you have fared: Go up to the hills and get timber, and rebuild the House; then I will look on it with favor\u2026 (1:5-8)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Haggai's genius was helping the people refocus. Through the physical act of rebuilding the Temple, the people demonstrated a shift in their spiritual priorities: from devotion to self toward devotion to God. As a result, they became successful in all aspects of their lives.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":78970,"alt":"","title":"hag1-rebuild","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-rebuild.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-rebuild-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-rebuild-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-rebuild-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-rebuild-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-rebuild.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-rebuild.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-rebuild-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-rebuild-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Reflect, Refocus, Rebuild","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"A shift in spiritual priorities changes the course of history","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":78970,"alt":"","title":"hag1-rebuild","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-rebuild.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-rebuild-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-rebuild-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-rebuild-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-rebuild-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-rebuild.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-rebuild.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-rebuild-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-rebuild-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Haggai","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"549","date":"20271006","wall_id":"549"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":9,"id":"79034","color":"#f7e9e9","size":"1","name":"Latter, Latest, Last ","post_title":"Latter, Latest, Last","slug":"latter-latest-last","old_id":"79034","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":64450,"post_title":"David Curwin","slug":"david-curwin","old_id":"64450","first_name":"David ","last_name":"Curwin ","description":"David Curwin is a writer living in Efrat, and the author of the Balashon blog www.balashon.com","short_description":"David Curwin is a writer living in Efrat, and the author of the Balashon blog www.balashon.com","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":64452,"alt":"","title":"david curwin","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin.png","width":427,"height":464,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin-276x300.png","medium-width":276,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin.png","medium_large-width":427,"medium_large-height":464,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin.png","large-width":427,"large-height":464,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin.png","1536x1536-width":427,"1536x1536-height":464,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin.png","2048x2048-width":427,"2048x2048-height":464,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin.png","post_full_size-width":427,"post_full_size-height":464,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin-387x420.png","home_baner-width":387,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"550","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Will this Second Temple be the end of the line?\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

The prophet Haggai urges the people to rebuild the second Temple. Those Jews who returned to the Land of Israel from the exile in Babylon had reason to be discouraged. Their living conditions were poor, and they didn\u2019t have the resources to make a building that could compare to Solomon\u2019s temple, which many of them remembered. But Haggai promised that things would improve, and building a new Temple was a necessary step.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

And as far as the comparison between the first Temple and the one they were to build, he says: \u201cThe glory of this latter House shall be greater than that of the former one, said the LORD of Hosts; and in this place I will grant prosperity\u2014declares the LORD of Hosts.\u201d (Haggai 2:9)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Hebrew word translated here as \u201clatter\u201d is <\/span>acharon<\/span><\/em>. For most speakers of Hebrew, this may be a surprising translation. <\/span>Acharon<\/span><\/em> typically means \u201clast,\u201d not \u201clatter.\u201d\u00a0 So could it be that Haggai\u2019s prophecy meant that the Second Temple was also meant to be the final one?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This question came up in a dispute between Rabbi Shlomo ibn Aderet (known as Rashba), a leader of Spanish Jewry in the 13<\/span>th<\/span> century, and a Muslim cleric, who denied that the Jews were destined for redemption in the future. Rashba writes that this cleric claimed that after the destruction of the Second Temple, a third will not be rebuilt, because of Haggai\u2019s prophecy, where he referred to \u201cthe last house.\u201d How could this be if another house will be built after it?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Rashba replied: It is called \u201clast\u201d only in relation to the first (that is, it is later than the first one, but not last in an absolute sense). This is similar to, \u201cHe put the maid-servants and their children first, and Leah and her children next (<\/span>acharonim<\/span><\/em>), and Rachel and Joseph last (<\/span>acharonim<\/span><\/em>)' [Genesis 33:2]. Leah and her children are called <\/span>acharonim<\/span><\/em>\u00a0even though Rachel and Joseph came after them.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

He then gave another example: God said to Moses, \u201cAnd if they do not believe the first sign, they will believe the second sign (<\/span>acharon<\/span><\/em>). And if they are not convinced by both these signs, take some water from the Nile... And it will turn to blood on the dry ground\u201d (Exodus 4:8-9). As you see, the second sign was called <\/span>acharon<\/span><\/em>, even though the sign of the water (the blood) came after it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

While there are examples of <\/span>acharon<\/span><\/em>\u00a0meaning \u201clast\u201d (see Samuel II 2:26, 19:12), Rashba\u2019s linguistic argument was correct, and <\/span>acharon<\/span><\/em>\u00a0has more than one meaning. In addition to \u201clast\u201d and \u201cnext,\u201d it can also mean \u201cbehind.\u201d The Mediterranean Sea is called <\/span>Yam HaAcharon<\/span><\/em> (for example in Deuteronomy 11:24), since it is behind you when you face forward, to the east.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Haggai\u2019s prophecy did eventually come true. In Herod\u2019s time, the Temple was even greater than Solomon\u2019s. As to the Third Temple? For now, we need to wait and see\u2026<\/span><\/p>\r\n

image:\u00a0The Second Jerusalem Temple. Model in the Israel Museum \/ wikipedia<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":79035,"alt":"","title":"hag2-second temple","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-second-temple.jpg","width":800,"height":347,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-second-temple-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-second-temple-300x130.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":130,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-second-temple-768x333.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":333,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-second-temple.jpg","large-width":800,"large-height":347,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-second-temple.jpg","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":347,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-second-temple.jpg","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":347,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-second-temple.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":347,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-second-temple.jpg","home_baner-width":800,"home_baner-height":347}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Latter, Latest, Last","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Will this Second Temple be the end of the line?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":79035,"alt":"","title":"hag2-second temple","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-second-temple.jpg","width":800,"height":347,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-second-temple-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-second-temple-300x130.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":130,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-second-temple-768x333.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":333,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-second-temple.jpg","large-width":800,"large-height":347,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-second-temple.jpg","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":347,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-second-temple.jpg","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":347,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-second-temple.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":347,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-second-temple.jpg","home_baner-width":800,"home_baner-height":347}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Haggai","chapter":"2","chapter_main_number":"550","date":"20271007","wall_id":"550"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":10,"id":"79037","color":"#effaea","size":"1","name":"It Is Not The Same, But It Doesn\u2019t Have To Be ","post_title":"It Is Not The Same, But It Doesn\u2019t Have To Be","slug":"it-is-not-the-same-but-it-doesnt-have-to-be","old_id":"79037","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":49926,"post_title":"Binyamin Cohen","slug":"binyamin-cohen","old_id":"49926","first_name":"Binyamin ","last_name":"Cohen ","description":"Binyamin Cohen is a Jewish Studies teacher at Rochelle Zell Jewish High School in Deerfield, IL. He completed his Master\u2019s in Jewish Education through Pardes Day School Educators Program in conjunction with Hebrew College. He is originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba, and currently lives in Chicago.","short_description":"Binyamin Cohen is a Jewish Studies teacher at Rochelle Zell Jewish High School in Deerfield, IL. 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This chapter\u2019s narrative flows directly out of the narrative of the previous chapter: Haggai has encouraged the Jews to rebuild the Temple, and they have begun to do so. Whereas before they needed encouragement to start their labor, now they need encouragement to keep going, to persevere and keep up their strength.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The concern Haggai sets out to address in this chapter is a very human and legitimate one. There seems to be a concern that this new Temple cannot match the old one (v.3). Since that is the building they are trying to replace, the original becomes the baseline. But how could the Second Temple compare to the first? The First Temple was built by King Solomon at the height of Israelite power and influence, while this Temple is being built by a ragtag people at the whim of the Persian king. The people feel defeated, knowing that no matter how hard they work and how much effort they put in, their labor can\u2019t be enough.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Once again, Haggai sets out to change the people\u2019s mindset. First, he reminds them again that God is with them (v.4): \u201cFor I am with you\u2014says the LORD of Hosts.\u201d They aren\u2019t in this alone, God has always been with them, and God will continue to support them. If you\u2019re feeling like your efforts are for naught, knowing that you have the unequivocal support of One for Whom you are working is certainly encouraging. This Temple may not be the same as the old one, but God is telling them that it doesn\u2019t have to be.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Second, the prophet explains that, while things may seem bleak right now, this House will pale in comparison to the original. God has big plans for it. The people are reminded that God\u2019s dominion over the universe covers the precious materials needed to beautify the Temple (v.8): \u201cSilver is Mine and gold is Mine\u2014says the LORD of Hosts.\u201d It may not seem it at that moment, but just because this Temple isn\u2019t as majestic as the previous one, doesn\u2019t mean it <\/span>can\u2019t<\/span><\/i> be. God assures the people that it is part of God\u2019s plan that (v.9) \u201cthe glory of this latter House shall be greater than that of the former one\u201d. Again, it is not the same as the first Temple, but it doesn\u2019t have to be. In fact, it will be even greater.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The people are stuck thinking about the past, about what was. God wants the people to look forward to what can be. The prophet passes on this message (v.15): \u201cAnd now take thought, from this day backward\u201d, there was blight and loss and destruction. But (v.18) \u201ctake note, from this day forward\u201d, there will be abundance and growth and rebuilding. This Temple, this time, is not the same as the last Temple, last time. But it doesn\u2019t have to be. In fact it won\u2019t be, and that\u2019s a good thing.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":79038,"alt":"","title":"hag2-different","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-different.jpg","width":3000,"height":1600,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-different-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-different-300x160.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":160,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-different-768x410.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":410,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-different-1024x546.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":546,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-different.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":819,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-different.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1092,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-different-1200x640.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":640,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-different-788x420.jpg","home_baner-width":788,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"It Is Not The Same, But It Doesn\u2019t Have To Be","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"The Second Temple will be different - and good thing, too","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":79038,"alt":"","title":"hag2-different","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-different.jpg","width":3000,"height":1600,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-different-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-different-300x160.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":160,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-different-768x410.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":410,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-different-1024x546.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":546,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-different.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":819,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-different.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1092,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-different-1200x640.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":640,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-different-788x420.jpg","home_baner-width":788,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Haggai","chapter":"2","chapter_main_number":"550","date":"20271007","wall_id":"550"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false}]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall\/78526"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/wall"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=78526"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}