Haggai is a prophet in the Hebrew Bible, also known as the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. He is considered to be one of the twelve minor prophets, as the book bearing his name is relatively short. Haggai’s ministry took place in the late 6th century BCE, during the reign of King Darius of Persia.
The book of Haggai is a prophetic work that addresses the people of Israel who had returned from exile in Babylon. The book opens with a message from Haggai to the leaders of the people, urging them to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem, which had been destroyed by the Babylonians. Haggai emphasizes the importance of the Temple as a symbol of the presence of God among his people, and encourages the people to put the rebuilding of the Temple ahead of their own personal interests.
Haggai’s message is not just about the physical rebuilding of the Temple but also a call for the Israelites to return to their spiritual roots and to follow God’s commandments. He argues that unless they do so, the Lord will not bless them. He also delivers messages about the coming of the Messiah and the end of days.
In addition to Haggai, the book also contains a message from the prophet Zechariah, who followed Haggai and also encouraged the people to rebuild the Temple. Together, the book of Haggai and the book of Zechariah played an important role in the rebuilding of the Temple and the restoration of religious worship in Jerusalem.