Book of Haggai facts for kids
The Book of Haggai is a short but important book found in the Hebrew Bible, which is also known as the Old Testament. It was written by a prophet named Haggai. This book tells the story of a special time in history, around 520 BCE. It's all about encouraging people to rebuild a very important building: the Temple in Jerusalem.
Haggai's message came about 18 years after a powerful king named Cyrus took over the kingdom of Babylon. In 538 BCE, King Cyrus made a law. This law allowed the Jewish people, who had been held captive in Babylon, to return to their homeland, Judea.
King Cyrus also wanted the Temple in Jerusalem to be rebuilt. This was so that people could start worshipping there again. However, the rebuilding work had stopped.
Contents
Haggai: A Prophet's Important Message
Haggai was a prophet, which means he shared messages from God. He told the people that it was time to start rebuilding the second Temple in Jerusalem.
Why Was Rebuilding the Temple So Important?
Haggai explained that a recent drought, which meant there wasn't enough rain for crops, was happening for a reason. He said it was because the people had not focused on rebuilding the Temple. Haggai believed that rebuilding the Temple was key to Jerusalem's future and its glory. He wanted the people to understand that putting God's house first would bring blessings.
Who Was Zerubbabel?
Haggai also spoke about Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel was the governor of Judah at that time. Haggai said that Zerubbabel was chosen by God to lead the people. This was a big encouragement for Zerubbabel and for everyone working on the Temple.
The Temple Rebuilding Begins
Haggai's words had a big impact! Just three weeks after he first shared his message, the rebuilding of the Temple began. This happened on September 7, 521 BCE.
The Bible says in Haggai Chapter 1, verses 14 and 15: "They came and began to work on the house of the LORD Almighty, their God, on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month in the second year of Darius the King." This shows how quickly the people responded to Haggai's call.
When Was the Temple Finished?
The hard work continued, and the Temple was finally completed! The Book of Ezra, another book in the Bible, tells us the exact date. It was finished on February 25, 516 BCE. Ezra Chapter 6, verse 15 says: "The Temple was completed on the third day of the month Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius."
After the Temple was finished, Haggai shared another message. He said that God would bless the people because they had completed the work. This is found in Haggai Chapter 2, verses 18-19. The Book of Haggai ends by talking about the future downfall of other kingdoms, showing God's power over all nations.
Images for kids
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First page of the Book of Haggai, Codex Gigas (Latin translation, early 13th century)
See also
In Spanish: Libro de Hageo para niños
