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COMMENTARY ON HAGGAI, CHAPTER TWO In the second year of King Darius, in the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month, the Lord spoke by means of Haggai (261) the prophet, saying, Tell Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, of the tribe of Judah, and Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all the remnant of the people in these words: Is there any of you who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now: is it not as nothing in your sight? (vv.1–3) HEREAS THEY had entered the house of God and set to work on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month, directly afterwards on the twenty-first day of the next month, the seventh, the word of the Lord came to the blessed prophet Haggai. So what we are to think of it in this case, too, and what the occasion was, there is need to explain. On beginning to feel weariness, and undertaking responsibility for the divine Temple, they kept going till the twenty-seventh day, when they were found to have lost heart, grumbling among themselves or to one another that their work was in vain; even if the rebuilding of the Temple was completed, it would in no way resemble the former one. Whereas that one was in fact very splendid and furnished lavishly, and was bedecked with gold and silver offerings, this one is ugly, bereft of every adornment, and lacking generous expenditure. Though those reigning at various times in Jerusalem, especially Solomon, had liberally decorated that former one so that it still glittered with riches, they had been ordered to build the latter one when they had just returned, were still dripping with the sweat of captivity, and had absolutely nothing at home. While they kept working, beset and depressed with such arguments , (262) they were guilty once again of lack of enthusiasm and reluctance. Consequently, God strengthens them in their weakness, and proposes a very useful question to them, 75 76 CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA whether there was anyone among them who had seen the former Temple in its original glory. Now, they were very few and elderly; the Temple had been plundered by Nebuchadnezzar, and Israel had been taken captive and just restored after the lapse of seventy years. It was therefore very difficult to find an old person who was there before the devastation, had lived in captivity, and returned to Jerusalem. Hence he asks, Is there any of you who saw this house in its former glory, and then will see the one that is to come and is so new as to be almost non-existent? Now, there is a rebuke in the question, suggesting that they should not think that, even if they were in difficulties and short of resources, God was at a loss, but rather that he would again be capable of producing his own Temple as required, namely, celebrated and famous. Be strong now, Zerubbabel, says the Lord, and be strong, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and let all the people of the land be strong. Get to work, because I am with you, says the Lord almighty. My agreement , which I made with you when you came out of the land of Egypt, and my spirit are in your midst. Have confidence (vv.4–5). He does not allow them to fall into dejection, nor to be reduced (263) to laziness by apprehension; instead, he arouses them to activity, and imparts to them vigor and enthusiasm. At the same time he tests their faith, and makes them rely on him, bidding them have confidence and making them a promise which even surpasses that and is truly desirable, that he would be with them, proceeding to tell them in what way: my spirit is in your midst, have confidence.1 Now, no one with good intentions and in a right mind would doubt that to those laboring for the upbuilding of the divine temple—that is, the Church—he grants strength and gives confidence that he is both with them through the Holy Spirit and will achieve everything for them to make them capable of living their lives in a splendid and upright way. Our Lord Jesus Christ also spoke in these terms to the holy apostles, who were des1 . At this point Theodore delivered a lengthy and spirited rejection of the possibility of the Holy Spirit being known to people...

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