THE PROPHECY OF AGGEUS
INTRODUCTION
Aggeus was one of those that returned from the captivity of Babylon, in the first year of the reign of king Cyrus. He was sent by the Lord in the second year of the reign of king Darius, the son of Hystaspes, to exhort Zorobabel, the prince of Juda, and Jesus, the high priest, to the building of the temple; which they had begun, but left off again through the opposition of the Samaritans. In consequence of this exhortation, they proceeded in the building, and finished the temple. And the prophet was commissioned by the Lord to assure them that this second temple should be more glorious than the former, because the Messias should honour it with his presence; signifying, withal, how much the Church of the new testament should excel that of the old testament. (Calmet) — The glory of the Catholic Church hence appears. (Worthington) — We know little of the life of Aggeus. It is thought that he was born in captivity. (Calmet) — He came into Judea eighteen years after its termination, (Worthington) in the second year of Hystaspes, when the seventy years of the temple’s desolation ended, Zacharias i. 12., and 1 Esdras v. The people had courage to obey the word of the prophets rather than the king’s edict. Aggeus means feasting, (St. Jerome) or pleasant. He brings joyful tidings, after rebuking the people for preferring their own convenience before the house of God. (Haydock)
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Commentary of St Jerome
In Aggaeum
Prologus
secundo anno darii, regis persarum filii hystaspis, septuagesimum annum desolationis templi fuisse completum, quem hieremias uaticinatus est, zacharias quoque propheta testis est, qui cum uisionis suae titulum in secundo anno eiusdem regis undecimo mense sabat, uicesima quarta die praeposuisset, adiecit, dicens: domine exercituum, usquequo non misereberis hierusalem et urbium iuda, quibus iratus es? iste septuagesimus annus est sed et esdras, exstructo tantum altari, et iactis fundamentis templi, ad litteras regis artaxerxis prohibitum opus refert: tunc intermissum est opus domus dei in hierusalem, et non fiebat usque ad annum secundum regni darii, regis persarum. statim que addidit: prophetauerunt autem aggaeus propheta et zacharias filius addo prophetantes ad iudaeos qui erant in iudaea et hierusalem, in nomine domini israel: tunc surrexerunt zorobabel filius salathiel, et iesus filius iosedec, et coeperunt aedificare templum dei in hierusalem, et cum eis prophetae dei adiuuantes eos. quo tempore apud romanos septimus a romulo regnabat tarquinius superbus, habens annum imperii uicesimum septimum, qui post octo annos expulsus est a bruto; ac deinde rem publicam per annos quadringentos sexaginta quattuor, usque ad iulium caesarem consules administrauerunt. hoc propterea, o paula et eustochium, diximus, ut de ipso statim titulo, qua aetate aggaeus propheta cecinerit agnoscatis. sciendum que est interim, iuxta litteram, magni spiritus et aggaeum fuisse et zachariam prophetas, ut aduersum artaxerxis regis edictum, et samaritanos gentes que cunctas per circuitum, aedificationem templi impedientes, iuberent templum exstrui. zorobabel quoque et iesum filium iosedec, et populum qui cum eis erat, non minoris fidei, ut prophetas magis audirent iubentes, quam prohibentis regis imperium.