Overview
When the returned exiles attended to their own houses and postponed rebuilding the temple, Haggai urged them through four messages to resume the work. Governor Zerubbabel, the high priest Joshua, and the people responded and resumed construction, and YHWH gave promises concerning the latter glory of this house and concerning Zerubbabel.
Theme The priority of rebuilding the temple, YHWH's presence, and the promise of future glory
Historical background
The exiles who returned under the decree of Cyrus in 538 BC laid the temple foundation, but opposition from neighboring peoples halted the work for about sixteen years (Ezra 4). Encouraged by the prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah, construction resumed in 520 BC, and the temple was completed in 516/515 BC (Ezra 5–6). Each of the book's messages bears a precise date.