This is the thirty-first in a series of biblical summaries from David Dorsey's book: The Literary Structure of the Old Testament. This is the tenth in the sub-series of minor prophets, covering Haggai.
a message of rebuke and exhortation to rebuild the temple (1:2-11)
b report of people's obedient response; temple begun (1:12-15)
c messages of encouragement and promise (2:1-23)
(1) message of reassurance and encouragement in the work (2:1-9)
(2) message of promise: Yahweh will now bless them (2:10-19)
(3) message about Zerubbabel's significance (2:20-23)
Dorsey writes: "The book's five parts form a significant linear progression: Haggai's message of rebuke and exhortation is followed by the people's positive response, which is followed in turn by three messages of divine encouragement and promise. This layout highlights the book's main theme: Israel's obedience, particularly in regard to the temple, will result in God's favor." (315)
Of particular notice as well, all five messages are dated. The first message is dated the first day of the sixth month. The second message is dated the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month. The third message is dated the twenty-first day of the seventh month. The fourth message is dated the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. The fifth message is also dated the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month.
Finally, two of these five messages seem to have symmetrical structures centered around the exhortation for the people to rebuild the temple.
Haggai 1:2-11
a introduction: these people say, "The time has not yet come for Yahweh's house to be built (1:2-11)
b question: is it a time for you to live in your paneled houses while this house
remains a ruin? (1:3-4)
c you planted much but it brought little; you eat, drink, put on clothes, etc,
but still lack (1:5-6)
d CENTER: therefore, build my house! (1:7-8)
c' you expected much but got little; what you brought home, I blew away (1:9a-b)
b' question: why? because my house remains a ruin while you are busy in
your own houses (1:9c-d)
a' conclusion: this is why there is scarcity and crop failure (1:10-11)
Haggai 2:1-9
a splendor of the former temple was greater than this small temple being built (2:3)
b encouragement to take courage (2:4a-c)
c reassurance of Yahweh's presence (2:4d)
d CENTRAL POINT: carry out the terms of the covenant that Yahweh
commanded when he brought his people out of Egypt (particularly:
build him a dwelling!" (2:5a)
c' reassurance of Yahweh's presence (2:5b)
b' encouragement: soon Yahweh will shake the nations and bring their wealth and
fill this temple with it (2:6-8)
a' splendor of this present temple will surpass that of the former temple (2:9)
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