SEV Biblia, Chapter 2:3
¿Quién ha quedado entre vosotros que haya visto esta Casa en su primera gloria, y cual ahora la veis? ¿No es ella como nada delante de vuestros ojos?
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Haggai 2:3
Verse 3. Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory?] Who of you has seen the temple built by Solomon? The foundation of the present house had been laid about fifty-three years after the destruction of the temple built by Solomon and though this prophecy was uttered fifteen years after the foundation of this second temple, yet there might still survive some of those who had seen the temple of Solomon. Is it not in your eyes] Most certainly the Jews at this time had neither men nor means to make any such splendid building as that erected by Solomon. The present was as nothing when compared with the former.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 3. Who [is] left among you that saw this house in her first glory ? etc.] Not taken away by death, yet alive, and dwelling among them; and who lived before the destruction of the first temple, built by Solomon; and has seen it in all its magnificence; its grand and noble structure; its stately pillars; its carved work, and decorations of gold. This shows that it was not in the times of Darius Nothus, but of Darius Hystaspis, that Haggai prophesied: those who go the former way make these men to have lived near two hundred years at least, which was greatly beyond the common time of man’s life in that age; or consider these words as a mere supposition, that, if there were or had been such persons then living, this building, in comparison of the former, must have appeared mean and contemptible unto them: but the words manifestly imply that there were persons among them then living, who had seen Solomon’s temple in all its glory; and who are particularly and personally addressed in the following clauses; and of whom there might be several at this time, going the latter way; for the seventy years’ captivity are to be reckoned from the fourth year of Jehoiakim, in which the captivity began, and which was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar, ( Jeremiah 25:1,11,12) but it was not until the nineteenth year of his reign that the temple, was burnt by him, ( Jeremiah 52:12,13) and the time of Haggai’s prophesying being about seventeen or eighteen years after the proclamation of Cyrus, when the seventy years’ captivity ended; this shows that it was scarcely seventy years from the time the temple was destroyed; and therefore it may be reasonably supposed there were several ancient persons living that could remember to have seen it; and it is certain that there were a great number of such living that returned from Babylon, who wept when they saw the foundation of the second temple laid, which was but fifteen years before this, ( Ezra 3:12) some of whom, in all probability, were now alive, yea, it is certain there were, to whom the following questions were put: and how do ye see it now ? is not this that is building very different from that? does it promise anything like it? what ideas have you of it? can you conceive in your minds that it will ever rise up to such grandeur and stateliness as the former? what is your judgment, and what your sentiments concerning it? can you think of it with equal delight and pleasure as of the former? [is it] not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing ? do not you think that it is not to be mentioned, or once named, in comparison of the former temple? or that a man had as good say nothing at all, as to attempt a comparison of them? or that this building and nothing are alike? and that the one is a nonentity, as well as the other, comparatively speaking, when set in competition with the first temple? and are not you of opinion that the people had as good do nothing, and that in effect they are doing nothing, and all their labour lost, who are working in this house? no answer is returned, nor any waited for: but it is as if the Lord had said, I, who am the omniscient God, the discerner of the thoughts of men, know that these are your sentiments, and these the reasonings of your minds; and but now lest discovering these thoughts of theirs, and speaking out their minds freely as they might, which would tend to discourage the governors and the people in carrying on the work they had engaged in; the Lord by the prophet says to them, as follows:
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-9 - Those who are hearty in the Lord's service shall receive encouragemen to proceed. But they could not build such a temple then, as Solomo built. Though our gracious God is pleased if we do as well as we can in his service, yet our proud hearts will scarcely let us be pleased unless we do as well as others, whose abilities are far beyond ours Encouragement is given the Jews to go on in the work notwithstanding They have God with them, his Spirit and his special presence. Though he chastens their transgressions, his faithfulness does not fail. The Spirit still remained among them. And they shall have the Messiah amon them shortly; "He that should come." Convulsions and changes would tak place in the Jewish church and state, but first should come grea revolutions and commotions among the nations. He shall come, as the Desire of all nations; desirable to all nations, for in him shall all the earth be blessed with the best of blessings; long expected an desired by all believers. The house they were building should be fille with glory, very far beyond Solomon's temple. This house shall be filled with glory of another nature. If we have silver and gold, we must serve and honour God with it, for the property is his. If we have not silver and gold, we must honour him with such as we have, and he will accept us. Let them be comforted that the glory of this latte house shall be greater than that of the former, in what would be beyon all the glories of the first house, the presence of the Messiah, the Son of God, the Lord of glory, personally, and in human nature. Nothin but the presence of the Son of God, in human form and nature, coul fulfil this. Jesus is the Christ, is He that should come, and we are to look for no other. This prophecy alone is enough to silence the Jews and condemn their obstinate rejection of Him, concerning whom all their prophets spake. If God be with us, peace is with us. But the Jews unde the latter temple had much trouble; but this promise is fulfilled is that spiritual peace which Jesus Christ has by his blood purchased for all believers. All changes shall make way for Christ to be desired an valued by all nations. And the Jews shall have their eyes opened to behold how precious He is, whom they have hitherto rejected.
Original Hebrew
מי 4310 בכם הנשׁאר 7604 אשׁר 834 ראה 7200 את 853 הבית 1004 הזה 2088 בכבודו 3519 הראשׁון 7223 ומה 4100 אתם 859 ראים 7200 אתו 853 עתה 6258 הלוא 3808 כמהו 3644 כאין 369 בעיניכם׃ 5869
