Haggai 2:21

Hag 2:21 Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth;

Ver. 21. Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah] Governors are sure to meet with many difficulties and discouragements (high seats are never but uneasy), and had need therefore of singular consolation, that they may hold on their course, like the sun in the firmament, and show themselves to be of an undaunted resolution. We may well say to governors, as that prophetic Simeon spoke to the pillars which he whipped before the earthquake: Stand fast, for ye shall be shaken.

I will shake the heavens and the earth] sc. By abrogating and abolishing both Jewish ceremonies and heathenish superstitions, Heb 12:27. As also by national commotions, and translations of monarchies; the Greeks shall break the power of the Persians, the Romans of the Greeks, the Goths and other barbarous nations of the Romans, Mat 24:7. But especially, by casting the devil out of the heaven of men s hearts, Luk 10:18, those strongholds wherein he had entrenched himself, 2Co 10:4-5, that the ransomed of the Lord may receive a kingdom, which cannot be moved, Heb 12:28, and partake of those new heavens and new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness, 2Pe 3:13, even that world to come, as these days of the gospel are called, Heb 2:5. {See Trapp on "Heb 2:6"} {See Trapp on "Heb 2:7"}

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

2:21 Zerubbabel, the governor, was a descendant of David through Jehoiachin (1 Chr 3:19). Haggai’s affirmation thus overturns the curse on Jehoiachin (Jer 22:24-30). However, Zerubbabel abruptly disappears from the biblical record. He was possibly deposed as Judean governor or even executed by King Darius, who was attempting to control his newly acquired empire. The expectations here ascribed to Zerubbabel, and his status as a descendant of David, might have made him a political threat to Darius.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

to Zerubbabel--Perhaps Zerubbabel had asked as to the convulsions foretold (Hag 2:6-7). This is the reply: The Jews had been led to fear that these convulsions would destroy their national existence. Zerubbabel, therefore, as their civil leader and representative is addressed, not Joshua, their religious leader. Messiah is the antitypical Zerubbabel, their national Representative and King, with whom God the Father makes the covenant wherein they, as identified with Him, are assured of safety in God's electing love (compare Hag 2:23, "will make thee as a signet"; "I have chosen thee").

shake . . . heavens--(see on Hag 2:6-7); violent political convulsions accompanied with physical prodigies (Mat 24:7, Mat 24:29).

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 21. I will shake the heavens and the earth] Calmet supposes that the invasion of Cambyses, and his death, are what the prophet has in view by this shaking of the heavens and the earth: but this invasion and defeat happened three years before they had begun to work at the temple; and how could it be made a matter of interest to Zerubbabel? Calmet answers this, by translating the words in the past tense; and shows that the fact was recalled to Zerubbabel's attention, to fix his confidence in God, c. Bp. Newcome says we may well understand this and the twenty-second verse Hag 2:22 of the calamity undergone by Babylon in the reign of Darius of the Macedonian conquests in Persia; and of the wars which the successors of Alexander waged against each other: others under stand it of the Romans.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms,.... The Persian monarchy, which consisted of various kingdoms and nations, and was destroyed under Darius Codomannus by Alexander the great, who fought with him three pitched battles, and overcame him; but the thing was of the Lord, according to his purpose and will, and by his power and providence; and therefore the overthrow is ascribed to him. The Jews (t) say that the Persian monarchy fell by the Grecians thirty four years after the building of the temple; but very wrongly, it lasted longer:

and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen; the empire of Alexander, which was a very strong one, and contained in it many kingdoms and nations, even the whole world, at least as he thought; and which was divided after his death into several kingdoms; the strength of which was greatly weakened by one another, and at last entirely destroyed by the Romans as instruments:

and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down; which may refer either to the chariots and horses, and their riders, belonging to the Grecians, and used in their wars; or else this may describe the empire of the Romans, which in its turn should be destroyed, famous for their triumphal chariots:

everyone by the sword of his brother; by civil wars, which was remarkably true of the successors of Alexander, as appears from Josephus (u) and Justin (w): this may be applied to all the kingdoms of this world, which will all be demolished, and be brought into subjection to Christ, and his kingdom shall be set up in the world, the son and antitype of Zerubbabel, of whom the following words are to be understood; see Dan 2:44. Abendana interprets it of the army of Gog and Magog, who shall fall everyone by the sword of his brother.

(t) Seder Olam Rabba, c. 30. p. 91. Tzemach David, par. 1. fol. 18. 1. (u) Antiqu. l. 12. c. 1. sect. 1. (w) E. Trogo, l. 13. c. 6.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

I will shake - Haggai closes by resuming the words of a former prophecy to Zerubbabel and Joshua, which ended in the coming of Christ. Even thus it is plain, that the prophecy does not belong personally to Zerubbabel, but to him and his descendants, chiefly to Christ. There was in Zerubbabel’s time no shaking of the heaven or of nations. Darius had indeed to put down an unusual number of rebellions in the first few years after his accession; but, although he magnified himself on occasion of their suppression, they were only so many distinct and unconcerted revolts, each under its own head. All were far away in the distant East, in Babylonia, Susiana, Media, Armenia, Assyria, Hyrcania, Parthia, Sagartia, Margiana, Arachosia. The Persian empire, spread “probably over 2,000,000 square miles, or more than half of modern Europe,” was not threatened; no foreign enemy assailed it; one impostor only claimed the throne of Darius. This would, if successful, have been, like his own accession, a change of dynasty, affecting nothing externally.

But neither were lasting, some were very trifling. Two decisive battles subdued Babylonia: of Media the brief summary is given “the Medes revolted from Darius, and having revolted were brought back into subjection, defeated in battle.” The Susianians killed their own pretender, on the approach of the troops of Darius. We have indeed mostly the account only of the victor. But these are only self-glorying records of victories, accomplished in succession, within a few years. Sometimes the satrap of the province put the revolt down at once. At most two battles ended in the crucifixion of the rebel. The Jews, if they heard of them, knew them to be of no account. For the destroyer of the Persian empire was to come from the West Dan 8:5, the fourth sovereign was to stir up all against the realm of Grecia Dan 11:2, and Darius was but the third. In the same second year of Darius, in which Haggai gave this prophecy, the whole earth was exhibited to Zechariah as Zec 1:11, “sitting still and at rest.”

The overthrow prophesied is also universal. It is not one throne only, as of Persia, but “the throne,” i. e., the sovereigns, “of kingdoms;” not a change of dynasty, but a destruction of their “strength;” not of a few powers only, but “the kingdoms of the pagan;” and that, in detail; that, in which their chief strength lay, the chariots and horsemen and their riders, and this, man by man, “every one by the sword of his brother.” This mutual destruction is a feature of the judgments at the end of the world against Gog and Magog Eze 38:21; and of the yet unfulfilled prophecies of Zechariah Zec 14:17. Its stretching out so far does not hinder its partial fulfillment in earlier times. Zerubbabel stood, at the return from the captivity, as the representative of the house of David and heir of the promises to him, though in an inferior temporal condition; thereby the rather showing that the main import of the prophecy was not temporal. As then Ezekiel prophesied, Eze 34:23. “I will set up One Shepherd over them, and He shall feed them, My servant David” Eze 37:24-25; “And David My servant shall be king over them; and My servant David shall be their prince forever;” and Jeremiah Jer 30:9. “They shall serve the Lord their God and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them; and Hosea, that Hos 3:5. after many days shall the children of Israel return and seek the Lord their God, and David their king,” meaning by David, the great descendant of David, in whom the promises centered, so in his degree, the promise to Zerubbabel reaches on through his descendants to Christ; that, amid all the overthrow of empires, God would protect His sons’ sons until Christ should come, the King of kings and Lord of lords, whose Dan 2:44. “kingdom shall never be destroyed, but it shall break in pieces and consume all those kingdoms, and shall stand fast forever.”

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Speak my word, and in my name, saith the Lord.

To Zerubbabel governor of Judah: see Hag 1:1,12.

I will shake the heavens and the earth: see Hag 2:6.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Zerubbabel. (see note on Hag_1:1) I will shake the heavens and the earth. He repeats the prediction of ver. 6 in this chapter (where see note). This is the general statement, expanded and explained in the next verse.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.