SEV Biblia, Chapter 1:4
¿Tenéis vosotros tiempo, vosotros, de morar en vuestras casas enmaderadas, y esta Casa est desierta?
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Haggai 1:4
Verse 4. Is it time for you] If the time be not come to rebuild the temple, it cannot be come for you to build yourselves comfortable houses: but ye are rebuilding your houses; why then do ye not rebuild the house of the Lord? The foundation of the temple had been laid fourteen years before, and some considerable progress made in the building; and it had been lying waste in that unfinished state to the present time.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 4. [Is it] time for you, O ye, to dwell in your panelled houses , etc.] They could not only find time, leisure, and convenience to build houses to dwell in; but to wainscot them, and line them with boards of cedar, as the Targum; as bad as the times were complained of; and could sit in them, indulging themselves in luxury, ease, and sloth; and why then was it not a fit and convenient time as well to build the house of the Lord in? and this house [lie] waste ? or, “and shall this house lie waste?” or, “when this house lies waste?” not indeed in its rubbish and ruins, as it was demolished by the Chaldeans, and left; but with a bare foundation, laid some years ago; and ever since neglected; the superstructure not carried on, and much less built up to be fit for service; and therefore might be said with propriety to lie waste and desolate, being unfinished, unfit for use, and no regard had unto it. David was of another mind, ( 2 Samuel 7:2) and truly religious persons will be more concerned for the house of God than for their own houses.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-11 - Observe the sin of the Jews, after their return from captivity in Babylon. Those employed for God may be driven from their work by storm, yet they must go back to it. They did not say that they woul not build a temple, but, Not yet. Thus men do not say they will neve repent and reform, and be religious, but, Not yet. And so the grea business we were sent into the world to do, is not done. There is proneness in us to think wrongly of discouragements in our duty, as in they were a discharge from our duty, when they are only for the tria of our courage and faith. They neglected the building of God's house that they might have more time and money for worldly affairs. That the punishment might answer to the sin, the poverty they thought to preven by not building the temple, God brought upon them for not building it Many good works have been intended, but not done, because men suppose the proper time was not come. Thus believers let slip opportunities of usefulness, and sinners delay the concerns of their souls, till to late. If we labour only for the meat that perishes, as the Jews here we are in danger of losing our labour; but we are sure it shall not be in vain in the Lord, if we labour for the meat which lasts to eterna life. If we would have the comfort and continuance of tempora enjoyments, we must have God as our Friend. See also Lu 12:33. When God crosses our temporal affairs, and we meet with trouble an disappointment, we shall find the cause is, that the work we have to d for God and our own souls is left undone, and we seek our own thing more than the things of Christ. How many, who plead that they cannot afford to give to pious or charitable designs, often lavish ten time as much in needless expenses on their houses and themselves! But thos are strangers to their own interests, who are full of care to adorn an enrich their own houses, while God's temple in their hearts lies waste It is the great concern of every one, to apply to the necessary duty of self-examination and communion with our own hearts concerning ou spiritual state. Sin is what we must answer for; duty is what we mus do. But many are quick-sighted to pry into other people's ways, who ar careless of their own. If any duty has been neglected, that is n reason why it should still be so. Whatever God will take pleasure in when done, we ought to take pleasure in doing. Let those who have pu off their return to God, return with all their heart, while there is time.
Original Hebrew
העת 6256 לכם אתם 859 לשׁבת 3427 בבתיכם 1004 ספונים 5603 והבית 1004 הזה 2088 חרב׃ 2720
