set up the altar
and work on the temple had been begun, but the work had been
interrupted by the hostile Samaritans and others and for about
fourteen years almost nothing had been done. These years of inactivity
had dulled their zeal and they were rapidly becoming reconciled to the
situation and by reason of their weakness, compared with the great
task before them, they were beginning to despair of seeing their
people and beloved city and Temple restored to that glory pictured by
former prophets.

The Prophecy. Its purpose was to restore the hope of the people and to
give them zeal for the cause of God. This was accomplished by means of
four distinct visions, each of which shows their folly in not
completing the work, mid promises divine blessing. They hear God say,
"I am with you, and will bless you." The result is seen in that they
are enabled, in spite of opposition, to finish and dedicate it in
about four years.

Analysis.

I. The Appeal to Rebuild the Temple, Ch. 1.

1. The appeal, 1:11.

2. The preparations to build, 12-15.

II. The New Temple, 2:1-19.

1. The superior glories of it, 2:1-9.

2. The blessing of its holy service, 2:10-19.

III. The Messianic Kingdom, 2:10-23.

For Study and Discussion, (1) The rebukes uttered by the prophet. (2)
The encouragements he offers. (3) The historical confirmation of the
facts of this book found in Ezra. (4) False content and discontent.
(5) Basing conclusions upon the comparative strength of the friends
and enemies of a proposition, while leaving God out of the count.

* * * * *

Chapter XXIII.

Zechariah and Malachi.

Zechariah.

The Prophet. His name means "Remembered of the Lord" and like Haggai
he appears to have been among the captives who returned from Babylon
with Zerubbabel. He was a co-laborer with Haggai, beginning his work
two mouths later and continuing into the second year following him.
The conditions of the times were the same as those described in
Haggai.

The Prophecy. The purpose is the same as that of Haggai. The time of
the first eight chapters is that of the rebuilding of the temple while
the remaining chapters, 9-14, are thought to have been written thirty
years later. It is distinguished for: (1) The symbolic character of
its visions. (2) The richness of his Messianic predictions found in
the second part. (3) The large place given to angelic mediation in the
intercourse with Jehovah.

The Contents. The conten