Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
Festive, one of the twelve so-called minor prophets. He was the first of the three (Zechariah, his contemporary, and Malachi, who was about one hundred years later, being the other two) whose ministry belonged to the period of Jewish history which began after the return from captivity in Babylon. Scarcely anything is known of his personal history. He may have been one of the captives taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar. He began his ministry about sixteen years after the Return. The work of rebuilding the temple had been put a stop to through the intrigues of the Samaritans.
After having been suspended for fifteen years, the work was resumed through the efforts of Haggai and Zechariah (Ezra 6:14), who by their exhortations roused the people from their lethargy, and induced them to take advantage of the favourable opportunity that had arisen in a change in the policy of the Persian government. ) Haggai’s prophecies have thus been characterized:, “There is a ponderous and simple dignity in the emphatic reiteration addressed alike to every class of the community, prince, priest, and people, ‘Be strong, be strong, be strong’ (2:4).
‘Cleave, stick fast, to the work you have to do;’ or again, ‘Consider your ways, consider, consider, consider’ (1:5, 7;2:15, 18). ’”, Stanley’s Jewish Church.
Smith's Bible Dictionary (1863)
(festive), the tenth in order of the minor prophets, and first of those who prophesied after the captivity. With regard to his tribe and parentage history and tradition are alike silent.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible (1898) & Schaff's Bible Dictionary
c. 520, Hag 1:1. Nothing is known of his life. The Prophecy of, which is prosaic in style, concerns the repair of the temple, Hag 1:1-12; Hag 2:10-20, the glory of the second temple, Hag 2:1-9, and the triumph of Zerubbabel over his enemies. Hag 2:20-23. The prophet severely rebukes the people for their neglect to build the house of the Lord, and for their selfishness in living in the luxury of ceiled (or panelled) houses, while the temple was neglected. Hag 1:4. The people obeyed the prophet, and received the promise of God's presence. Am 1:13.
Hitchcock's Bible Names (1869)
feast; solemnity