Haggai 1:11-The Lord Decrees a Drought Against the Remnant of Judah For Failing to Complete the Rebuilding of His Temple

Haggai 1:11 “‘Moreover, I have called for a drought that will affect the fields, the hill country, the grain, new wine, fresh olive oil, and everything that grows from the ground; it also will harm people, animals, and everything they produce.’” (NET)

Haggai 1:11 brings to an end the first of four messages in the book of Haggai which are communicated by the God of Israel through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel, the governor of the remnant of Judah and Joshua the high priest of this remnant.

Ultimately, these messages are addressed to the remnant of Judah.

Now, here in verse 11, the Lord through Haggai decreed for a drought against the land as well as the hill country of this remnant.

Consequently, this drought will be against the grain, new wine, fresh olive oil as well as each and everything which grows out of the ground since a drought would adversely affect these products.

Thus, this drought is against this remnant as well as their animals since human beings and animals are adversely affected by drought and the failure to produce crops which provide for them and their animals.

The Lord then summaries this declaration by asserting that this drought will be against each and everything produced by this remnant.

This declaration of a drought in Haggai 1:11 advances upon and intensifies the previous declarative statement in Haggai 1:10, which records the Lord asserting that because of the remnant of Judah, the heavens have withheld its dew with the result that the earth has withheld its produce.

Therefore, the advancement and intensification it that the Lord not only has He withheld the dew for the crops of the remnant of Judah, but He has also called for a drought which will withhold the rain for their crops.

In other words, the Lord is removing all types of precipitation whether dew or rain which will result in crop failure resulting in the devastation of the nation’s economy.

Consequently, this drought will adversely affect the lives of this remnant as well as their animals.

Prolonged lack of water resulted in drought, which had a significant effect on an agrarian society. It was commonly viewed as divine judgment (compare 1 Kgs 8:35), and Yahweh explicitly takes credit for causing this hardship to punish the people for not diligently working on the temple.[1]

The Archaeological Study Bible has the following note, they write “Drought which was often a precursor to famine, affected the ‘mountains’ because the hills were cultivated, especially through terracing. Grain, wine and oil were the three basic crops of the land and olive oil was used as food, ointment and medicine.”

This judgment of a drought recorded here in Haggai 1:11 is the direct result of the remnant of Judah failing to complete the rebuilding of the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem which would be the location in which they would worship the God of Israel.

This judgement is divine discipline upon the nation.

The purpose of which is to cause this remnant to repent, which would require them to confess their sins to the God of Israel in order to be restored to fellowship with Him and obedience to the command to complete the rebuilding to His temple in Jerusalem in order to maintain that fellowship with Him.

Haggai 1:11 makes clear that the God of Israel is sovereign over not only His creatures but also His creation.

Specifically, it reveals that He is sovereign over the weather since this passage teaches that He can and will hinder rain and dew from falling on the earth in order to accomplish His purposes.

Because of the chiastic structure Haggai 1:4-9, the first declaration in Haggai 1:9 parallels or corresponds to the first declaration in Haggai 1:6 that the remnant of Judah planted much but harvest little.

Haggai 1:6 “‘You have planted much but have harvested little. You eat but are never filled. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but are not warm. Those who earn wages end up with holes in their money bags.’” (NET)

Haggai 1:9 “‘You expected a large harvest, but instead there was little, and when you brought it home it disappeared right away. Why?’ asks the Lord who rules over all. ‘Because my temple remains in ruins, thanks to each of you favoring his own house!’” (NET)

Also because of this chiastic structure, the Lord’s question, which He poses to the remnant of Judah and His answer to this question in Haggai 1:9 parallels or corresponds to the rhetorical question He poses this remnant in Haggai 1:4.

Haggai 1:4 “Is it right for you to live in richly paneled houses while my temple is in ruins?” (NET)

Haggai 1:9 “‘You expected a large harvest, but instead there was little, and when you brought it home it disappeared right away. Why?’ asks the Lord who rules over all. ‘Because my temple remains in ruins, thanks to each of you favoring his own house!’” (NET)

Furthermore, Haggai 1:7 is paralleled by or corresponds to Haggai 1:5 because of this chiastic structure.

Haggai 1:5 “Here then is what the Lord who rules over all says: ‘Think carefully about what you are doing.’” (NET)

Haggai 1:7 “Moreover, the Lord who rules over all says: ‘Pay close attention to these things also.’” (NET)

Lastly, this chiastic structure also indicates that the emphasis of Haggai 1:4-11 is Haggai 1:8 in which the Lord commands the remnant of Judah to complete the rebuilding the temple by procuring lumber for the project.

Haggai 1:8 “‘Go up to the hill country and bring back timber to build the temple. Then I will be pleased and honored,’” says the Lord. (NET)

Haggai 1:10-11 explains the meaning of the second economic disaster which was drought.

A comparison of Haggai 1:4-9 with Haggai 1:10-11 reveals that the reason for the drought is the same reason for the first economic problem the remnant of Judah was experiencing, namely, the failed to complete rebuilding the Lord’s temple.

The rhetorical function of Haggai 1:10-11 and its interpretation as divine discipline for failing to complete the rebuilding of the temple is based upon Deuteronomy 11:17, 14-15.

By obeying these instructions from the Lord through the prophet Haggai as recorded here in Haggai 1:4-11, the remnant of Judah would demonstrate the fact that they repented from their collective sin of not completing the rebuilding of the Lord’s temple.

Consequently, this would bring to an end the Lord disciplining them for such disobedience.

So therefore, the message of Haggai 1:4-11 is designed to remove the discipline the remnant of Judah was experiencing so that the Lord could bless them instead.

Leviticus 26:4, 20 and Psalm 67:6 taught Israel that if they obeyed the Lord, then He would send rain in its season and the ground would yield its crops.

However, if they disobeyed, then He would make the sky like iron and the ground like bronze and the ground as a result would not produce its crops.

Leviticus 26:19 “I will break your strong pride and make your sky like iron and your land like bronze. 20 Your strength will be used up in vain, your land will not give its yield, and the trees of the land will not produce their fruit.” (NET)

Deuteronomy 11:11 Instead, the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy is one of hills and valleys, a land that drinks in water from the rains, 12 a land the Lord your God looks after. He is constantly attentive to it from the beginning to the end of the year. 13 Now, if you pay close attention to my commandments that I am giving you today and love the Lord your God and serve him with all your mind and being, 14 then he promises, “I will send rain for your land in its season, the autumn and the spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine, and olive oil. 15 I will provide pasture for your livestock and you will eat your fill.” 16 Make sure you do not turn away to serve and worship other gods! 17 Then the anger of the Lord will erupt against you and he will close up the sky so that it does not rain. The land will not yield its produce, and you will soon be removed from the good land that the Lord is about to give you. (NET)

Deuteronomy 28:22 He will afflict you with weakness, fever, inflammation, infection, sword, blight, and mildew; these will attack you until you perish. 23 The sky above your heads will be bronze and the earth beneath you iron. 24 The Lord will make the rain of your land powder and dust; it will come down on you from the sky until you are destroyed. (NET)

[1] Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Hag 1:11). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.