the tenth of the small prophets, was born, in all probability, at Babylon, in the year of the world 3457, from whence he returned with Zerubbabel. It was this prophet who by command from God (Ezra v. 1, 2, &c.) exhorted the Jews, after their re- turn from the captivity, to finish the rebuilding of the temple, which they had intermitted for 14 years. His remonstrances had their effect; and to encourage them to proceed in the work, he assured them from God, that the glory of this latter house should be greater than the glory of the former house; which was accordingly fulfilled, when Christ honoured it with his presence: for with respect to the building, this latter temple was nothing in comparison of the former.

We know nothing certain of Haggai's death. The Jews pretend, that he died in the last year of the reign of Darius, at the same time with the prophets Zechariah and Malachi, and that thereupon the spirit of prophecy ceased among the children of Israel. Epiphanius will have it, that he was buried at Jerusalem among the priests. The Greeks keep his festival on the 16th of December, and the Latins on the 4th of July.