In the four and twentieth [day] of the ninth [month]
The month Chisleu, which answers to part of November, and part of December: this was two months and three days after the former discourse or prophecy, and just three months from the time the Jews began to work in the house of the Lord, ( Haggai 1:14 Haggai 1:15 ) ( 2:1 ) in the second year of Darius;
the same year that all the former discourses and prophecies were delivered in: came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet;
for what he delivered was not his own, but from the Lord; he was only his minister and messenger. The Vulgate Latin version, and so Munster, render it, "unto Haggai the prophet"; and indeed what is said following seems to be directed to him, and he is the only person that put the questions directed to: saying;
as follows: