The Prophet now states another reason why he had been sent by God, in order that he might obviate a temptation which might have hindered the work that was begun. We have seen that they were all stirred up by the celestial spirit to undertake the building of the Temple.

Here the Prophet expresses more clearly, and confirms more fully, what I have said – that God would in time bring help to the miserable Jews, because he would not disappoint the assurance given to the fathers.

Though interpreters seem to perceive the meaning of the Prophet, yet no one really and clearly expresses what he means and intends to teach us: nay, they adduce nothing but what is jejune and frigid; for they refer all these things to this point, – that sacrifices were not acceptable to God before…

I am under the necessity of joining all these verses together, for the Prophet treats of the same thing: and the import of the whole is this – that the Lord had then openly punished the tardiness of the people, so that every one might have easily known that they acted very inconsistently in…

The Prophet now proceeds still farther; for there is here a really gratuitous and spiritual promise, by which God affirms that he will have a care for his people to the end.