What was the primary focus of Haggai and Zechariah's prophecies?

Haggai and Zechariah were prophetic figures during the period following the Babylonian exile, and their primary focus was indeed on the completion of the Temple in Jerusalem. Haggai's prophecies directly urged the exiled Jews who had returned to their homeland to prioritize rebuilding the Temple, highlighting the importance of restoring proper worship and the relationship with God. He encouraged the people to not only see their physical circumstances, but also their spiritual state, as they were neglecting the Temple while focusing on their personal dwellings.

Zechariah echoed these themes by emphasizing the need for Temple restoration, and he provided visions that reinforced the significance of reinstituting worship practices and covenant fidelity through a rebuilt Temple. The prophecies of both Haggai and Zechariah were integral in motivating the returned exiles to complete this central place of worship, making "completing the Temple" the focal concern of their messages.

In contrast, building homes for the Jews was a secondary concern compared to the imperative to restore worship. The defeat of Babylon was a past event by the time of their prophecies and did not occupy the forefront of their messages. Similarly, restoring the covenant, while significant, was closely tied to the act of rebuilding the