2:20 came unto Haggai. Four times the word of the Lord came to Haggai (1:1; 2:1,10,20), all in the short span of time from the first day of the sixth month of the second year of Darius’ reign to the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. These short, pungent messages did, however, stir up the people to complete the temple.

2:23 a signet. The signet ring was a symbol of honor and authority (compare Jeremiah 22:24). Zerubbabel, the human governor, thus also was given divine responsibility over the people in their revived economy, authority which had been removed from King Jeconiah just before the captivity. Note also the emphasis on this authority (perhaps even as a type of Christ) in the prophecy of Zechariah, especially Zechariah 4:6-10.