Definition: Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ask now the priests [concerning] the law, saying,

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Haggai 2:11. It's a really important and slightly mysterious part of the biblical text. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: This verse is telling us to seek guidance from God about a specific task. It’s like saying, “Hey Lord, we need your help with this.” It's a call for a group of people – likely the builders of the Second Temple in Jerusalem – to get a clear set of instructions. Let’s unpack it word-by-word: “Haggai”: This is a name for a specific prophet, Haggai, who was part of a group of leaders working on a large construction project. “2:11”: This is the verse itself – a passage from the book of Haggai. “Thus saith the LORD of hosts…” - This is a very formal way of saying "The Lord speaks..." It's emphasizing that this is a serious and important message coming from God. “Ask now the priests [concerning] the law…” – This is the crucial part! “Priests” refers to the religious officials who were responsible for interpreting and enforcing the laws of the Old Testament. “Concerning” means "about" or "regarding." So, this verse says: “Go now, the priests – specifically, the leaders and officials – should be told that they need to understand and establish a new set of rules (the law) for building the Second Temple.” What’s the Big Picture? This verse is part of a larger story. God had been preparing for the construction of the Second Temple – a magnificent temple where Jewish people could worship and pray. The builders needed to have a clear, detailed set of laws (the Torah or the first five books of the Bible) to ensure the temple was built correctly and served as a place of divine worship. In short: God is telling the leaders to get a new set of rules for building the Second Temple – so they can do it properly and safely. --- Do you want me to: Explain any of these concepts in more detail? Give you an example of how this verse might be used in a story or biblical context?