Matthew Poole and continuators on Haggai 2:15

15 And now , I pray you, consider from this day and upward , from before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of the LORD .

Furthermore consider:

He affectionately intreats them to observe

this twenty fourth day of the ninth month, ver. 10.

Through past years, trace year after year, and your successes and disappointments in them

observe all years past before you would set upon the re-building of the Temple after you had intermitted it, some years past, 10, or 15, or 20, or 40 (or more say some) between your surceasing from the work, and beginning to rebuild.

The Prophet meaneth either before they began to lay one stone upon another in the Foundation laid in Cyrus his time, or before they began to lay the Foundation of the Walls of the Courts and outward Edifices.

Either strictly taken for the house of God, or more largely for the rest of the buildings about the house; this [illegible: 1 letter]aci[illegible: 1 letter]ly reproves their sloth; 'twas the Temple they neglected, which they did long for in Babylon.

So much the greater their sin, for that 'twas the Lords Temple was slighted.