In the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month: As we have already pointed out, Revised Standard Version and the majority of modern translations take the closing words of 1.15 with the date in 2.1 rather than with the date in 1.15. Good News Translation shows that the year is the same in both dates by saying here, “On the twenty-first day of the seventh month of that same year.” Contemporary English Version says “On the twenty-first day of the next month,” and includes a footnote explaining that it is the seventh month of the same year. However, it seems clearer to state that it was the seventh month, as Revised Standard Version does. The date was October 17, 520 B.C., and was the seventh day of the “feast of booths” (Revised Standard Version) or “Festival of Shelters” (Good News Translation) that began on the fifteenth day of the seventh month (Lev 23.34). Because of the festival, a lot of people would have been present in Jerusalem to hear Haggai’s message.

The word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet: These words are identical with the introductory statements in 1.1. See the comments on that verse.

Quoted with permission from Clark, David J. & Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Haggai. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2002. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .