NINE of the twelve minor prophets preached before the captivity; but the three last, some time after it. Haggai and Zachariah appeared about the same time, eighteen years after the return, and encouraged the people to build the temple, when the work had stopped for some time, notwithstanding all the opposition they met with. Haggai began two months before Zachariah, who was raised up to second him. But Zachariah continued longer at the work: for all Haggai's prophecies which are recorded, were delivered within four months in the second year of Darius; but we have Zachariah's prophecies dated above two years after. They both prophesied of Christ. Haggai speaks of him as the glory of the latter house, Zachariah as the man, the branch. In them the light of that morning-star shone more bright, than in the foregoing prophecies, as they lived nearer the time of the rising of the Sun of Righteousness.