This introductory verse consists of a single sentence in most English versions, and may indeed be combined with verse 2 into one sentence, as in Revised Standard Version. In many languages it would be better to follow the example of Good News Translation and translate as two or even more sentences. (See also the alternative translation model given at the end of the comments on verse 2.)
Darius the king is Darius Hystaspes, who ruled over Persia 522-486 B.C. Good News Translation makes this clear by saying that “Darius was emperor of Persia.” Darius was really a high king or “emperor” as Good News Translation shows. An “emperor” ruled over a large number of countries and had many lesser rulers under him. Some languages refer to this type of ruler as “supreme ruler [or, supreme chief],” “chief ruler,” or “ruler over many kings [or, chiefs].” Other languages may need to borrow a foreign word such as the English word “emperor,” and also include a footnote or explanatory note in the glossary.
In the second year of Darius the king may also be rendered as “During the second year that Darius the emperor ruled.” In some languages there may be an idiomatic expression for ruled, such as “was on the drum.” Darius’ second year was 520 B.C.
The sixth month is equivalent to August/September in our modern calendar. After the exile, the Jews adopted the Babylonian calendar in which the year began in the spring. In languages where the sixth month will be understood to mean June, translators should provide information to help the reader understand that the Jewish calendar during that period was very different from the one used today in most cultures. Such information can be provided through a table that shows the different calendar systems that were used in the Old Testament.
The first day of the month: This was the day of the new moon. According to Parker and Dubberstein, in 520 B.C. it fell on August 29th. Some translators may wish to refer to the modern date in a footnote. That day would have been a holy day, and therefore a good opportunity to deliver the LORD’s message to the people who assembled for worship. In certain languages it will be helpful to place the phrases in the sixth month, on the first day of the month at the beginning of the verse; for example, “During [or, on] the first day of the sixth month of the second year that Darius ruled as emperor over Persia….” Or it may be better to make a separate sentence and say, “During the second year that Darius ruled as emperor of Persia, the LORD spoke…. This message came to Haggai on the first day of the sixth month in that year.”
The word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet: There is no indication of how the word of the LORD came, and no suggestion of any dream or trance. Good News Translation expresses these words in natural modern English as “the LORD spoke through the prophet Haggai,” but another possible model is “the LORD used [or, caused] Haggai the prophet to give [or, deliver] the following message.” Haggai is mentioned elsewhere only in Ezra 5.1; 6.14, where he is linked with Zechariah and is again referred to as a prophet. Prophet translates a common Hebrew word and means “one who proclaims the LORD’s message.” In most languages an expression similar to this will be the best solution for translating prophet; for example, “one who speaks the things of God,” “one who is an interpreter for God,” and so on. However, translators should try to find a short, concise expression, as this word appears many times in the Bible. The following advice, found in A Translator’s Handbook on the Book of Amos may help in the translation of this word:
There are also problems related to the translation of LORD. Many translators will already be familiar with the term used in the New Testament where “Lord” applies both to God and to Jesus Christ. Here in Haggai, and elsewhere in the Old Testament, it applies to God alone.
The message that the LORD gave Haggai was intended for the civil and religious leaders of the Jewish community, the governor of Judah and the high priest. The governor was Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, a grandson of Jehoiachin, the king of Judah taken into exile in 597 B.C. (2 Kgs 24.15). He was therefore a descendant of King David. According to 1 Chr 3.19, Zerubbabel was son of Pedaiah, a younger brother of Shealtiel, who appears to have had no children. It may be that Shealtiel adopted his nephew Zerubbabel, and if so, it would explain the description of him here as the son of Shealtiel. It is not clear whether Zerubbabel is to be identified with the person called Sheshbazzar in Ezra 1.8. Governor here refers to an official appointed by the Persian emperor to rule over a province of his empire, in this case Judah. Governors were different from local kings or chiefs and were directly responsible to the emperor. If translators follow the ordering of the two phrases in Revised Standard Version Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, readers in many languages may think that Shealtiel, not Zerubbabel was governor of Judah. In such cases it will be better to reorder the phrases as Good News Translation does: “The message was for the governor of Judah, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel.”
The high priest was Joshua the son of Jehozadak. Jehozadak was the high priest who had been taken into exile when Jerusalem was captured by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. Joshua is also mentioned in Zech 3.1; 6.11; and in the books of Ezra (2.2 and elsewhere) and Nehemiah (12.1, 26), where his name is spelled in Hebrew “Jeshua” (Revised Standard Version). In some languages, translators may wish to keep the spelling “Jeshua” in the books of Haggai and Zechariah, in order to distinguish this man from the better known Joshua the son of Nun, who led the people of Israel into the promised land. This is done for instance by New Living Translation. The primary duty of a priest in the Hebrew culture was to be an intermediary (a person who was a channel of communication) between the LORD and his people. The means used was sacrifice. So, in some languages translators have used terms meaning “sacrificer” or “intermediary.” We should note, however, that it was not the priest who actually killed the sacrificial animal but rather the worshiper. Translators must take care not to use a term that refers to pagan sacrifices radically different from those offered by the people of Israel. If a translation is already using borrowed terms such as “priest” or “padre,” it will be helpful to have a note in the glossary explaining the duties and role of a priest in the Jewish culture. High priest may be translated in many languages as “chief priest” or “big priest.” Again the ordering of the two phrases in Revised Standard Version might seem to indicate that Jehozadak was the high priest. Translators should be careful and follow the model of Good News Translation.
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 .