10. On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying:
11. Thus says the Lord of Hosts: Now ask the priests concerning the law, saying,
12. If a man carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and touches with his fold bread or stew, or wine or oil, or any food, will it become holy?The priests answered, “No.”
13. Then Haggai said, “If one who is unclean by contact with a dead body touches any of these, will it become unclean?”The priests answered, “It will become unclean.”
14. Then Haggai said, So it is with this people, and so it is with this nation before Me, says the Lord, and so with every work of their hands; and what they offer there is unclean.
15. Now consider from this day onward: from before stone was laid upon stone in the temple of the Lord,