Haggai 2:11

“Thus saith the Lord of hosts, etc.] To Haggai the prophet: ask now the priests [concerning] the law; whose business it was to understand it, and teach it, and to answer questions, and resolve doubts concerning it; not of their own heads, and according to their fancies, will, and pleasure; but according to the rules and instructions given in the word of God: and as this was their office, they were the proper persons to apply to; and Haggai, though a prophet, is sent to the priests to propose questions to them; though it may be not so much for his own information, as for the conviction of the priests of their impurity, out of their own mouths, and of the people by them: saying; putting the…”

“Ask . . . the priests--Propose this question to them on the law. The priests were the authorized expounders of the law (Lev 10:11; Deu 33:10; Eze 44:23; Mal 2:7).”

“Ask now the priests concerning the law - The priests answer rightly, that, by the law, insulated unholiness spread further than insulated holiness. The flesh of the sacrifice hallowed whatever it should touch, but not further; but the human being, who was defiled by touching a dead body, defiled all he might touch Numbers 19:22. Haggai does not apply the first part; namely, that the worship on the altar which they reared, while they neglected the building of the temple, did not hallow. The possession of a truly tiring does not counterbalance disobedience. Contrariwise, one defilement defiled the whole man and all which he touched, according to that James 2:10, “whosoever shall keep the whole…”

“Concerning the law - What the law saith in this case. Haggai 2:12”

“2:11 Ask the priests: The priests’ job was to teach and interpret the law (Deut 33:10; Mal 2:7-9), so the message about ceremonial purity was directed to them.”

“Lev 10:10, Lev 10:11; Deu 33:10; Eze 44:23, Eze 44:24; Mal 2:7; Tit 1:9 Haggai 2:12”

“The word of God was as follows: Hag 2:11. "Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, Ask now the priests for instruction, saying, Hag 2:12. Behold, one carries holy flesh in the lappet of his garment, and touches with his lappet the bread, and that which is boiled, the wine, and the oil, and any kind of food: does it then become holy? And the priests answered and said, No. Hag 2:13. And Haggai said, If one who is unclean on account of a corpse touches all this, does it become unclean? And the priests answered and said, It does become unclean. Hag 2:14. Then Haggai answered and said, So is this people, and so this nation before my face, is the saying of Jehovah; and so is all the work of their hands, and…”