Set in 520 BCE, this novel follows Haggai, a prophet who returns from Babylonian exile to find Jerusalem in ruins and its people resigned to despair. While the returnees lavish their resources on panelled houses, God's temple lies forgotten. When drought ravages the land and harvests fail, Haggai receives a divine summons: challenge the people's complacency and command them to rebuild. Facing opposition from elders weary of failed dreams and a community divided by fear of empire, Haggai must reignite a flickering faith. As the temple's foundation rises, an aging prophet discovers that rebuilding stones is easier than rebuilding hearts.
