“Thus says Yahweh of hosts.
‘Ask the priests
For a ruling.
If one carries
Consecrated meat
In the fold
Of one’s garment,
Then if the fold
Of his garment,
Touches
Bread,
Or stew,
Or wine,
Or oil,
Or any kind of food,
Does it become holy?’
The priests answered.
‘No.’”
Haggai gave an example of what Yahweh was talking about. Haggai was to ask the priests about holiness. If someone was carrying consecrated holy meat in the fold or cover of his garment and it touched bread, stew, wine, oil, or any other kind of food, would that food then become holy by touching it? That was the dilemma. How could holiness be passed on? The priests answered negatively, by saying no, because these things could not become holy by merely touching a holy thing accidently.