Albert Barnes Commentary Haggai 1:14

"And Jehovah stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work on the house of Jehovah of hosts, their God," — Haggai 1:14 (ASV)

And the Lord stirred up the spirit - This phrase is used of any strong impulse from God to fulfill His will. This applies whether to those who execute His will unknowingly, like Pul (1 Chronicles 5:26), who carried off the trans-Jordanian tribes; or the Philistines and Arabians against Jehoram (2 Chronicles 21:16); or the Medes against Babylon (Jeremiah 51:11).

It also applies to those who execute His will knowingly, as in the case of Cyrus, whom God stirred to restore His people and rebuild the temple (Ezra 1:1), or of the people themselves, whom God stirred to return (Ezra 1:5).

“The spirit of Zerubbabel and the spirit of Joshua were stirred, that the government and priesthood may build the temple of God; the spirit of the people too, which before was asleep in them—not the body, not the soul, but the spirit, which knows best how to build the temple of God.”

“The Holy Spirit is stirred up in us, that we should enter the house of the Lord and do the works of the Lord.”

“Again, observe that they did not set themselves to choose to do what would please God before He was with them and stirred up their spirit.

“We shall know from this also that, although one chooses zealously to do good and is earnest in it, yet he will accomplish nothing unless God is with him, raising him up to dare, sharpening him to endure, and removing all lethargy.

“For so the wondrous Paul says of those entrusted with the divine preaching (1 Corinthians 15:11), I labored more abundantly than they all, yet he added very wisely, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. And the Savior Himself says to the holy Apostles (John 15:5), Without Me you can do nothing.

“For He is our desire, He our courage for any good work, He our strength; and if He is with us, we shall do well, building ourselves into a holy temple, a habitation of God in the Spirit (Ephesians 2:21–22); if He departs and withdraws, how could anyone doubt that we would fail, overcome by sluggishness and lack of courage?”