_And now, O ye priests, this commandment [is] for you._ Ver. 1. _And now, O ye priests, &c._] Now, that is, Now again, I must have the other bout with you, besides what I had, Malachi 1:6,11, for as once from the prophets, so now from the priests, in Jerusalem profaneness is gone forth into all the... [ Continue Reading ]
If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay [it] to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay [it] to heart. Ver. 2. _If ye will not hear_] That your souls ma... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, [even] the dung of your solemn feasts; and [one] shall take you away with it. Ver. 3. _Behold, I will corrupt your seed_] And so mar your hopes of a harvest; I will bring famine upon you, that sore judgment, worse than that of the s... [ Continue Reading ]
And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. Ver. 4. _And ye shall know that I have sent, &c._] That is, ye shall know by woeful experience, your punishment shall advertise you; the curse appendant to the commandment sha... [ Continue Reading ]
My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him [for] the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name. Ver. 5. _My covenant was with him of life and peace_] Now God's covenant (saith an expositor here) is of four sorts: 1. General, made with all creatures, Genesis... [ Continue Reading ]
The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity. Ver. 6. _The law of truth was in his mouth_] Hitherto hath been set forth what the priests of old were for their own particular, and as private per... [ Continue Reading ]
For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he [is] the messenger of the LORD of hosts. Ver. 7. For the priest's lips should keep knowledge] How else should he be instant in lip feeding? how should his lips present it unless they preserve it? How shou... [ Continue Reading ]
But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. Ver. 8. _But ye are departed out of the way_] Heb. From that way, viz. that good old way of your progenitors: you are nothing like Levi, but are woefully d... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law. Ver. 9. _Therefore have I also made you contemptible, and base_] And so have cried quittance with you and returned you your own with usury. God loves... [ Continue Reading ]
Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers? Ver. 10. _Have we not all one father?_] Here begins a second contestation, viz. with the people (as the former was with the priests), for th... [ Continue Reading ]
Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god. Ver. 11. _Judah hath dealt treacherously_] Judah, the confessor, as his name imports; Judah, t... [ Continue Reading ]
_The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts._ Ver. 12. _The Lord will cut off the man that doth this_] Though the magistrate be careless and corrupt; though he either cannot pun... [ Continue Reading ]
And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth [it] with good will at your hand. Ver. 13. _And this have ye done again_] Or, in the second place: _q.d._ Not content to have... [ Continue Reading ]
Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet [is] she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. Ver. 14. _Yet ye say, Wherefore?_] A senseless question; but there is nothing more stupid and stubb... [ Continue Reading ]
And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. Ver. 15. _And did not he make one_] Another forcible argument against polygamy and ad... [ Continue Reading ]
For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for [one] covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously. Ver. 16. _For the Lord the God of Israel saith, that he hateth putting away_] Heb. Put away:... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied [him]? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil [is] good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where [is] the God of judgment? Ver. 17. _Ye have wearied the Lord with your words_] _Laborare fecistis Domi... [ Continue Reading ]