Malachi 1:1. Title 1. _burden_ either _burden_, from its weighty character as a Divine announcement, or _oracle_as that which is -taken up" (Exodus 20:17: Numbers 23:18) by the speaker. See note on Zechariah 9:1 in this Series. _Malachi_ See Introd. pp. 7 9.... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have loved you_ I have loved you with an everlasting (Jeremiah 31:3) and unchangeable (Romans 11:29) love. This is the keynote of all that follows. On this rests Jehovah's claim to the filial honour and reverential fear which had been withheld from Him (Malachi 1:6); on this the patient forbearan... [ Continue Reading ]
Malachi 1:2-5. Introductory Appeal These verses form an exordium to the whole Book. The ungrateful disposition of the people and the unchanging love of God are in view in all that follows.... [ Continue Reading ]
_for the dragons_ Rather, JACKALS. The unusual form of the word here (fem. instead of masc. as elsewhere) has led many to render, _dwellings_(LXX. δώματα ἐρήμου; and Syr.). But the derivation and meaning are not satisfactory. Rather, with R.V., I MADE HIS MOUNTAINS A DESOLATION, AND gave HIS HERITAG... [ Continue Reading ]
_impoverished_ Rather (with R.V. text, and so in Jeremiah 5:17), BEATEN DOWN. "So Ephraim said of old -in the pride and stoutness of heart, The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars." Isaiah 9:9-10." Pusey. _retur... [ Continue Reading ]
_your eyes shall see_ Unharmed and in safety yourselves you shall witness the overthrow of Edom (comp. Psalms 91:7-8). _will be magnified from_ Rather, BE MAGNIFIED OVER. It is an ascription of praise (comp. Psalms 48:1) to God who extends, as it were, His tutelary care over Israel, while utter des... [ Continue Reading ]
Malachi 1:6 to Malachi 3:6. Rebuke and threatened punishment of the Priests and People Ch. Malachi 1:6-14. Rebuke of the Priests _O priests_ On them first the rebuke justly falls, because they were chiefly responsible for the ungrateful return made by the people to the love of Jehovah. But in them... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye offer polluted bread_ i.e. _sacrifices_. The word is often used in this sense and rendered _food_; e.g. Leviticus 3:11; Leviticus 3:16. Elsewhere the sacrifices are called, _the bread or food of God_. Leviticus 21:6; Leviticus 21:8; Ezekiel 44:7. Their duty, as expounders of the Law (ch. Malach... [ Continue Reading ]
_if_ Rather, WHEN. Their poverty since the return from Babylon might possibly be urged by them as an excuse for this. Is it _not evil?_ Rather, IT IS NO EVIL!, ironically, as in R.V. _offer it_ The R.V. renders, PRESENT IT, with a view no doubt to indicate that it is not the same Hebrew word as is... [ Continue Reading ]
_beseech God_ lit. _stroke or smooth the face of God_, i.e. propitiate or seek the favour of God. See Daniel 9:13; Psalms 45:12, and note on Zechariah 7:2. It is not a call to repentance, but a challenge to put it to the proof whether, their conduct being such as it is ("this hath been by your mean... [ Continue Reading ]
_Who_is there _even_&c. Rather, with the majority of modern commentators and with R.V. OH, THAT THERE WERE ONE AMONG YOU THAT WOULD SHUT THE DOORS, THAT YE MIGHT NOT KINDLE [FIRE ON] MY ALTAR IN VAIN! Better no sacrifices at all than such sacrifices as these. Better a Temple closed than a Temple pr... [ Continue Reading ]
_For_ "I will no longer accept the local and polluted offering, _for_I will substitute for it a pure and universal offering." "He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second." _my name_shall be _great_ The A.V. supplies _shall be_here and twice again in this verse (_incense shall be offe... [ Continue Reading ]
have _profaned_ Rather, PROFANE, R.V. lit. ARE (HABITUALLY) PROFANING. _the table of the Lord_&c. The reference is to the maintenance of the priests by their share in the sacrifices. After allowing unworthy sacrifices to be offered (Malachi 1:8), they complained that their service at the altar was i... [ Continue Reading ]
_what a weariness_is it!] i.e. the service of the Sanctuary. _torn_ Rather, TAKEN BY VIOLENCE. R.V. _ye brought an offering_ Rather, YE BRING THE OFFERING, R.V. The reference is perhaps to "the (stated, public) offerings," which the priests provided out of the Temple funds entrusted to them (Nehem... [ Continue Reading ]
_a corrupt_thing] or, _a blemished thing_, R.V. The word is feminine, and the meaning may perhaps be, that for a perfect male, which he has in his flock and therefore could offer, as the law required (Leviticus 22:18-19), he substituted a blemished female.... [ Continue Reading ]