Malachi 2:1-9. Threatened Punishment of the Priests 1. _O ye priests_ The discourse turns again in direct appeal to the priests. The exact order of the words is emphatic: _And now, for you is this commandment, O priests_. _this commandment_ Some commentators would make "commandment" here mean purp... [ Continue Reading ]
_a curse_ Rather, THE CURSE, as R.V. See Deuteronomy 27:26; Deuteronomy 28:15. _your blessings_ i.e. the good gifts which I have bestowed upon you. Comp. Psalms 69:22 [Heb. 23].... [ Continue Reading ]
_corrupt_ Rather, REPROVE, margin A.V.; or REBUKE, R.V. Comp. ch. Malachi 3:11: "I will rebuke (the same word) the devourer." God will wither with His rebuke the seed so that it shall not germinate, or shall not come to maturity. Thus the priests would suffer both in tithes and in offerings (Joel 1:... [ Continue Reading ]
_might be_ i.e. might _continue_(_porro staret_. Maurer). Whether they heard, or whether they forbore, they should learn in the issue, that God had sent them "this commandment" to repent on penalty of so dire a punishment, in order that the ancient covenant of Levi, of which the holiness of the prie... [ Continue Reading ]
_My covenant_&c. Comp. Numbers 25:12-13; Nehemiah 13:29. for _the fear wherewith he feared me_ Lit. _I gave them_(viz. life and peace: I fulfilled my part of the covenant) _to him_(as) _fear_, (i.e. on condition that he should fulfil his part of it), _that he might fear_(R.V.); _and_(he did fulfil... [ Continue Reading ]
_The law of truth_ Teaching, as a function of the priesthood, entered into the original idea and constitution of the office (Deuteronomy 33:10; Leviticus 10:11), and was revived in connection with it after the return from Babylon (Ezra 7:10; Ezra 7:25; Nehemiah 8:1-8). To be without "a teaching prie... [ Continue Reading ]
_For_ And in all this he only fulfilled his duty, _for_such in life and doctrine ought the priest, as the messenger of Jehovah to the people, to be. _messenger_ See Introduction ch. 1. p. 13.... [ Continue Reading ]
_at the law_ This rendering is quite defensible (Leviticus 26:37; Nahum 3:3); and the idea of the Law itself being made the stumbling-block of the people, by the tortuous interpretations put upon it by the priests and by their inconsistent conduct, is forcible, and is in keeping with the representat... [ Continue Reading ]
_been partial_ Lit. HAD RESPECT OF PERSONS. R.V.... [ Continue Reading ]
_one father_ i.e. God, as the parallelism suggests. Comp. John 8:41. The reference to Abraham, though of course admissible (Matthew 3:9; John 8:39), is less satisfactory. _his brother_ Out of the common Fatherhood springs a common brotherhood which intensifies the wrong. So St Paul writes, with ref... [ Continue Reading ]
Malachi 2:10-16. Rebuke of the People for Heathen Marriages and Divorce The transition from the former section is less abrupt than at first sight it seems to be. The people at large are now addressed directly, and not merely incidentally as before (Malachi 1:14); but the priests are still clearly i... [ Continue Reading ]
_the holiness of the Lord_ Comp. Leviticus 11:44; 1 Thessalonians 4:7. This is better than _sanctuary of the Lord_, R.V. margin. Comp. τὰ ἅγια, LXX. _which he loved_ In like manner Almighty God is said to love _righteousness_and _judgment_. Psalms 11:7; Psalms 33:5; Isaiah 61:8. _the daughter of a... [ Continue Reading ]
_the man_ Rather, TO THE MAN, as R.V., i.e. out of his family. _the master and the scholar_ Rather, as A.V. margin and R.V., HIM THAT WAKETH AND HIM THAT ANSWERETH. It is a proverbial expression, like "him that is shut up and him that is left at large" (1 Kings 21:21), meaning all without exception... [ Continue Reading ]
_again_ Lit. SECOND. The first evil of marrying heathen women was accompanied by a second, the cruel treatment and divorce ("putting-away," Malachi 2:16) of their lawful wives, which is now dealt with, Malachi 2:13. _covering the altar_ The weeping crowd of insulted and divorced wives turn to God,... [ Continue Reading ]
_hath been witness_ Comp. Genesis 31:50. _of thy covenant_ To the tender recollection of "the kindness of youth and the love of espousals" (Jeremiah 2:2), and the binding force of years since spent together in intimate companionship, there is added the solemn obligation of the marriage contract, "t... [ Continue Reading ]
_did not he make one_?] The interpretation of this very difficult verse follows in the main, though with some variety of detail, one or other of two lines. (1) By "one" here Abraham is held to be intended, who is called "one" in Isaiah 51:2 (lit. "for one I called him"; "I called him alone", A.V.;... [ Continue Reading ]
_the God of Israel_ who has given them His law. His relation to the people aggravates their guilt. _hateth putting away_ Lit. FOR HE (JEHOVAH) HATETH PUTTING AWAY (DIVORCE), SAITH JEHOVAH, &c. It is true that divorce was permitted by the Law of Moses, in certain cases (Deuteronomy 24:1-4); but tha... [ Continue Reading ]
Malachi 2:17 to Malachi 3:6. Rebuke of the people for profane impiety 17. With another abrupt transition the prophet passes to a new though cognate subject. The abuses in connection with Divine worship and the social evils which he has already rebuked culminate in avowed unbelief (_with your words_... [ Continue Reading ]