3 The Speedy Judgment 1. This v. is closely connected with the preceding. It is the answer to the question, 'Where is the God of judgment?' The messenger is evidently a prophet or a succession of prophets: cp. Deuteronomy 18:9. The phrase he shall prepare the way before me is probably borrowed fro... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL PURIFY THE SONS OF LEVI] The judgment will begin at the house of God. 4. Malachi, like other-late OT. writers, here idealises the past: cp. Isaiah 2:5; 1 Kings 4:20; 1 Kings 4:21.... [ Continue Reading ]
I CHANGE NOT] better, 'I have not changed.' The THEREFORE in the following clause is wrong: the Heb. has 'but you' (emphatic) 'are not consumed.' As this yields no antithesis, it is not improbable that there is a corruption in the text. The argument seems to be, 'I have not changed, but you have not... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DEVOURER] i.e. locusts: cp. Joel 1:4; Amos 4:2. 13. The godly are here addressed, and in their lack of faith are reminded that 'the Lord is mindful of His own.' 14. Cp. Psalms 73:13; Isaiah 58:3. 16. The change from direct address to narrative utterly spoils the connexion. LXX gives, '_This_'... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THAT DAY WHEN I MAKE UP MY JEWELS] RV 'in the day that I do make, _even_ a peculiar treasure': better, 'in the day that I shew myself active' (so in Malachi 4:3), 'even a peculiar possession.' For the last words cp. Deuteronomy 7:6; Deuteronomy 14:2; Deuteronomy 26:18. 18. Malachi here treats the... [ Continue Reading ]