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Commentary Critical and Explanatory

Malachi 2:4

And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.

And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi - "ye shall know," by bitter experience of the consequences, that it was with this design I admonished you, in order "that my covenant with Levi might be" maintained - i:e., that it was for your own good (which would be ensured by your maintaining the Levitical command) I admonished you, that ye should return to your duty (Maurer). (Compare Malachi 2:5.) Malachi's function was that of a reformer, leading back the priests and people to the law ().

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See also Malachi 2:4 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Malachi 2:4. _THIS COMMANDMENT_] That in the _first_ verse; to drive such priests from his presence and his service. _THAT MY COVENANT MIGHT BE WITH LEVI_] I gave the priesthood and the service...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    AND YE SHALL KNOW THAT I HAVE SENT THIS COMMANDMENT UNTO YOU: - this, which He had just uttered. They who believe not God when threatening, know that He is in earnest and not to be trifled with, throu...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    THE REBUKE OF THE PRIESTS CHAPTER 1:6-2:9 The priests, the religious leaders of the people, are described first in their evil ways, and rebuked. But the rebuke includes the entire people, for it is t...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    MALACHI 1:6 TO MALACHI 2:16. ISRAEL'S DISREGARD OF THIS LOVE. This section falls into two parts, one dealing with the priesthood (Malachi 1:6 to Malachi 2:9),

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    BE. contiuue....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _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...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _THIS COMMANDMENT IS FOR YOU - MALACHI 2:1-6:_ The priests must accept and respect God's commandments. These teachings applied to them just as they applied to the people. The priests had not done well...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    ISRAEL IS UNFAITHFUL. Malachi 1:6 to Malachi 2:9 RV. A son honoreth his father, and a servant his master; if then I am a father, whereis mine honor? and if I am a master, where is my fear? saith Jehov...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    2 The Degeneracy of the Priesthood 1. A reminder to the priests that they are to blame for the laxity denounced in Malachi 1:13; Malachi 1:14. They are responsible for the offering of fit victims, w...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    MY *MESSENGER MALACHI _GORDON CHURCHYARD_ CHAPTER 2 V1 ‘And now, priests, this command is for you. V2 If you do not listen (to me)’ says the *LORD of Everything, ‘then I will send a *curse on you...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    II. (1-9) The decree against the priests....

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    COMMANDMENT. — Or rather, _decree,_ as in Malachi 2:1. THAT MY COVENANT MIGHT BE. — Better, _to be my covenant_ — _i.e.,_ so that this new decree, which I have been compelled to make against the hous...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וִֽ ידַעְתֶּ֕ם כִּ֚י שִׁלַּ֣חְתִּי אֲלֵיכֶ֔ם אֵ֖ת...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    3. THE PRIESTHOOD OF KNOWLEDGE Malachi 2:1 In the third section of his book "Malachi" addresses himself to the priests. He charges them not only with irreverence and slovenliness in their discharge o...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    Malachi 2:1; Malachi 3:1; Malachi 4:1 PROPHECY WITHIN THE LAW "MALACHI" 1-4 BENEATH this title we may gather all the eight sections of the Book of "Malachi." They contain many things of perennial i...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE TRANSGRESSION OF THE COVENANT Malachi 2:1-17 As a contrast to the disgraceful attitude which the prophet had described as characteristic of the priesthood, he paints the picture of the noble prie...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    In dealing with the priests, he declared their corruption, and indicated the line of their punishment. He charged them with profanity, in that they had despised the name of Jehovah; with sacrilege, in...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    And ye shall know that I have (f) sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. (f) The Priests objected against the Prophet that he could not remove t...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Levi. When this tribe was chosen does not appear. Some think that he alludes to the renewing of the covenant under Nehemias, which seems best, 2 Esdras ix. 1, 38. I then promised you life, &c. (Calme...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    We have an authority in the opening of this message, to refer it to the priests of the Jewish dispensation. But, I think, without violence, though the priests, as leaders in the temple service, are fi...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    Lectures on the Minor Prophets. W. Kelly. The Lord has not been pleased to give us much express information of the prophets in general, with the exception of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel, and in a me...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    Here he addresses in particular the priests; for though the whole people with great haughtiness resisted God, yet the priests surpassed them. And we know how ready men are to turn to evil whatever ben...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 1 THROUGH 4. The prophecy of Malachi deals with the people brought back from the captivity of Babylon, and is most important as shewing the moral condition of...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND YE SHALL KNOW THAT I HAVE SENT THIS COMMANDMENT UNTO YOU,.... Malachi 2:1: THAT MY COVENANT MIGHT BE WITH LEVI, SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS; not that the ceremonial law might be confirmed and establi...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    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 b...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _O ye priests, this commandment is for you_ Or _decree_, rather, for properly speaking no commandment is here given to the priests, only punishment is denounced upon them if they did not repent. _If y...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    CONCLUSION OF THE REBUKE TO THE PRIESTS...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And ye shall know, by the token of this punishment, that I have sent this commandment unto you, this decree of punishment, which they thought they might so calmly disregard, THAT MY COVENANT MIGHT BE...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-9 What is here said of the covenant of priesthood, is true of the covenant of grace made with all believers, as spiritual priests. It is a covenant of life and peace; it assures all believers of al...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    AND YE, O priests, SHALL KNOW, by sense and feeling, by woeful experience; or, know ye, i.e. but what I speak now, and will do among you. I have sent this commandment; admonition, reproof, and exhorta...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Malachi 2:4 know H3045 (H8804) sent H7971 (H8765) commandment H4687 covenant H1285 Levi H3878 Says H559 ...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: The message to the priests concerning their sins. The evils among the people. CHARACTERS: God, Holy Spirit, Malachi. CONCLUSION: Woe to those appointed to be God's mouth to the people, but...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Malachi 2:1. _Oh ye priests if ye will not hear the Lord will send a curse upon you._ Sins in the sanctuary are always put among the most grievous sins. Eli's sons lost the ark, the Hebrew priests fil...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _That My covenant might be with Levi._ THE MINISTER OF DIVINE TRUTH I. As he always should be. 1. A man divinely called. 2. A man of profound reverence. 3. A man of moral truthfulness. 4. A man...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    MALACHI—NOTE ON MALACHI 2:2 Since the priests failed to guard the temple’s purity, the Lord threatens to punish them. Because they “despised” (Malachi 1:6) the Lord’s NAME

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.] The charge is still urged against the priests, who are warned if they do not reform they will be deprived of enjoyments, and made objects of shame. MALACHI 2:2. A] Lit. _the_ curse de...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION MALACHI 2:1 _§ 4. For these derelictions of duty the priests are threatened with punishment._ MALACHI 2:1 THIS COMMANDMENT. The threat or announcement is called a commandment, because Go...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now He addresses Himself to the priests. And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. And if you will not hear, and if you will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Kings 22:25; Ezekiel 20:38; Ezekiel 33:33; Ezekiel 38:23;...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    VITAL QUESTIONS Malachi 1:1; Malachi 2:1; Malachi 3:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS The Book of Malachi presents questions asked by God. In response, instead of a direct answer, the chosen people, Israel, ask...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    My covenant — If you will not confirm, and keep Levi's covenant among you, I will make it firm on my part, by punishing the violators of it....

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