Malachi 2:10-16

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 in view, both as probably themselves guilty of the sin denounced (comp. Ezra 10:18; Nehemiah 13:28), and as conniving at it by withholding or wresting the sentence of the Law against it (Malachi 2:8-9). From the Covenanttoo with Levi (Malachi 2:8) the transition is natural to the wider Covenantwith the fathers (Malachi 2:10). The prophet lays down (Malachi 2:10) the principle on which the whole rebuke rests; and then deals with their transgression of it, first by heathen marriages (Malachi 2:11), and secondly, as a consequence of this, by the divorce of their lawful wives (Malachi 2:13).

The word deal-treacherouslyis a key-word to the section. See Malachi 2:10; Malachi 2:14.