Malachi 3:16

Then When they heard "the hard speeches which ungodly sinners spake against Him" (Judges 15), then they spake one to another words of reverent trust and love and piety. "The more the ungodly spake against God, the more these spake among themselvesfor God" " Pusey.

Some modern commentators, however (e.g. Maurer and Hitzig), regard Malachi 3:14 as the substance of what the godlyspake one to another; and this view, unsatisfactory as it is, appears to be that of the LXX.: ταῦτα κατελάλησαν οἱ φοβούμενοι τὸν κύριον, ἕκαστος πρὸς τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ.

spake often Omit often. See note on Malachi 3:13 above.

a book of remembrance Canon Rawlinson (in The Speaker's Commentary, on Esther 6:3) says, "It was a settled principle of the Persian government that -Royal Benefactors" were to receive an adequate reward. The names of such persons were placed on a special roll (Herod. VIII. 85), and great care was taken that they should be properly recompensed (see Herod. III. 140, v. II, VIII. 85; Thucyd. I. 138; Xen. Hel.111. 1. § 6, &c.). It is a mistake, however, to suppose (Davidson) that they were always rewarded at once. Themistocles was inscribed on the list in b.c. 480, but did not obtain a reward till b.c. 465. Other -benefactors" waited for months (Herod. Malachi 3:11) or perhaps years (ib.IX. 107) before they were recompensed." The figure of a Book of record or remembrance, as kept or directed to be kept by Almighty God, is of early as well as of very general occurrence in Holy Scripture. Moreover there was a -Recorder" in the court of the Hebrew kings. See Exodus 17:14; Exodus 32:32; Psalms 69:28; Daniel 7:10; Luke 10:20; Revelation 20:12.

thought upon Gesenius compares "which shall not regardsilver", Isaiah 13:17; "he regardethno man", Isaiah 33:8; "we esteemedhim not", Isaiah 53:3; in all which places the same Hebrew word is used. In all these places in Isaiah (though not here in Malachi) the LXX. have λογίζομαι as the equivalent, which is the word employed by St Paul in a similar sense, ταῦτα λογίζεσθε, Philippians 4:8.