Malachi 4:1. _the day_ i.e. "the day" predicted in the preceding verse, with which this verse coheres closely. The commencing of a new chapter here in A.V. (and LXX., after Vulg., though not in our present Hebrew Bibles) is unfortunate. The R.V. rightly prints from Malachi 3:13 to Malachi 4:3 inclus... [ Continue Reading ]
_the Sun of righteousness_ The capital letter with which "Sun" is printed in A.V. is of the nature of a comment. It suggests at once to the reader the personal and Messianic reference of the word. But it is better to print "sun" with R.V.; not as denying or obscuring the ultimate and designed refere... [ Continue Reading ]
_ashes_ to which the "stubble" has been reduced, Malachi 4:1. _that I_shall _do_this] Rather, WHEN I DO, OR WORK. See note on Malachi 3:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
Malachi 4:4-6. Concluding Exhortation (Malachi 4:4) and Promise (Malachi 4:5) _Remember ye the law of Moses_ The revelation of God is always continuous. Each fresh step is evolved out of, and is in harmony with, those which went before. To "remember" the past is to prepare for the future. The exhor... [ Continue Reading ]
_Elijah the prophet_ The reading of the LXX., "Elijah the Tishbite" (τὸν Θεσβίτην), has been thought to indicate their belief that the actual return of Elijah to earth is here foretold. Some have traced the same belief in the appropriation by the Son of Sirach to the literal Elijah of Malachi's desc... [ Continue Reading ]
_he shall turn the heart of the fathers_ The "fathers" here are the patriarchs, whom the prophet regards as estranged from their degenerate "children", or descendants, and ceasing to acknowledge them on account of their unworthy character and conduct. (Comp. Isaiah 63:16; Matthew 3:9.) When "the hea... [ Continue Reading ]