1-5. These verses are introductory to the whole prophecy. God had shown His love to Israel; Israel ought to have made a proper return, but, on the contrary, Israel had abused God’s loving-kindness. (1) THE BURDEN. — See Notes on Isaiah 13:1; Jeremiah 23:33; Zechariah 9:1; Zechariah 12:1. MALACHI. —... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE LOVED — _i.e.,_ shown abundant proof of my love. The prophet goes on to show how God has shown so great proofs of His love. WAS NOT ESAU JACOB’S BROTHER? — And would not one suppose from that fact they would have similar privileges? But not so. I LOVED JACOB, (3) AND I HATED ESAU... — The et... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREAS ... SAITH. — Better, _If Edom say._ WE ARE IMPOVERISHED. — Better, _we are broken to pieces._ Edom’s ineffectual attempts to restore itself will be looked on as proofs of God’s wrath against the nation on account of its wickedness, and will acquire for it the titles “border of wickedness,”... [ Continue Reading ]
AND YOUR EYES SHALL SEE. — Comp. such expressions as Psalms 37:34; Psalms 52:6; Psalms 91:8. As with the individual, so with a nation: to stand in safety and be a witness to the destruction of the enemy is looked on as a sign of God’s favour. THE LORD WILL BE MAGNIFIED... ISRAEL. — Some render, _le... [ Continue Reading ]
A FATHER. — God is distinctly called the Father of Israel in Deuteronomy 32:6; Deuteronomy 32:18. (Comp. Exodus 4:22 : “My son, my firstborn, is Israel.”) A MASTER. — Comp. Isaiah 1:3. MINE HONOUR — _i.e., the respect due to me._ MY FEAR — _i.e., your dread of me._ Fear is twofold: servile, where... [ Continue Reading ]
(6-14) The prophet’s rebuke for the dishonouring of God’s name is addressed to the priests as the responsible persons, but applies to the whole nation.... [ Continue Reading ]
YE OFFER. — Literally, _offering._ BREAD. — This is not the shewbread, which was not offered upon the altar. The word rendered “bread” means in Arabic “flesh;” in Hebrew, “food generally.” This word is applied (Leviticus 3:11; Leviticus 3:16) to the fat portions of the peace offerings, which were bu... [ Continue Reading ]
IF. — Better, _when._ BLIND... LAME... SICK. — This was contrary to Leviticus 22:22, &c. And now, to show them the heinous nature of their offence against the majesty of God, the prophet asks them whether they could offer such unsound animals to their civil ruler with any chance of acceptance. GOV... [ Continue Reading ]
This verse is severely ironical. The word “God” is expressly used, rather than “the Lord,” as a contrast to the human “governor” mentioned above. The meaning is: “You know you dare not treat thus contemptuously your human governor, what hope then is there of such disrespectful conduct finding favour... [ Continue Reading ]
The prophet is now supposed by many commentators to say that the Temple might as well be closed, as far as concerns any pleasure the Lord takes in their offerings. WHO IS THERE EVEN AMONG YOU... DOORS... ALTAR FOR NOUGHT. — Those that take the above-mentioned view of the passage would render, _O tha... [ Continue Reading ]
This verse contains no verb, and, as far as the rules of grammar are concerned, its participles may be rendered either by presents or futures. If we take the words as referring to the present, we are met by the insurmountable difficulty that in no sense, at the time of Malachi, could the Lord’s Name... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT YE HAVE. — Better, _but ye profane it_ — viz., “my name” (Malachi 1:11). The word “it” is said by Jewish tradition to be an euphemism for “me.” The present contemptuous conduct of God’s priests is contrasted with the prophesied reverence of heathen nations. FRUIT... MEAT, denote the same as “br... [ Continue Reading ]
SAID. — Better, _say._ AND YE HAVE SNUFFED AT IT. — Better, _and ye puff at it_ — that is, treat it with contempt, “pooh-pooh it,” as we say. The service of the Temple, which they ought to have regarded as their highest privilege and pleasure, they look on as burdensome and contemptible. For “broug... [ Continue Reading ]
Some consider that two cases are mentioned in this verse. (1) One who acts deceitfully (by offering a _female_ as a _burnt offering,_ which is contrary to the Law, while there is in his flock a _male_); (2) and one who makes _a vow_ (to offer a _sacrifice of peace offerings,_ for which either a male... [ Continue Reading ]