IV. (1) The day already foretold in Malachi 3:2 shall be as a fire burning fiercely as a furnace, and “the wicked” — not only the heathen, but the murmurers themselves, so far from being accounted happy (Malachi 3:15) — shall be as “stubble.” (Comp. Isaiah 5:24; Zephaniah 1:18; Obadiah 1:18, &c.)... [ Continue Reading ]
As the rising sun diffuses light and heat, so that all that is healthy in nature revives and lifts up its head, while plants that have no depth of root are scorched up and wither away, so the advent of the reign of righteousness, which will reward the good and the wicked, each according to his deser... [ Continue Reading ]
TREAD DOWN. — Comp. Isaiah 26:5. THAT I SHALL DO THIS. — Better, _which I am about to make._ (Comp. Malachi 3:17.)... [ Continue Reading ]
CONCLUDING ADMONITION. (4-6) As the prophetical books began (Joshua 1:2; Joshua 1:8) with “_Moses my servant_ is dead... this book of the _Law_ shall not be removed from thy mouth, &c.,” so they close with the admonition, “Remember ye the _Law of Moses my servant._” (Comp. Deuteronomy 4:1; Deuterono... [ Continue Reading ]
ELIJAH. — There is no more reason to suppose that this refers actually to “Elijah” the prophet, and that he is to appear upon earth, than to imagine from Hosea 3:5; Ezekiel 24:23; Ezekiel 37:24; Jeremiah 30:9; that David himself is to come again in the flesh. When John the Baptist answered the quest... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SHALL TURN... TO THEIR FATHERS. — This does not refer to the settlement of family disputes, such as might have arisen from marriage with foreign wives. “The fathers are rather the ancestors of the Israelitish nation, the patriarchs, and generally the pious forefathers... The sons, or children... [ Continue Reading ]