Bible Commentaries

1
Jehovah's Love and His People's Ingratitude

1. Burden] RM 'oracle'; properly, 'that which is lifted up,' hence in this connexion 'utterance'; but with play on other meaning 'burden' in Jeremiah 23:33 (RM).

2. Wherein hast thou loved us?] i.e. 'Wherein hast thou shewn thy love?' So in Malachi 1:3, I hated Esau means 'I have shewn myself hostile to Esau' 'Esau' and 'Jacob' here stand for the nations Edom and Israel, not for the patriarMalachi

3. The desolation of Edom here referred to had been already adduced by an unknown prophet (Isaiah 63) as a proof of Jehovah's care for Israel. Edom was devastated by an invasion of Arabs who for more than a century had been pressing into Palestine: cp. Ezekiel 25:4-5, Ezekiel 25:10. Dragons] RV 'jackals.'

4. We are impoverished] RV 'we are beaten down.' The text is somewhat uncertain: cp. Isaiah 9:10. Thus saith the Lord] In Heb. 'to think' is often represented by the verb 'to say.' A Hebrew does not hesitate to represent what he believes to be true, and therefore the 'thought' of Jehovah, as 'spoken' by Jehovah. In such a phrase there is no idea of a revelation by vision.

5., The Lord will be (RV 'be') magnified] The Heb. may express either a prayer, as in Psalms 40:16, or a statement. Here the meaning is probably that Jehovah habitually manifests His greatness.

From (more literally 'above') the border] Jehovah's activity is not confined to Jerusalem.

6. The priests especially stand to Jehovah in the relation of sons and servants.

7. Polluted] i.e. not actually unclean, but worthless, common: cp. Ezra 2:62. Bread] sacrificial offerings generally: cp. Leviticus 21:6. Table] the altar, not merely the table of shewbread.

8. Cp. Deuteronomy 15:21; Deuteronomy 17:1; Leviticus 22:20. Blind.. lame.. sick] i.e. animals unlawful for sacrifice.

It is not evil?] RV 'it is no evil!'

Governor] Heb. Peha. The term is applied to Zerubbabel (Haggai 1:1, Haggai 1:4). It is impossible to say whether Malachi has a Jewish or Persian governor in view. Accept thy person] more correctly, 'favour thee.'

9. This hath been, etc.] Translate the latter part of this verse partly corrected from LXX: 'When this hath been done by you, shall I accept,' etc.

10. RV 'Oh that there were one among you that would shut the doors, that ye might not kindle fire on mine altar in vain!' i.e. Sacrifices so offered are worthless; better to let the altar fire go out and abstain from sacrifice.

11. Shall be (RV 'is') great] Jehovah does not need the worthless worship of lip-serving Jews, for even among the Gentiles, who are accounted heathen, He has those who worship Him: cp. Acts 10:34, Acts 10:35. Incense shall be (RV 'is') offered] The sacrifices of the Gentiles, when offered with sincere devotion, are offered to Jehovah's 'name': cp. Acts 17:23.

14. Cp. Leviticus 22:19, Leviticus 22:20. The title 'King' is applied to Jehovah in post-exilic writings composed when the Jews had not an earthly king.

Dreadful] RV 'terrible'; better, 'had in reverence.'