1God by Malachi complaineth of Israel's ingratitude, 6and of the profane disrespect shown to God's worship. 14The curse of corrupt offerings.
1THE1 burden of the word of the LORD 2to Israel 3by 4Malachi.
1 See Isa. 13:1; Zech. 9:1.
2 Unto the people that came back again out of the Babylonian captivity into their own country, being not all of the Jews, but some of the Israelites also. See 1 Chron. 9 on verse 3.
3 Hebr. by the hand of.
4 Commonly called Malachias.
2I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye 5say, 6Wherein hast thou loved us? 7Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: 8yeta I loved Jacob,
5 Namely, scornfully; or at least out of weakness or ignorance. Other, if you say.
6 That is, whereby does it appear that Thou hast loved us? We are visited with as many, nay more adversities and troubles than many among the very heathen, who neither know nor honor the true God.
7 This is the Lord’s answer upon the preceding question of the people. As if He said: Is this not a clear evidence of My love to you that I chose your father Jacob and rejected his brother Esau? Upon which is followed: that I have accepted you for My people and not Edom, and showed you all kinds of favors, and now at this time have delivered out of Babel.
8 See Rom. 9:13.
a Rom. 9:13.
3And I hated Esau, 9and laid 10his mountains and 11his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.
9 That is, I have laid and left it waste, and I have restored to you both your country and religion. Compare Jer. 49:8; Ezek. 25:12, etc.
10 That is, the mountainous land, wherein he lived, called Seir.
11 That is, the land, which Esau and his posterity have possessed many years as their own inheritance and property, shall be given to the dragons of the wilderness to inhabit. See Jer. 49:13, etc.
4Whereas 12Edom saith, 13We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD of hosts, 14They shall build, but I will throw down; and 15they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people 16against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever.
12 That is, the Edomites.
13 Hebr. we shall return, we shall build.
14 Or, Will they build, then I shall break down. The sense is: The land of the Edomites is desolate and it shall be forever waste, without recovery.
15 That is, one shall call their land.
16 Or, against whom the LORD is incensed for ever. See of the Hebrew word Micah 6 on verse 10.
5And your eyes 17shall see, and ye shall say, 18The LORD will be magnified 19from the border of Israel.
17 Namely, this desolation of Edom.
18 Namely, for this destruction of His enemies.
19 Or, over the border of Israel. Others translate this verse thus: Which your eyes shall see from the border of Israel, and ye shall say: The Lord doth magnify himself. Compare Psalm 35:26, 27; 40:16; 70:4; 104:1.
6¶A son 20honoureth his father, and a servant 21his master: if then I be a father, where is 22mine honour? and if I be a master, where is 23my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, 24O priests, that despise my name. 25And ye say, 26Wherein have we despised thy name?
20 That is, he is obliged to honor his father.
21 Hebr. his masters. See Gen. 39 on verse 2.
22 That is, the honor which is due to Me.
23 That is, the fear which is due to Me.
24 He individually punishes the priests, who were living at that time, because they, who were required by their office to reprove earnestly the sins of the people, went before them giving an evil example.
25 Other, if ye say.
26 These wicked priests committed not only all manner of gross sins, but they were so hardened in them that they would not even acknowledge them.
7Ye offer 27polluted 28bread upon mine altar; and ye 29say, Wherein have we polluted 30thee? In that ye say, 31The table of the LORD is 32contemptible.
27 That is, such oblations which are forbidden in the law, Lev. 22:20, etc.; Deut. 15:21, whereof some examples are given in verse 8.
28 For bread or offering, which one offered to the Lord on the altar of burnt offering to be consumed by fire. See Ezek. 44:7.
29 Not that they spoke it in plain terms, but they plainly showed it by their practice that such was their meaning.
30Thee, that is, Thine altar. He who despises the holy things, which God did institute, despises God Himself.
31 That is, the altar of the Lord. See the annotation Ezek. 41 on verse 22; 44:16. Compare 1 Cor. 10:21.
32 That is, not to be so greatly esteemed, that we should need to offer just the very best of our flocks upon it, as the manner was in former times, when that glorious temple and altar were in honor.
8And if ye offer 33the blind for sacrifice, 34is it not evil? and if ye 35offer 36the lame and sick, 37is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; 38will he be pleased with thee, or accept 39thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.
33 That is, a blind beast. See Lev. 22:20, 22, 25.
34 Or, is not that evil?
35 Namely, bring to sacrifice.
36 That is, a beast which is cripple, lame or halting. See Deut. 17:1.
37 Or, it is not evil. Yea, verily it is, because the Lord did forbid to offer any of such.
38 Do you think it will prove an acceptable present to him when you bring him such an animal?
39 That is, to accept your person graciously when you entreat and request something from him? See of this phrase Gen. 19 on verse 21.
940And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: 41this hath been by your means: 42will he regard your persons? saith the LORD of hosts.
40 The prophet speaks this ironically to the wicked priests, as if he would say: Try it once, and see ye hypocrites whether you shall be heard of God. Surely not, for since you displease the Lord yourselves, He can take no pleasure, neither in your prayers nor your offerings.
41 Namely, that you have brought unwarrantable sacrifices unto the altar of the Lord, and that others also did the same, making them believe that such was not evil, verse 8.
42 That is, shall He regard your persons, offices or prayers? The sense is: Surely not!
10Who is there even 43among you that would shut 44the doors 45for nought? 46neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neitherb will I accept an offering 47at your hand.
43 Namely, among the priests; or, among you all.
44 Namely, the doors of the temple. See 1 Chron. 9:26.
45 As if God would say: Have I not sufficiently requited your labor, in giving you the tenths and still other benefits and profits, as, the first fruits, and such and such shares and portions in the sacrifices for your maintenance? And nevertheless you are so remiss and careless in looking to and performing your duties.
46 Hebr. and ye do not kindle my altar for nothing.
b Isa. 1:11; Jer. 6:20; Amos 5:21, 22.
47 Namely, because you are such wicked and base wretches. See Isa. 1:11; Jer. 6:20.
11For 48from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name 49shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place 50incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.
48 That is, throughout the entire world. See Deut. 32:21; Psalm 113:3.
49 The sense is: Not only in the Jewish land, but throughout the entire world shall My Name be honored and worshipped; which has been accomplished at the time of Christ and further thereafter.
50 That is, people shall render Me the pure worship; understand the inward and spiritual worship and the spiritual sacrifices, which are here expressed and which were typified by the ceremonies from the Old Testament. Compare Zech. 14:16, 20.
12 ¶ 51But ye have profaned 52it, in that ye say, 53The table of the LORD is polluted; 54and 55the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible.
51 Or, For.
52 Namely, My Name.
53 Namely, because it was destroyed by the Chaldeans; therefore these nice priests pretended that they were not to be so strictly engaged now to the new altar, set up instead of the old, nor bound to give such exact heed to the sacrifices, whether they were perfect or imperfect, clean or unclean. See verse 7.
54 Other, therefore.
55 That is, concerning what is her fruit, that is, the sacrifices laid thereon, the same is but contemptible meat.
1356Ye said also, Behold, 57what a weariness is it! 58and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and 59the lame, and the sick; thus 60ye brought an offering: should I accept 61this of your hand? saith the LORD.
56 The sense is: Ye hypocrites, when you have carried such a lean sheep or kid to the temple, as one might be well able to blow it away, yet you dare to make a show as if the bearing had tired you, as if it was so fat and heavy.
57 How does it weary and tire one to bear it!
58 Other, and ye have blown him away, that is, despised, namely God. Compare Psalm 10:5.
59 Contrary to God’s command, Lev. 22:22.
60 Namely, such offering, which is not exceptional at all. Other, ye bring or offer me the same for a meat offering.
61 Namely, such a meat offering.
14But cursed be the deceiver, 62which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord 63a corrupt thing: for I am 64a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful 65among the heathen.
62 Who has the power and the means to offer a sacrifice to God, according to His law, and who neglects it being a miser. One was bound to bring a male for sacrifice, Lev. 1:3.
63 Which is damaged or defective, or has a spot, and therefore not suitable for sacrifice.
64 Thus the Lord is also called by David in Psalm 47:2, and therefore He is to be honored and feared above all kings and princes. See verse 8. See also Psalm 48:2; Mat. 5:35.
65 How much more than ought ye, who are called My people, to fear, honor and serve Me.