1 The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.

2 I have loved you, said the LORD. Yet you say, Wherein have you loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? said the LORD: yet I loved Jacob,

3 And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.

4 Whereas Edom said, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus said the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the LORD has indignation for ever.

5 And your eyes shall see, and you shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel.

6 A son honors his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is my honor? and if I be a master, where is my fear? said the LORD of hosts to you, O priests, that despise my name. And you say, Wherein have we despised your name?

7 You offer polluted bread on my altar; and you say, Wherein have we polluted you? In that you say, The table of the LORD is contemptible.

8 And if you offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if you offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now to your governor; will he be pleased with you, or accept your person? said the LORD of hosts.

9 And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious to us: this has been by your means: will he regard your persons? said the LORD of hosts.

10 Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nothing? neither do you kindle fire on my altar for nothing. I have no pleasure in you, said the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.

11 For from the rising of the sun even to the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered to my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, said the LORD of hosts.

12 But you have profaned it, in that you say, The table of the LORD is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible.

13 You said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and you have snuffed at it, said the LORD of hosts; and you brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus you brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? said the LORD.

14 But cursed be the deceiver, which has in his flock a male, and vows, and sacrifices to the LORD a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, said the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.

burden. See note on Isa 13:1; and compare Zec 9:1; Zec 12:1, &c.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.

to. Not "concerning".

by = by the hand of.

Malachi. Hebrew = My messenger, relating to the five messengers in this book: see App-10. Malachi himself ( Mal 1:1); (2) the true Priest ( Mal 2:7); (3) John the Baptist ( Mal 3:1 -); (4) the Messiah Himself ( Mal 3:1-3); (5) Elijah ( Mal 4:5). This last prophecy introduces the great fulfilment of Jehovah’s prophecy by Moses, the first prophet to Israel, in Deu 18:15-19. Compare Act 3:18-26; Act 7:37.

I have loved Reference to Pentateuch ( Deu 7:8; Deu 10:15; Deu 33:3).

saith = hath said. Quoted in Rom 9:13, Esau Jacob’s. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6, for their posterities. Quoted in Rom 9:13,

saith the LORD = [is] Jehovah’s oracle.

dragons = jackals. Compare Isa 13:22; Isa 34:13. Jer 9:11; Jer 10:22; Jer 49:33; Jer 51:37.

impoverished: or, beaten down.

saith hath said.

the LORD of hosts. This expression occurs twenty four times in this prophecy, and gives its character to the whole, as in Zechariah.

border: or, territory.

wickedness = lawlessness. Hebrew. rasha`. App-44.

A son, &c. Ref to Pentateuch ( Exo 20:12), App-92. Note the Figure of speech Anacoenosis (App-6). An appeal to opponents as having a common interest. Compare Isa 5:4. Luk 11:19. Act 4:19. 1Co 4:21; 1Co 10:15; 1Co 11:13, 1Co 11:14 Gal 1:4, Gal 1:21.

master. The Hebrew accents place the chief pause here, where the statement ends on which the appeal is based.

if then, &c. These two appeals are marked off by minor accents

My name: which is again marked off for special emphasis. (1) The argument is based on natural reverence; (2) the breach is shown in the case of Israel ( Isa 41:8. Hos 11:1); (3) the conclusion being that the priests were guilty cause.

Ye offer, &c. Reference to Pentateuch ( Deu 15:21).

offer = bring nigh. Hebrew. nagash. App-43.

is = it [is].

if ye offer the blind, &c. Reference to Pentateuch ( Lev 22:22. Deu 15:21). App-92.

and sick, is it not = and sick [saying], it is not evil.

I pray you, &c. Figure of speech Irony. App-6.

GOD. Hebrew. El.

this hath been = this hath come to pass.

by your means = at your hands.

regard = accept.

you. Emph. i.e. you [priests].

offering = a gift offering. Hebrew. minchah. App-43.

For. See the Structure ("J" and "J", above) for the commentary.

Gentiles = nations.

heathen = nations, or Gentiles.

it = Me. "Me" was the reading in the primitive text; but the Sopherim state they altered othi (Me) to otho (him, or it) out of a (mistaken) sense of reverence. See App-33. Compare Mal 3:9; and Eze 13:19.

table: i.e. the altar.

the LORD = Jehovah (App-4.). But this is one of 134 places which the Sopherim say they altered Jehovah to "Adonai".

Behold Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton (App-6).

snuffed = puffed. "Snuffed" is an archaism for "sniffed" - complained by snivelling: i.e. pooh-poohed.

it = My altar. See note on Mal 1:12.

should I accept, &c. Reference to Pentateuch ( Lev 22:20). App-92.

hath. Hebrew. yesh, See note on Lam 1:12.