Malachi Chapter 2

From The Open Bible Project

2:1 "Now, you priests, this commandment is for you.

• (a) He speaks mainly to them, but under them he includes the people also.

2:2 If you will not listen, and if you will not lay it to heart, to give glory to my name," says Yahweh of Armies, "then will I send the curse on you, and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have cursed them already, because you do not lay it to heart.

• (b) To serve me according to my word.
• (c) That is, the abundance of God’s benefits.

2:3 Behold, I will rebuke your seed, and will spread dung on your faces, even the dung of your feasts; and you will be taken away with it.

• (d) The seed you sow will come to no profit.
• (e) You boast of your holiness, sacrifices, and feasts, but they will turn to your shame and be as vile as dung.

2:4 You will know that I have sent this commandment to you, that my covenant may be with Levi," says Yahweh of Armies.

• (f) The Priests objected against the Prophet that he could not remove them without speaking against the priesthood, and the office established by God by promise. But he shows that the office is nothing slandered, when these villains and dung are called by their own names.

2:5 "My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him who he might be reverent toward me; and he was reverent toward me, and stood in awe of my name.

• (g) He shows what were the two conditions of the covenant made with the tribe of Levi on God’s part, that he would give them long life and felicity, and on their part, that they should faithfully serve him according to his word.
• (h) I commanded Levi a certain law to serve me.
• (i) He served me and set forth my glory with all humility and submission.

2:6 The law of truth was in his mouth, and unrighteousness was not found in his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many away from iniquity.

• (k) He shows that the priests ought to have knowledge to instruct others in the word of the Lord.

2:7 For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of Yahweh of Armies.

• (l) He is as the treasure house of God’s word, and ought to give to everyone according to their need, and not to reserve it for himself.
• (m) Showing that whoever does not declare God’s will, is not his messenger, and priest.

2:8 But you have turned aside out of the way. You have caused many to stumble in the law. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi," says Yahweh of Armies.

2:9 "Therefore I have also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according to the way you have not kept my ways, but have had respect for persons in the law.

2:10 Don't we all have one father? Hasn't one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, profaning the covenant of our fathers?

• (n) The Prophet accuses the ingratitude of the Jews toward God and man: for seeing they were all born of one father Abraham, as God had elected them to be his holy people, they ought neither to offend God nor their brethren.
• (o) By which they had bound themselves to God to be a holy people.

2:11 Judah has dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah has profaned the holiness of Yahweh which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god.

• (p) They have united themselves in marriage with those that are of another religion.

2:12 Yahweh will cut off, to the man who does this, him who wakes and him who answers, out of the tents of Jacob, and him who offers an offering to Yahweh of Armies.

• (q) That is, the priest.

2:13 This again you do: you cover the altar of Yahweh with tears, with weeping, and with sighing, because he doesn't regard the offering any more, neither receives it with good will at your hand.

• (r) Yet cause the people to lament, because God does not regard their sacrifices, so that they seem to sacrifice in vain.

2:14 Yet you say, 'Why?' Because Yahweh has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously, though she is your companion, and the wife of your covenant.

• (s) This is another fault, of which he accuses them, that is, that they broke the laws of marriage.
• (t) As the one half of yourself.
• (u) She that was united to you by a solemn covenant, and by the invocation of God’s name.

2:15 Did he not make one, although he had the residue of the Spirit? Why one? He sought a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.

• (x) Did not God make man and woman as one flesh and not many?
• (y) By his power and strength he could have made many women for one man.
• (z) Those who should be born in lawful and moderate marriage, in which is no excess of lusts.
• (a) Contain yourselves within your bounds, and be sober in mind, and bridle your affections.

2:16 For I hate divorce," says Yahweh, the God of Israel, "and him who covers his garment with violence!" says Yahweh of Armies. "Therefore take heed to your spirit, that you don't deal treacherously.

• (b) Not that he allows divorce, but of two faults he shows which is the less.
• (c) He thinks it sufficient to keep his wife still, even though he takes others, and so as it were covers his fault.

2:17 You have wearied Yahweh with your words. Yet you say, 'How have we wearied him?' In that you say, 'Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of Yahweh, and he delights in them;' or 'Where is the God of justice?'

• (d) You murmur against God, because he did not hear you as soon as you called.
• (e) In thinking that God favoured the wicked, and had no respect for those that serve him.
• (f) Thus they blasphemed God in condemning his power and justice, because he did not judge according to their imaginings.