---
title: "Clarke"
description: "Verse Malachi 1:1. The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi. — This prophet is undoubtedly the last of the Jewish prophets. He lived after"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/malachi/1"
---

Verse [Malachi 1:1](../../../kjv/malachi/1/1). ***The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by**********Malachi.*** — This prophet is undoubtedly the *last* of the Jewish prophets. He lived after Zechariah and Haggai; for we find that the *temple*, which was begun in their time, was standing complete in his. See [Malachi 3:10](../../../kjv/malachi/3/10). Some have thought that he was contemporary with Nehemiah; indeed, several have supposed that *Malachi*, is no other than *Ezra* under the feigned name of *angel of the Lord*, or *my* *angel*. John the Baptist was the link that connected Malachi with Christ. According to Abp. *Usher* he flourished B.C. 416, but the authorized version, which we have followed in the margin, states this event to have happened *nineteen* years later. Both the Hebrew language and poetry had declined in his days.
*Israel*. - Here means the Jewish people in general.

Verse [Malachi 1:2](../../../kjv/malachi/1/2). **Was*****not Esau Jacob's brother?*** — Have I not shown a greater *partiality* to the *Israelites* than I have to the *Edomites*?
***I loved Jacob*** — My *love to Jacob* has been proved by giving him greater privileges and a better inheritance than what I have given to *Esau*.

Verse [Malachi 1:3](../../../kjv/malachi/1/3). ***And I hated Esau*** — I have shown him *less love*; [Genesis 29:30-31](../../../kjv/genesis/29/30-31). I comparatively *hated* him by giving him an inferior lot. And now, I have not only laid waste the dwelling-place of the Edomites, by the incursions of their enemies; but ([Malachi 1:4](../../../kjv/malachi/1/4)) they shall remain the perpetual monuments of my vengeance. On the subject of *loving* *Jacob* and *hating Esau*, see the notes on [Genesis 27:21-46](../../../kjv/genesis/27/21-46), and [Romans 9:13](../../../kjv/romans/9/13). Let it be remembered,
1. That there is not a word spoken here concerning the *eternal state* of either Jacob or Esau.
2. That what is spoken concerns merely their *earthly possessions*. And,
3. That it does not concern the *two brothers* at all, but the *posterity* of each.

Verse [Malachi 1:4](../../../kjv/malachi/1/4). ***They shall build, but I will throw down*** — We have already seen enough of the wickedness of the *Edomites* to justify the utmost severity of Divine justice against them. The *pulling* *down* predicted here was by Judas Maccabeus; see *1Mac 5:65*; and by John Hyrcanus; see *Joseph*. Antiq., lib. xiii. c. 9. s. 1.
***They shall call them, The border of wickedness*** — A wicked land. Among this people scarcely any trace of good could ever be noted.

Verse [Malachi 1:5](../../../kjv/malachi/1/5). ***Your eyes*** — Ye Israelites *shall see*, in your succeeding generations, that -
***The Lord will be magnified*** — By his kindness in Israel, and his judgments *beyond*.

Verse [Malachi 1:6](../../../kjv/malachi/1/6). ***A son honoureth his father*** — I am your *Father*- where, then, is my honour? Where your filial obedience?
***If I*****be*****a master, where*****is*****my fear?*** — The respect due to me.

Verse [Malachi 1:7](../../../kjv/malachi/1/7). ***Ye offer polluted bread*** — The priests, probably to ingratiate themselves with the people, took the refuse beasts, c., and offered them to God and thus the sacrificial ordinances were rendered *contemptible*.

Verse [Malachi 1:8](../../../kjv/malachi/1/8). ***Offer it now unto thy governor*** — פחת *pechath*, a word signifying a *lieutenant*, or *viceroy*, among the Chaldeans, Syrians, and Persians; for neither at this time, nor ever after, was there a *king* in Israel.

Verse [Malachi 1:9](../../../kjv/malachi/1/9). ***Beseech God*** — There were evident marks of God's displeasure in the land, and it was occasioned by these pollutions through the priests. And now he exhorts *them* to pray to God that they may be pardoned: for, if this practice be persisted in, God will not accept any offering made by them.

Verse [Malachi 1:10](../../../kjv/malachi/1/10). ***Who*****is -*****among you*** — From this we learn that there was not one sincere or honest priest among them. They were selfish and worldly; and so basely so, that not one of them would even kindle a fire on the hearth of the altar unless he were paid for it.

Verse [Malachi 1:11](../../../kjv/malachi/1/11). ***From the rising of the sun*** — The total abolition of the Mosaic sacrifices, and the establishment of a *spiritual* worship over the whole earth, is here foretold. The *incense* of praise, and the *pure offering* of the *Lamb without spot*, and through him a holy, loving heart, shall be presented everywhere *among the* *Gentiles*; and the Jews and their mock offerings shall be rejected.

Verse [Malachi 1:12](../../../kjv/malachi/1/12). ***Ye have profaned it*** — Ye have desecrated God's worship; is it any wonder that God should cast you off, and follow you with his judgments?

Verse [Malachi 1:13](../../../kjv/malachi/1/13). ***Ye have snuffed at it*** — A metaphor taken from cattle which do not like their *fodder*. They *blow strongly* through their nose upon it; and after this neither *they* nor *any other cattle* will eat it.
***Ye brought*****that which was*****torn, and the lame, and the sick*** — There had never been such abominations in the Divine worship before. What was of no worth in itself, and what could not be used by its owner, was brought to God's altar, and offered for sacrifice! Was not the punishment of these wretches less than their crimes?

Verse [Malachi 1:14](../../../kjv/malachi/1/14). ***Cursed*****be*****the deceiver*** — Those who act thus, as they cannot elude God's *notice*, so neither shall they escape his *curse*.
***And voweth, and sacrificeth - a corrupt thing*** — The history of Ananias and Sapphira, [Acts 5:1](../../../kjv/acts/5/1), c., is a complete comment on this. It was high time to break up this corrupt service and after this time God does not appear to have paid any regard to it, for he sent them no other prophet.

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