1.
And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you.
priests. .
this commandment. As to reformation.
2.
If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.
If ye will not hear. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:14 .Deuteronomy 28:15; Deuteronomy 28:15 ). App-92 .
My name. See note on Psalms 20:1 .
the LORD of hosts. See note on Malachi 1:4 .
saith = hath said,
send a curse = send the curse. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 28:20 ). App-92 .
curse your blessings. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 28:2 ).
3.
Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it.
Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos App-6 .
corrupt = rebuke; as in Malachi 3:11 .Psalms 106:9 . Isaiah 17:13 . Hebrew gaar. Occurs fourteen times. Always rendered rebuke" except here, and Jeremiah 29:27 ("reproved").
dung = refuse; always sacrificial. Occurs seven times.
feasts . Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for the sacrifices offered at the feasts.
it : i.e. the refuse.
4.
And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.
be = contiuue.
5.
My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name.
My covenant was with him. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 25:10-13 .Deuteronomy 33:8 , Deuteronomy 33:9 , Deuteronomy 33:10 ). App-92 .
I gave them, &c.: I gave this "life" and "peace" to him [Levi] as an awe-inspiring, reverend characteristic; because he stood in awe of Me. There seems to be a distinct reference to Phineas (see the references above). But there seems to be a distinct reference to Levi also (Exodus 32:26-29 ), in the first place, at any rate. Hebrew. mora = that which makes awe felt.
was afraid before = abased himself.
6.
The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.
in his mouth: i.e. for teaching.
and iniquity. Hebrew. 'aval. App-44 .
from iniquity , Hebrew ' avah. App-44 .
7.
For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.
the priest's lips, &c. This was the first duty of the priests, and was more important than their ceremonial duties. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 10:11 .Deuteronomy 17:11 ; Deuteronomy 33:10 ). App-92 .
knowledge : i.e. esp. of the law.
they: i.e. the People; according to Deuteronomy 17:9-11 .
8.
But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.
corrupted = made void.
9.
Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.
People = peoples: i.e. the tribes.
according as = because, or, in so far as.
been partial = had respect of persons. Compare James 2:4 .
in = in [administering) the law.
10.
Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?
Have we not all. created us? = [Ye say] Have we not, &c. as in Malachi 2:14 Figure of speech Paroemia . See John 8:33 Joh 39:41 &c.
GOD. Hebrew. El .
treacherously : or, faithlessly. Used of faithlessness to the marriage bond.
every man. Hebrew. ish . App-14 .
holiness = Holy Place, or Sanctuary.
which : i.e. the Sanctuary.
strange = foreign: i.e. a woman temple-worshipper of a foreign god.
11.
Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god.
12.
The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts.
man. Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .
the master and the scholar = wakener and answerer. Referring to the Temple watchers (Psalms 134:1 ).
tabernacles = tents.
offereth = bringeth near. Hebrew. nagash, as in Malachi 1:7 , Malachi 1:8 , Malachi 1:11 ; Malachi 3:3 . App-43 .
offering = a meal-offering. Hebrew. minchah. App-43 .
13.
And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand.
tears . . . weeping . . . crying out : i.e. of the wronged wives and children.
14.
Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.
Wherefore? Supply the Ellipsis: "Wherefore [doth He not accept it]? "
companion = consort, or mate.
15.
And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.
Modern critics pronounce this as being "a difficult and certainly corrupt passage"; but it is only elliptical.
make one? = make [of twain] one flesh? Ref to Pentateuch (Genesis 2:24 ). App-92 .
Yet had He, &c. And therefore could have made more than one wife for Adam.
spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 .
And wherefore one? And what [did] that one [Abraham] who [was] seeking a seed of (or from) God? Hebrew. zera ' (as in Genesis 21:12 ; see note there). The logical Ellipsis ' must be further supplied: "Was Abraham faithless to Sarah and did he ill-treat her when he took an additional wife? How mach more ought ye to be faithful to your wives? "
one. Refers to Abraham. See Isaiah 51:2 .Ezekiel 33:24 . Supply the verb "do", as in Ecclesiastes 2:12 , and as in Judges 18:8 , from Mal 2:18 .
take heed = be watchful over.
your = your own.
16.
For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.
For, &c. = For [as] hating putting away, hath Jehovah, Israel's God, spoken; and [as hating him that] hath carried violence concealed in his clothing, hath Jehovah Sabaioth spoken, therefore, &c.
God = Heh. Elohim . App-4 .
saith = hath said.
that He hateth, &c. = I hate.
putting away = divorce. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 24:1 ).
with his garment. Compare Pas. Mal 73:6 ; Psalms 109:18 , Psalms 109:29 Proverbs 28:13 , Isaiah 30:1 .
17.
Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?
say = have said.
Every one, &c. Some codices read "All who do wrong are", &c.
evil = violence. Hebrew. ra ' a. App-44 .