Malachi 1
DOYLY— In that ye say, The table of the Lord is contemptible.] They said in effect, that the altar of Jehovah was vile and contemptible, by offering on it torn, blind, lame, and sick victims. Abp. Newcome.
— my name is dreadful among the heathen.] How much more then ought it to be so among you, whom I have loved and chosen for my peculiar people? This assertion of God, that “his name is dreadful among the heathen,” though spoken as of the time then present, and though it was then and is always true, (for his name is often made conspicuous to them by his judgments,) yet because they had not then generally a clear knowledge of Him and his name, it is by some not improperly considered as a prophecy of what should come to pass, by the making of his name more clearly known to all nations by the preaching of the Gospel. Dr. Pocock.
Chap. II. ver. 2. — I will curse your blessings.] I will turn your blessings into curses; compare Deut. xxiii. 5: or rather, remove your blessings, and send curses and calamities in their stead. Or it may mean the benedictions, wherewith the priests blessed, or prayed for, themselves or the people. W. Lowth, Dr. Pocock.
As God can evidently dispose of every thing, so as may best answer his wise purposes of mercy or correction, it is likewise evidently worthy of Him to do it: for the highest of his titles is that of the moral Governour of the universe: and therefore we may firmly believe the Scripture assuring us, that He doth it in fact; that He “makes all things work together for good to them that love him,” Rom. xiii. 28, and “curses” the very “blessings” of those who love Him not. Abp. Secker.
Malachi 1:3
- — I will corrupt your seed.] I will destroy the fruits of the earth, so as to produce dearth and scarcity; or I will cut off your posterity. Dr. Pocock.
— and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts.] Your holiest sacrifices shall be as
Malachi 1:4
- — They shall build, but I will throw down; &c.] Their endeavours to recover themselves shall be all in vain: God will so notoriously frustrate their attempts, that all people, seeing how ill things succeed with them, and how heavily God’s judgments oppress them, shall call them, “The border of wickedness,” a land of sinful people, cursed for the sins of its inhabitants, &c. Dr. Pocock.
They were subdued by Judas Maccabeus, 1 Mac. v. 65, and finally by John Hyrcanus, as Josephus relates; and the name of Edomite was utterly extinguished. Abp. Newcome, W. Lowth.
Malachi 1:5
- And your eyes shall see, &c.] And behold, your very eyes shall be witnesses, both of these my favours to you, and of this my severity to the sons of Esau; and ye shall be forced to say, The Lord hath well deserved to be praised and magnified from all the coasts of Israel. Bp. Hall.
Malachi 1:6
- A son honoureth his father, &c.] God had all along shewn such fatherly affection and care to Israel, above all other nations, that they could not but acknowledge Him their Father by a peculiar right: and He had, by his especial protection and government of them, so shewn Himself their Lord and Master, that they could not deny his peculiar claim to that appellation. Upon this their outward profession, He founds his appeal, reprehending them for withholding from Him that honour and reverence, which not their duty only, but ordinary custom, required them to pay. Dr. Pocock.
— if I be a master, where is my fear? One branch of a servant’s reverence is fear to offend his master. This fear is a disposition well becoming a servant; and therefore God, as our Master, and by that name of Master, challengeth it of us. Fear and reverence are often joined together, and so jointly required of the Lord’s servants, Ps. ii. 11; Heb. xii. 28. Bp. Sanderson.
— And ye say, Or, “Yet ye say,” W. Lowth. From this verse to chap. ii. ver. 9, the Prophet reproves the priests and the people for sacrificing the refuse of beasts, which according to the law ought to have been rejected; and denounces punishment against the priests for not reaching the people their duty in this respect. Abp. Newcome.
Malachi 1:7
- — mine altar; — The table of the Lord] These names may be indifferently used for signifying either the altar
Malachi 1:8
- — offer it now unto thy governor;] It is the custom of the East for poor people, especially those that live in the country, to make presents to their lords of lambs and sheep. Presents to men, like offerings to God, expiate offences. Sir J. Chardin.
— will he be pleased with thee.] Certainly not: he would look on it as a great disrespect of his person, and disregard of his honour. How much more shall the Lord, the great Governor of the world? Such conduct was directly contrary to God’s command, Lev. xxii. 22; Deut. xv. 21. Dr. Pocock.
Though things of very little value are sometimes offered as presents in the East, those, to whom presents are made, do not think themselves always obliged graciously to accept every thing that is brought. It appears from Bp. Pocock, Norden, and other travellers, that if a present is not somewhat proportionate to the quality of the person applied to, the circumstances of him that offers it, and the value of the favour asked, it is rejected. Harmer.
Malachi 1:9
- And now, I pray you, beseech God &c.] Therefore now I pray you to repent, and thereon to beseech God that He will be gracious unto us in not punishing the former sins, as they require. This you, the priests, are especially concerned to do, because the wickedness before mentioned has been by your means chiefly occasioned. Will He, that is, God, regard your persons, though ye be his priests, unless ye repent, saith the Lord of hosts? Dr. Wells.
Malachi 1:10
- Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? &c.] Or, “that doth shut” &c. Dr. Pocock. I have not dealt thus with you, but have abundantly recompensed your services. Which of you is there, among all the Levites of the temple, that hath shut the doors of my temple unrewarded? which of you
Malachi 1:11
- For from the rising of the sun &c.] A prophecy of what should be done at and after Christ’s coming, when by the preaching of the Gospel the knowledge of God should be communicated to all nations. The “incense” of the converted Gentiles, and their “pure offering,” are devout prayers. Rev. v. 8; holy praises, thanksgivings, and almsdeeds, and works of charity. Heb. xiii. 15, 16; their whole selves. Rom. xii. 1. Dr. Pocock. The conversion of the Gentiles is here prophesied, as usual, under Jewish images; see Zech. xiv. 16. Abp. Newcome.
Malachi 1:12
- But ye have profaned it, &c.] But as for you, ye have profaned and abused my name: in that ye have entertained base conceits of my sacrifices, and have held the oblations offered unto me, as meat vile and contemptible, and unworthy of any other respects than scorn. Bp. Hall.
The word “fruit” is applied to sacrifice; see Isa. lvii. 19, where “the fruit of the lips” is explained of “the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving,” Heb. xiii. 15. W. Lowth. Or it means that portion of the offering which was allotted to the priests for their provision, and which they esteemed of little value. Dr. Pocock.
Malachi 1:13
- — ye have snuffed at it.] See Hag. i. 9. Ye say, that attendance on the altar and partaking of its sacrifices are a burdensome task, and ye turn from them with disgust. Abp. Newcome.
Malachi 1:14
- But cursed be the deceiver, &c.] The former reproofs related only to the priests; here the Prophet reproves the people, that would offer to deceive Almighty
$^(1)$ which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the LORD a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.
Before CHRIST about 397. $^(2)$ Or, in whose flock is. # CHAP. II.