to make suoh offerings to a governor, without any special reference to a p1utioular personage. But although we cannot build any theory of date on t.his expression of the prophet, there ie other internal evidence which ie more determinate. The great point ie that the abuses rebuked by him are just those against which Nehemiah had to contend. Both of them denounce the corruption of the priests in marrying alien wives (comp. eh. ii. 11 with Neh. xiii. 23); the withholding of the appointed tithes from the Levites (eh. iii. 8 and Neh. xiii. 10); the neglect of a.nu dishonour done to the temple, and its services ( eh. i. 12, 13 a.nd Neh. xiii. 4, 5, 11); the repudiation of legitimate wives (eh. ii. 15, 16 and Neh. xiii. 23, 27, whence it may be easily concluded that these foreign marriages were accompanied with divorce and cruelty). It is true that Malachi does not expressly name the deeeoration of the sabbath, against which Nehemiah made such strict regulations (Neh. xiii. 15-22), but he denounces the infringement of the Law in the offering of blemished victims, and we cannot rloubt that this was only one instance of the same spirit which led to the breaking of the eabbath. Thus it eeeme that the prophet and the civil ruler are contending against the ea.me evils, and endeavouring in their different vocations to draw the people to amendment. From the above considerations we may conclude that Ma.la.chi exercised bis ministry during the time of Nehemiah's second visit to Jerusalem, B,C. 430-420. Thus Malachi is the last of the prophets, the author of the final book of the Hebrew canon, and named by Jewish authorities "the seal and end of the prophets." He exercised his ministry a hundred yeal"l:! latel' th:i.n Haggai and Zeohariah. We may here note that the tweh-e minor prophets cover a period of four centuries-a space, as Farrar remarks, nearly equal to that from Chaucer to Wordsworth.
§ III. GENERAL CHARACTER OF THE w ORK. Some critics have characterized Ma.la.chi's style as "pedantic, forced, and barren;" but we cannot assent to their somewhat inconsiderate verdict. In contrast with some other prophetical works, Malachi's writings may be considered to be prosaic, and to hold an inferior position, but they have an excellency and orginality of their own which acquit them of all such chargei, as those above. The great peculiarity of the style consists in the use made of interrogation and reply. A dialogue is introduced between God and the people or priests; the questions of objectors or complainants are stated, amplified, and finally answered with withering scorn by the mouth of the prophet. Thus he is rather a reasoner than a poet ; he exhibits the calmness of the practised orator rather than the fire and energy of earlier seers. But there are tokens that he is still influenced lJy the anoient prophets, and with all his methodical and artificial forms he models himself upon his predecessors. Simple, smooth, concise, his vi INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF MALACHI.
dic-tion is easy to understand; if he does not rise to the grandeur and power of other prophets, he is always polished and elegant, and at times even remarkably eloquent. The sketch of the character of the ideal priest (eh. ii . .5-7) is a passage of eminent beauty; and there are a few other places of equal excellence, •
§ IV. LITERATURE, Among the most useful commentaries on Malachi may be cited those of Cbyrtmue (Rostock, 1568); Kimcbi and Jarcbi, 'Commentarii,' lnterprete S. M. De Muis (Paris, 1618); Stock (London, 1641); Sclater (London, 1650); Pocock, 'Works,' vol. i.; Venema (Leov., 1759); Bahrdt (Leipzig, 1768); Fischer, with notes on the Septuagint Ven.ion (Leipzig, 1779); Packara, 'Book of Malachi expounded' (Edinburgh); Reinke, • Der Prophet Malachi ' (Giessen, 1852, 1856); Koehler (Erlangen, 1865); Dr. Samuel Cox, in vol. iii. of• The Bible Educator.'
§ v. ARBANGEHID,'T OF THE BooK IN SECTIONS. The book is most conveniently divided into three parts. Part I. (Ch. i.-ii. 9.) Reproof of the priests for neglect of Divine service. · § 1. (Ch. i. 1.) Heading and author. § 2. (Ch. i. 2-5.) The prophet declares God's special love for Israel. § 3. (Ch. L 6-14.) Israel had shown no gratitude, and the priests had been the chief offenders by offering defective sacrifices and profaning the temple-worship. § 4. (Ch. iL 1-4.) The priests a.re threatened with punishment. § 5. (Ch. ii. 5-9.) In contrast with these, the character of the true priest is sketched. Part II. (Ch. iL 10-16.) Condemnation of priests and people for alien marriages and for divorces. Pa.rt III. (Ch. ii. 17-iv. 6.) The day of the Lord. § 1. (Ch. ii. 17-iiL 6.) The faithless people doubted God's providence, but the prophet announces the coming of the Lord to judgment, preceded by his messenger. Be shall refine his people and exterminate sinners. § 2. (Ch. iii 7-12.) God is faithful to his promises, but the people have been shamefully negligent in the matt.er of tithes and offerings; let them amend their practice, and they shall be blessed. § 3. (Ch. iii. 13---18.) The impious murmuring of the people is contrasted with the conduct of those who fear God, and the reward of the pious is set forth. § 4. (Ch. iv. 1-3.) '.1.'he final separation of the evil and the good at the day of judgment.. § 5. (Uh. iv. 4-6.) Concluding admonition to remember the Law, lest they should be liable to the curse, to avert which the Lord would send Elijah to promote a change of heart in the nation before his coming. THE BOOK OF MALACHI. EXPOSITION.