The Pulpit Commentary — Malachi — Section 4

CHAPTER I. of their history. Wherein haat thou loved us l This we.s the inward feeling of the Ver. 1-ch. ii. 9,-Part I. REPROOF OF people at this 'Iii.me. They doubted God's 'lHE PRIESTS FOB NEGLEOT OF DIVINE SEB• love e.nd faithfulness. Events he.d not 1'JOE, turned out as they expected. They had, indeed, returned from captivity, and the Ver. 1.-§ 1. Heading and author. The temple we.a rebuilt; but none of the splendid burden (Zech, ix. 1 ; xii. 1 ; see note on things announced by the prophets had Ne.h. i. 1). The word of the Lord is heavy come to pass. They were not great and e.nd full of three.ta, but, e.s St. Jerome notes, victorious; Messiah he.d not appeared. it is e.lso consolatory, because it is not Therefore they repined and murmured; "age.inst" but to Isra.el. By this no.me the they were ungrateful for po.st favours, and whole covenanted nation is designated, here, questioned God's power and providence. perhaps with some idee. of reminding the We.a not Ese.u Jo.cob's brotherl God re- people ~f Jo.cob's fait~ '!'nd pe.tie~ce, e.nd futea their unjust charge by referring them stimulating them to 1m1tate the1.r great to a palpable fact, viz. the different fate of ancestor. By ll[e.le.ohi ; litere.lly, by the the descendants of the twin-brothers, Esau hand of Malachi (comp. Jer. xxxvii. 2). and Jacob. How miserable the destiny of That Malachi is the proper no.me of the the Edomites I how comparatively fortunate prophet, e.nd not e. mere officio.I designation, the condition of the Israeli tea I Yet I loved see the proof in the Introduction, § II. Jaoob. The LXX. renders, /11 XE•pl a.yyb..ou a:b.-oii, Ver. 3.-And I hated Esau. St. Paul "by the hand of his I\Ilgel," or" messenger," quotes these words (Rom. ix. 1~) in order and some curious theories he.ve been founded to illustrate his position, " that tne purpose on this tre.nsle.tion; e.g. that e.n e.ngel was of God according to election might stand, the ree.l author of the book, or oe.me e.nd not of works, but of him that calleth." explained it to the people. A similar Even before hia birth Jacob was the chosen legend once obtained concerning He.gge.i, one and Esau, the elder, was to serve the called" The Lord's Messenger" (Hag. i. 13). yodnger. This mystery of Divine election At the end of the verse the LXX. adds, has seemed to some to be stated so harshly "fix it in your hearts," which Jerome sup- thnt they have thought that the words of poses to he.ve been imported hither from the text need to be softened, or to be He.g. ii. 15. modified by their explanation. Thus they Vere. 2-5.-§ 2. The prophet declares give the glosses, "I have preferred Jacob to Esau ; " "I have loved Esau less than God's speaial love for Israel. Jo.ooh;" or they have limited the . terrue- Ver. 2.-I he.ve loved you. The prophet, "love" and "hatred" to the bestowmg or desiring to bring home to the people their withholding of temporal blessings; or they ingratitude, le.ye down his thesis ; then, in have affirmed that Esau was hated because his ohe.re.cteristic manner, repeats the ob- God foreSl\w his unworthiness, anti Jacob jection of the soeptios in an interrogatory was beloved owing to his foresee~ pie_ty and form, e.nd refutes it by pie.in argument. faithfulness. The whole question 1s dis- God he.d shown his love for Israel by cussed by Augustine, 'De Div. Qureat._ ad electing them to be his people, e.nd by his Simplio.,' i.18 (xi. 433). _He e_i:ids ?Y saym~, treatment of them during the whole course " Deus odit impietatew : m alilS etiam pun1, IIAL.6.0BI, • 2 THE BOOK OF MALACHI. [en. 1. 1-1,1,