Malachi 1

Malachi 1:1

THE burden of the word] A commission for prophecie of reproofes and threatnings, Isaiah 13:1. Zach. 9 1.

Israel] That is, to all the people of severall Tribes, which were returned from Babylon.

by Malachi] Heb. by the band of Malachi. Malachi signifieth Angel or messenger, Mark 1:2. and endeth the Prophets. In him John Baptist is once called Malachi, Chap. 31. and again Elias, Chap. 4. 5. Saint Mark beginneth his Gospel with Malachi or Angel: Gabriel in the first speech of the New Testament beginneth with Elias, Luke 1:17. So sweetly in words hath God joyned the Old and New Testament, that they hid Apocrypha appeareth never to be breathed by Gods Spirit, nor to be any part of the Canon or rule of faith.

Malachi 1:2

was not Esau Jacobs brother] Consider the principall effect of my love, in that of meer grace I have chosen you to be my people in your father Jacob; rejecting Esau his brother, equall in all other things to him: whereupon all my blessings have dropped downe upon you, as your preservation, deliverance from captivitie, and reestablishment: whereof the Edomites have not been partakers.

loved Jacob] Romans 9:13.

Malachi 1:3

hated Esau] Jer. 49. 17, 18. Ezekiel 35:7. 9. Obad. 16, 17, 18 I have given him no part in my grace: but have left him as a sinner and corrupt under my wrath and judgement: which I have also declared in his irreparable destruction, which hath not befallen you, nor can befall my Church, which hath alway a remainder, and an issue out of her evils, Jeremiah 31:36.

dragons of the wildernesse] Which have their dwellings in deserts and unfrequented places.

Malachi 1:4

We are impoverished] If they think they shall be restored out of their calamities, as you from the desolations which have befallen you by the Chaldeans, they shall find themselves deluded, Jeremiah 49:7. 17.

Malachi 1:5

from the border of Israel] Or, upon. Heb. from upon. Even from his holy Temple the place of his abode, from whence he sheweth the glory of his power, to the destruction of his enemies.

Malachi 1:6

if then I be a father] Luke 6:46.

O priests] Besides the rest of the people he condemneth the Priests chiefly, for they should have reproved others for their hypocrisie, and obstinacie against God, and not have hardened them by their example to greater evils.

Whorein have we despised thy name] He noteth their grosse hypocrisie, which would not see their faults, but impudently cloaked them; and so were blind guides.

Malachi 1:7

Ye offer] Or, bring unto, &c.

polluted] Not lawfull nor acceptable, being defective, Leviticus 22:20. Deuteronomy 15:21.

bread upon mine altar] See Leviticus 3:11. and Leviticus 21:6. 8.

The table of the LORD] Namely, the Altar, Ezekiel 41:22. and Ezekiel 44:16. The sense is, the Temple and the Altar since the returne from captivitie are so poore and different from the ancient splendour they were in, that they do not deserve to have such exact care taken of the beasts which are offered there, as formerly in the first Temple. See Zechariah 4:10.

Malachi 1:8

And] Leviticus 22:22. Deuteronomy 15:21.

if ye] Or, whereas.

for sacrifice] Heb. to sacrifice.

is it not evill] In your conceit? whereby he condemneth them, that think it sufficient to serve God partly a he hath commanded, and partly after mans fantasie, and so come not to that purenesse of religion which he requireth, and therefore in reproach he sheweth them that a mortall man would not be content to be so served.

governour] As were Zerubbabel, Nehemiah, and other under the Empire of Persia: who had their provision assigned them upon the people, Nehemiah 5:14-15.

Malachi 1:9

beseech] He derideth the Priests, who bare the poeple in hand that they prayed for them, and sheweth that they were the occasion that these evils came upon the people.

God] Heb. the face of God.

by your means] Heb. from your hand.

will he regard your prsons] Will God consider your office and state, seeing you are so covetous, and profane contemners of his service?

Malachi 1:10

wold shut the doores] Because the Levites which kept the doores did not try whether the sacrifices that came in, wre according to the Law, God wisheth them that they would rather shut the doores, then to receive such as were not perfect.

for nought] For I do recompence you largely for your service by tithes, first fruits, offerings, &c.

offering at your hand] Isaiah 1:11. Jeremiah 6:20. Amos 5:21.

Malachi 1:11

great among the Gentiles] God sheweth that their ingratitude, and neglect of his true service, shall occasion the calling of the Gentiles: and here the Prophet that was under the Law framed his words to the capacitie of the people; and by the altar and sacrifice he meaneth the spirituall service of God which should be under the Gospel, when an end should be put to all these legall ceremonies by Christs onely sacrifice: as Isaiah 66:23. Zac 14:16. Malachi 3:4. See John 4:21. 23. 1 Timothy 2:8.

Malachi 1:12

ye have profaned] Dishonoured the name of God, bearing no respect nor obedience to what he hath commanded.

is polluted] The altar hath been spoiled by the Chaldeans: and the sacrifices are not offered with that ancint sacred solemnitie.

fruit thereof] Whereby is meant whatsoever is offered upon the altar.

Malachi 1:13

Ye said also] Though ye do me but little service, and that after an ill manner, yet you complain of it, as if it were a burden to you.

and ye have snuffed at it] Or, whereas you might have blown i away.

torn] By wild beasts.

Malachi 1:14

the deceiver] That doth not proceed plainly, nor directly in Gods service: but having abilitie to serve the Lord according to his word, yet will do it according to his base covetous mind.

which hath in his flock] Or in whose flock is.

a male] Without any blemish, according to the law of burntofferings, Leviticus 1:3. 10. because that in sacrifices of thankesgiving females were also accepted of, Leviticus 1:3. 6.