Malachi 2

Malachi 2:1

THis commandement is for you] To procure the puritie and entire observance of my worship.

Malachi 2:2

If ye will not heare] Levit. 26. 14, &c. Deut. 28. 15, &c.

unto my name] To serve me according to my word.

I will curse your blessings] Namely, the goods which you have through my bounty.

Malachi 2:3

corrupt] Or, reprove. I will curse your seed, and cause it not to encrease.

spreade] Heb. scatter.

dung upon your faces] I will make you abject, and abominable, vers. 9. and will degrade you from your sacred honour, putting you from before me, as the dung of sacrifices which were offered upon festivall dayes was carried away out of sight. See Levit. 4. 11, 12

one shall take you away with it] Or, it shall take you away to it.

Malachi 2:4

might be with Levi] That the Priesthood might remain in his race with my favour and blessing, as I formerly promised, as it were by an especiall covenant.

Malachi 2:5

My covenant was with him] The Tribe of Levi, specially Aaron, and some of those who were presently after him, enjoyed the honour of this office with all manner of blessings, length of life, and prosperitie. See Nehm. 13. 29.

the fear wherewith] Deuteronomy 33:8-9.

Malachi 2:6

The law of truth] He expounded and taught my law in righteousnesse, and in truth.

iniquitie was not found in his lips] No false doctrine, evill life, or unjust judgement.

me in peace and equitie] In an humble and quiet obedience, without any rebellion, which is alwaies turbulent.

Malachi 2:7

For the priests lips should keep knowledge] Deut. 17. 9, 10. Jeremiah 18:18. He is as the treasure house of Gods word, and ought to give to every one according to their necessitie, and not to reserve it to himselfe.

messenger] Or, Ambassadour of the reconciliation between God and men, Ecclesiastes 5:6. Haggai 1:13. 2 Corinthians 5:20. and a Minister and instrument of the great Angel of the Covenant, which is Christ, Isaiah 63:9. Shewing that whosoever doth not declare Gods will, is not his messenger and minister.

Malachi 2:8

stumble at the law] Or, fall in the law. Namely, by your evill example, or by defect of admonishing instruction: Or by giving them occasion to disdaine Gods service by reason of the ministers wickednesse. See 1 Samuel 2:17. Jeremiah 18:15.

ye have corrupted] Nehem. 13. 29.

Malachi 2:9

Therefore have I] 1 Samuel 2:30.

have been partiall] Or, lifted up the face against. Heb. accepted faces.

partiall in the law] To favour or wrong men you have subverted my law, either in doctrine, or in judgement, Ezekiel 22:26. Zechariah 3:4.

Malachi 2:10

Have we not] Ephesians 4:6.

one father] Namely, the heavenly one, which is God: Or in the flesh, namely, Abraham.

one God created us] Which is the generall foundation of justice among men, who are of one and the same nature, though of different qualities and conditions: and must all answer before Gods judgement seat, as his creatures. See Job 31:15.

covenant of our fathers] Not onely the naturall, but the spirituall right also, of being the children of God through grace.

Malachi 2:11

profaned the holinesse] Hath dishonoured the holy name of Gods people, which they beare, and all other signes of his covenant, by which God hath sanctified them to himselfe, separating them from profane nations.

loved] Or, ought to love.

and hath married] Ezr. 9. 1. & 10. 2. Nehem. 13. 23.

daughter of a strange god] They have joyned themselves in marriage with them that are of another religion, forbidden, Deuteronomy 7:3. This was the first part of their treacherous dealing concerning marriages.

Malachi 2:12

The LORD will out off the man] He speaketh to the Priests and Levites, who had also sinned in these forain marriages, Ezr. 9. 1. & 10. 18. Nehemiah 13:28. and this threatning seemeth to be directed to them who should not willingly submit themselves to the reformation of this fault, appointed by Ezra: Or to those who should after fall into the like.

the master and the scholar] Or, him that waketh, and him that answereth. Or, him that watcheth, and him that singeth. He meaneth the porters and singers of the Temple. The sense is, that either by an accursed death, or by excommunication out of the Church, I will cause him and all his posteritie to be uncapable of having any such sacred office. See Nehemiah 13:28.

Malachi 2:13

done again] You have not onely married strange women, but have also afflicted your own lawfull wives, bringing in strangers to vex them. See Leviticus 18:18. 1 Samuel 1:6. The second fault the Prophet accuseth them of, is for adding crueltie to profanenesse.

covering the altar] You have caused your poore wives to poure out dolefull lamentations before mine altar, which are like a thick cloud, that will not suffer your offerings to be looked upon, nor accepted by me.

Malachi 2:14

witnesse between thee and thy wise] Of the matrimoniall promises, made as it were in his presence, with invocation of his name. See Proverbs 2:17.

the wife of the covenant] Thy first lawfull wife, with whom having spent thy youthfull dayes, thou now beginnest to contemne, and hate her in her old age.

Malachi 2:15

did not he make one] Did not God in the beginning create Adam alone, out of whom he framed Eve to be his wife, without creating any more women for one man, or more men for one woman? shewing thereby that as he ordained matrimonie by one onely law of lawfull conjunction: so it likewise ought to be of one with one, and two in the same flesh, Gen. 2. 23, 24. Matthew 19:5.

yet had he] He could, had he pleased, have created more living persons at once.

residue] Or, excellencie.

might seek] Gods chiefe end in this proceeding was, that the posteritie might be sanctified, being born in chast wedlock, according to his appointment: whereas it is defiled by all manner of unlawfull conjunctions.

a godly seed] Heb. a seed of God.

take heed to your spirit] As your life and salvation is deare unto you.

let none deale treacherously] Or, unfaithfully. Defrauding, or otherwise abusing his lawfull wife, for concubines.

Malachi 2:16

that he hateth] Or, If he hate her, put her away. Here is a third fault in putting away their lawfull wives upon pretence of the law. Deuteronomy 24:1. as it is alledged, Matthew 5:31. but the Prophet telleth them, God hateth putting away.

putting away] Heb. to put away.

for one covereth violence] Heb. and he covereth, &c. Meaning, he that puts her away excuseth this violence by the law of God given by Moses concerning divorce: but therein such did injurie both to their lawfull wives, and to the law of God, Deuteronomy 24:4. See Matthew 5:32. and Matthew 19:9.

Malachi 2:17

Ye have] Isaiah 43:24.

wearied the LORD] Grievously and intolerably offended him. See Chap. 1. 13.

Every one that doth evil] Saying that God favoureth the wicked: Or if it be not so, why doth he leave them unpunished, and in the mean while afflict good men? Chap. 3. 15.

judgement] Thus they blasphemed God in condemning his power and justice, because he judged not according to their fantasies.