Malachi Ch1 verse 1to5

Iyer@brahminbeliever.com | | Updated on Mon 14 January 2019

The version used is KJV

Priming questions

  • Are there any prophetical parts to what we have read so far? If so, how can we apply it today?

  • How does the context of when Malachi was prophesying relate to the content of the book?

  • The word used in ESV in verse 1 is oracle, while in KJV its burden for the Hebrew word (massa) מַשָּׂא . Is there anything unique to learn from the KJV use of the word burden?
  • Does God (YHWH) really hate? If He does, what does He hate? Is this hate temporal, as in, did He love Esau at some point?
  • What is the significance of the use of the word mountains in 1:3
  • What character or attribute of God is shown in the first 5 verses?

Context/Background

There are two differing opinions on the authorship of Malachi. Most rabbinic and historical scholars believe Malachi was a prophet in the time of Nehemiah and Ezra during the return of Jews to Jerusalem during the 500 BC era. But still others more recently believe it to be of unknown authorship and not a singular prophetic person.

I believe in the former and that Malachi was a person like Zechariah or Obadiah living in the 5th century BC warning the returning Jews of the impending judgement for the non-remnant and salvation for the remnent.

The setting is that of a post-exilic Jerusalem and Israel as the nation was returning from Babylonian captivity of 70 years and re-establishing the temple (which will form the second Temple Period between 530 BC to 70 AD).

This means that the returning Jews were worldly having lived and adopted Babylonian and Persian customs, possibly inter-marrying gentiles and not keeping to the Mosaic laws and the ceremonial laws. This meant that the sacrifices were new or just being understood and instituted as the Temple was being built. There was also a new found religious fervor to never let such a fate fall upon the people - hence certain segments of the leaders started to create prescribed rules over and above the Mosaic law, leading to the re-start of the Pharasaical traditions, which laid additional rules to protect the people from failing to keep the Mosaic law, and over time making those additional rules an idol.

My personal belief is that the influence of Babylon was much greater than we can understand, as this was the time most Jews (of today and yester years) still consider the re-birth of Judaism. Several of the present Jews in Israel are followers of the post-Babylon rites and rituals instead of what was given to Moses in 15th century BC. The mystical traditions that was Babylon seemed to wield a greater power and control over the Jews at that time, which somehow seem to still last to this day. The Talmudic Judaism of today which rejects their Messiah, grew much in this time period. The other big turning point would be following 70 AD (after the destruction of the Temple, as prophesied by Lord Jesus). Much of how Jews of today view their religion, can be understood by studying the Babylonian captivity and the ensuring history.

Hence, it was not a simple or happy times when Malachi prophesied, but a time where a returning group of Jews held to varied traditions or ended up inventing more from their Babylon roots, which caused complex dynamics in the worship of YHWH.

Change in rebuke

As we study the previous prophets from Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekial and Zechariah, we find Malachi to be a warning that was most apt for the first coming of Jesus Christ. While, the chief sins of prior generations as rebuked by God was idolatory, the current generation during Malachi's time were more apathetic, worldly, shallow in their heart and had a sense of entitlement (as they surely felt like they were pious) which made them mechanical towards God. Hence, this setup and the ensuing 300 years which bred the culture and the attitudes that was Israel during the first coming of our Lord Jesus. All of this will be explained further with verse references as I write subsequently.

Oracle and the burden

[Mal1:1] uses the word מַשָּׂא (massa) which has the meaning of burden, load, bearing as well as oracle. Its used similarly in [Zec9:1,Zec12:1,Jer23:36]. This then is not just an oracle, but something that conveys urgency and importance..as in, something that Malachi must unload quickly without being curshed under it. The other significance of this verse is that the word is from the LORD, YHWH, not using Lord or God (Adonai or Elohim).

The urgency could be due to the fact that the returning Jews didnt understand the sanctity of YHWH and were profaning various commands issued by YHWH to their fore-fathers, from how priests should act to following of the 10 commandments to the sacredness of marriage. And before they were established into these false ways, YHWH wanted to prevent them.

Love and hate

Hebrew's word for love is (ahav) which can be confusing at times to understand, but the Septuigint uses ἠγάπησα (igapisa) which is the same root word for agape. This could explain the broader meaning here used of God's love towards us, and in this case towards Jacob. The same word also means (in Hebrew) lover, friend. We know from various prophets where God's lover is Israel, which upon idolatry is called a whore.

Similarly, the word for hate is (sana) which can also mean enemy, foe. Again, one way to interpret might be to say God calls Edom His enemy.

Before we delve into the specifics of the emotions, which is surmised by Paul in [Rom9:13-19], we should look at the subject of these emotions. The subject of love is Jacob and hate is Esau. Although, they are persons, the reference here is undoubtedly of the nations arising from these two brothers. 

[Gen25:23] And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.

The reference to the nation can be gained from the subsequent verses [1:3-4]. From Genesis 25, Esau was called to serve his younger brother Jacob, by God. Instead of being obedient to this command and the general commands of God, he

  • sold his birthright to Jacob for a meal [Gen25:33]
  • married Hittites [Gen26:34] against his parents wishes
  • took additional wives [Gen28:9] to make it right

And as a nation, Edom, his heritage and descendents, carried through a number of ill against the nation of Israel.

  • the nation of Edom forbid the Israelites to enter [Num20:18 and Jdg11:17] as they wanted to go through the land instead of circumference out
  • they revolted against Judah and made their own king [2Ki8:20]
  • Edom was always called together with Moab and Amon nations who wronged Isreal [Jer9 and Jer25]

This then lead to various warnings for Edom

  • [Jer49:17] Also Edom shall be a desolation: every one that goeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss at all the plagues thereof.
  • [Lam4:22]He will visit thine iniquity, O daughter of Edom; he will discover thy sins.
  • [Ez25:13]Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also stretch out mine hand upon Edom, and will cut off man and beast from it; and I will make it desolate from Teman; and they of Dedan shall fall by the sword.
  • [Joe3:19] Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.
  • [Amos1:11] Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he did pursue his brother with the sword, and did cast off all pity, and his anger did tear perpetually, and he kept his wrath for ever:

This is followed by the entire book of Obadiah, who seemed to have been an Edomite proslyte, whom God chose to speak thru to the nation of Edom. This book goes through the coming destruction of Edom for their numerous transgressions against their brother and other neighbors.

In summary, Esau and Edom were enemies of God, as they didnt keep the commandments and violently disobeyed specific call for Esau to serve Jacob. God in His mercy and grace, gave over several centuries for the people to turn, even sending a prophet from among their own. This shows the attributes of God of love, mercy as well as a just Lord.

Mountains

Edom is what would be southern Jordan today. Its mountainous and south and east of the Dead Sea. Mount Seir was the demarkation between Judah and Edom. The reason why God in [Mal1:3] speaks of lying Edom's mountains to waste may be due to the fact that the high places were the places of incense burning and idol worship, as well as seen to be strategic strongholds to defend from the enemies. By making the mountains desolate, YHWH shows that He is the true God against both spiritual powers of worship or human might of defense. This is further confirmed in [Mal1:4] when the Edomites will try to overcome but God will overthrow them.

Setup before rebuke

The promise and the nature of God being stated upfront provides the context for why Israel has fallen and will fall in times to come and what must they do then and now to turn to God, so as to not fall into His judgememt. Verses 2-5 shows

  • how Israel was an elect nation over Edom, eventhough both came out of the promised line of Abraham.
  • God will destroy anyone who does ill to His people, even if they are rebellious
  • unfolding of the events that will magnify YHWH's name across all nations, thereby fulfilling the promise He made to Abram in [Gen12:2-3]

Propetical words

We focus on the prophesy on Edom, its heritage being laid waste even when they come back and try to build it and eventually, the glory of God is proclaimed beyond the border of Israel.

Prophesies follow God's command. Hence we will study the history to see the ebb and flow of Edom's heritage.

We saw from [Gen25] Esau was to serve Jacob. Fast forward to few centuries later, when both have become nations of Edom and Israel, we see the first prophesy from Balaam [Num24:18] about Edom shall be dispossessed.

We see in [1Sa14:47] that Saul won against Edom. Subsequently in [2Sa8:11-14], David makes the Edomites Israel's servants, puts in a garrison in Edom and dedicated all the gold and silver plundered in war from Edom and other lands.

We then see Edom being raised by God again in [1Ki11:14], when YHWH raised up Hadad the Edomite against Solomon, for Solomon's tresspasses. In the same chapter we see the faithfulness of God, where He vows to Solomon [1Ki11:11-13] to tear away the kingdown that Solomon built, but will give one tribe to one of Solomon's son as to honor the covenant made.

Then in [2Ki14:7], Amaziah strikes down 10000 Edomites in the valley of Salt and took their city by storm.

In [Isa34:9] states Edom shall be turned into wasteland with soil and land unsuitable and in [Jer49:17] He compares Edom to Sodom and Gomorroh in how it will be barren and waste and again in [Lam4:22] the author speaks of God uncovering Edom's sin and will punish.

Historically, Edom was destroyed again under the hands of Nebuchadnazzer in 587/6 BC between peaceful penetration and occupation and displacement. They moved out of their land and into (what is today) southern Jordan, displaced by the Nabateans in 300BC (just a century after Malachi). After this, they are not found in history until they appear again during the Hasmonean period where many were many become Judaism converts. There is record of Judas Maccabee conquering their territory in 163BC. Under the subsequent rule of John Hyrcanus in 125BC many were forcibly converted to Judaism. This subsequently lead to the Herodian dynasty. This is also when they started being called Idumean via their Greek neighbors.

Herod I (also called Herod the Great) was an Idumean who came out of this converted line, thereby making the Roman client king of Judea during the first century AD. He was the same Herod who ordered the killing of babies following the birth of Christ.

Josephus' Jewish Wars iv.4.5 references about 20000 Idumeans fight with the zealots during the Titus seige of Jerusalem. This was around 70AD and after this there are no mention of the Idumean people.

In 363AD the big Galilee earthquake runied various cities of Jordan. The entire country/region was under the Roman rule and Christendom, until the conquest by the Muslims in the Battle of Yarmouk in 636 AD

Hence the heritage as proclaimed by God via Malachi was laid to waste and we are now talking about it in Galveston just over 2400 years after.

This then provides an interesting view to the prophesy. Prophesy is not just calling what happened in past preterism or what is happening currently or what is to come. What we see here if we were an Edomite in the 1000-900 BC is the following - we would be seeing the conquest by David and serving the Israelites and then the loss of our land during 500 BC under Nebuchadnazzar and then subsequently by the Nabateans in 300 BC and then by end of 1st century AD the references to Edomite being erased.

Prophesy then, is pattern. More on this as we uncover the jewels in Malachi.

Application

Few things are certain. If we know a call from God, then we better obey that call and in the absence of a visible call, best is to do whatever we do to the best of our abilities in accordance with the statues and commands of God (the 10 commandments would be a good start along with guidance from the Apostles). Secondly, for our non-believer friends, we need to encourage them to live a Godly life keeping the commandments, as nations get the judgment for its people, independent of the state of individual salvation. For example, Moses had to not enter the promise land, eventhough we know he is saved (appears on the mount with Jesus in the Gospels).

God is unchanging and faithful and is a just judge. This gives me much comfort to know I can count His promises through His word.

As an enemy of God, even our best efforts are dust and for not.

Prophesy is pattern, therefore we cant assume anything at this hour that we live in, but we should be viglent keeping a watch [Matt24:42-43] and having been prepared with enough oil to last the night [Matt25:1-13].