Malachi

Malachi 1 – Skeptic's Annotated Bible answered

A response and reply to the notes on Malachi 1 in the Skeptic's Annotated Bible (SAB).

King James Version

SAB comment

My comment

1 The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.

The book of Malachi is anonymous; Malachi is just a transliteration of the Hebrew words for "my messenger."

Many names in Hebrew have a meaning, so if a name has a meaning it does not mean it is no name. Secondly, the books of every prophet start with title and author, this book is therefore no exception, but fits very naturally in the usage of those days. And our days as well of course, we also start books with title and author.

2 I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob,

3 And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.

"I hated Esau."
God, for some strange reason, "hated Esau."
Does God love everyone?

Hated means rejected. On if God loves everyone, no, see Matthew 12:31.

4 Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever.

God hates the Edomites, and his hatred will last forever. How long does God's anger last?

The Edomites are gone from history. Their name and nation are lost. Exactly as this verse predicts will happen

5 And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel.

6 A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?

7 Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible.

8 And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.

(1:8, 12-14) "The table of the LORD is polluted."
God continues to demand animal sacrifices. And not just any animals will do. He is insulted when blind, lame, or sick animals are killed for him.
What the Bible says about blind people

This is not about sacrificing blind people, of course. What kind of inability to comprehend English is that? The blind, lame and sick are animals.
Animal sacrifices were proscribed by God, for a certain time, to indicate that without blood there is no forgiveness of sin. The animals that were offered, had to be perfectly healthy animals, see Lev. 22:21. Livestock you would destroy anyway was not acceptable, because what kind of sacrifice is that? None at all.

9 And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the LORD of hosts.

10 Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.

11 For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.

12 But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the LORD is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible.

13 Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD.

14 But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the LORD a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.