Malachi-Chap-1
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Tanakh versions:
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*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical
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Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold
wondrous things out of Thy Law!
Tehillim - Psalm 119:18..
(JPS-1917 version
of the Tanakh).
Please Note: Some alterations or
(additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected like
it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.
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Remember the following truth
from our beloved Torah!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD
which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE
DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I
command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2.
However, sadly both the later priests as well as our rabbis of long ago have shamefully disobeyed this command of אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם קָדוֹשׁוֹ - ‘Baruch Shem Kadosho’ – ‘Blessed be His Holy Name!’
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With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Introduction
to Malachi Chapter 1:
This opening chapter serves as a “Massa” (an oracle or burden). It establishes the unique relationship between our Creator and Israel. It begins with a declaration of love and moves into a call for honour, specifically addressing the quality of the offerings brought to the altar.
Let
us now read Malachi Chapter 1: (JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh).
1. “The burden of the word of יְהוָה - the LORD to Israel by Malachi.
2. I have loved you, saith יְהוָה - the LORD. Yet ye say: ‘Wherein hast Thou loved us?’ Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith יְהוָה - the LORD; yet I loved Jacob;
3. But Esau I hated, and made his mountains a desolation, and gave his heritage to the jackals of the wilderness.
4. Whereas Edom saith: ‘We are beaten down, but we will return and build the waste places;’ thus saith צְבָאוֹת-יְהוָה - the LORD of hosts: They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall be called the border of wickedness, and the people whom יְהוָה - the LORD execrateth for ever.
5. And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say: ‘יְהוָה - the LORD is great beyond the border of Israel’.
6. A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master; if then I be a father, where is My honour? and if I be a master, where is My fear? saith צְבָאוֹת-יְהוָה - 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 יְהוָה - the LORD is contemptible’.
8. And when ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it no evil! And when ye offer the lame and sick, is it no evil! Present it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee? or will he accept thy person? saith צְבָאוֹת-יְהוָה - the LORD of hosts.
9. And now, I pray you, entreat the favour of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim that He may be gracious unto us! this hath been of your doing. will He accept any of your persons? saith יְהוָה - the LORD of hosts.
10. Oh that there were even one among you that would shut the doors, that ye might not kindle fire on Mine altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, saith צְבָאוֹת-יְהוָה - 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 is great among the nations; and in every place offerings are presented unto My Name, even pure oblations; for My Name is great among the nations, saith צְבָאוֹת-יְהוָה - the LORD of hosts.
12 But ye profane it, in that ye say: ‘The table of יְהוָה - the LORD is polluted, and the fruit thereof, even the food thereof, is contemptible’.
13. Ye say also: 'Behold, what a weariness is it!' and ye have snuffed at it, saith צְבָאוֹת-יְהוָה - the LORD of hosts; and ye have brought that which was taken by violence, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye bring the offering; should I accept this of your hand? saith יְהוָה - the LORD.
14. But cursed be he that dealeth craftily, whereas he hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto יְהוָה - the LORD a blemished thing; for I am a great King, saith צְבָאוֹת-יְהוָה - the LORD of hosts, and My Name is feared among the nations”.
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Let
us now look at the ‘verse by verse’ item, with explanations:
Verse 1: “The burden of the word of יְהוָה - the LORD to Israel by Malachi”.
Explanation: This introduces the prophet as a messenger.
The “burden” indicates a message of great weight and importance for the people
of Israel.
Verse 2: “I have loved you, saith יְהוָה - the LORD. Yet ye say: ‘Wherein hast Thou loved us?' Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith יְהוָה - the LORD; yet I loved Jacob;’”
Explanation: אֱלֹהִים - Elohim begins by affirming His foundational love for Israel, choosing Jacob as the line of the Covenant despite his brother Esau being the firstborn.
Verse 3: “But Esau I hated, and made his mountains a desolation, and gave his heritage to the jackals of the wilderness”.
Explanation: This contrasts the restoration of Israel with the desolation of Edom (Esau’s descendants), showing that אֱלֹהִים - Elohim protects the survival of Israel’s heritage.
Verse 4: “Whereas Edom saith: ‘We are beaten down, but we will return and build the waste places’; thus saith צְבָאוֹת-יְהוָה - the LORD of hosts: They shall build, but I will throw down; and men shall call them The border of wickedness, and The people whom יְהוָה - the LORD hath indignation for ever”.
Explanation: Edom attempts to rebuild through human strength alone, but the prophet explains that without Divine favour, their efforts will not stand.
Verse 5: “And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say: ‘יְהוָה - the LORD is great beyond the border of Israel’”.
Explanation: The people will witness אֱלֹהִים - Eohim’s sovereignty extending far beyond their own geography, proving His power over all nations.
Verse 6: “A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master; if then I am a father, where is My honour? and if I am a master, where is My fear? saith צְבָאוֹת-יְהוָה - the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise My Name. And ye say: ‘Wherein have we despised Thy Name?’”
Explanation: אֱלֹהִים asks for the basic respect due to a parent or leader. He points out that the leaders claim they are doing no wrong, yet their actions lack true reverence.
Verse 7: “Ye offer polluted bread upon Mine altar. And ye say: 'Wherein have we polluted Thee?' In that ye say: ‘The table of יְהוָה - the LORD is contemptible’”.
Explanation: The prophet explains that by bringing unworthy, low-quality offerings, they are treating the service of אֱלֹהִים as something common or unimportant.
Verse 8: “And when ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it no evil? and when ye offer the lame and sick, is it no evil? Present it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee? or will he accept thy person? saith צְבָאוֹת-יְהוָה - the LORD of hosts”.
Explanation: Malachi uses a practical example: if you would not give such poor-quality gifts to a human ruler, why would you bring them to the Creator?
Verse 9: “And now, pray, entreat the favour of אֱלֹהִים- Elohim, that He may be gracious unto us!, this hath been by your means, will He accept any of your persons? saith צְבָאוֹת-יְהוָה - the LORD of hosts”.
Explanation: A rhetorical question asking how the people can expect grace and favour when they do not give their best to the relationship.
Verse 10: “Oh that there were even one among you that would shut the doors, that ye might not kindle fire on Mine altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, saith צְבָאוֹת-יְהוָה - the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand”.
Explanation: אֱלֹהִים expresses that it would be better to close the Temple doors entirely than to continue with insincere and hollow rituals.
Verse 11: “For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same My Name is great among the nations; and in every place offerings are presented unto My Name, even pure oblations; for My Name is great among the nations, saith צְבָאוֹת-יְהוָה - the LORD of hosts”.
Explanation: This verse looks forward to a time when the whole world recognizes the greatness of Elohim, bringing pure and sincere devotion from every corner of the earth.
Verse 12: “But ye profane it, in that ye say: ‘The table of יְהוָה - the LORD is polluted, and the fruit thereof, even its food, is contemptible;’”.
Explanation: While the nations may eventually honour אֱלֹהִים - Elohim the people at that time were treating the sacred altar with boredom and disrespect.
Verse 13: “Ye say also: ‘Behold, what a weariness is it!’ and ye have snuffed at it, saith צְבָאוֹת-יְהוָה - the LORD of hosts; and ye have brought that which was taken by violence, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye bring the offering; should I accept this of your hand? saith יְהוָה - the LORD”.
Explanation: The people viewed their spiritual duties as a burden or “weariness” rather than a joy, bringing offerings that cost them nothing.
Verse 14: “But cursed be the deceiver, who hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto יְהוָה - the LORD a blemished thing; for I am a great King, saith צְבָאוֹת-יְהוָה - the LORD of hosts, and My Name is feared among the nations”.
Explanation: The chapter concludes with a call for honesty. If a person has the means to give their best but chooses to give less, they deceive themselves. אֱלֹהִי reminds them of His majesty as a “Great King”.
My
Closing Message:
This first chapter sets the stage for the rest
of Malachi (which is online). It is a call to return to quality and sincerity.
It reminds us that our “offerings” whether they be our ‘prayers’, our study’,
or ‘our kindness’, are most precious when they come from a place of honour
rather than habit!
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Please Note:
“hebraicstudies” links are located down the page!
This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!
Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be
He, said the following via several of our prophets...
“Return unto Me, and I will
return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD
of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).
And Remember ...
Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!
אֲנִי
יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי
לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי
שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ
אוֹתָם
וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ
לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי
וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי
אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem; walk
in My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances, and do them; and hallow My
Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that ye may know that I
am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה
- the LORD your Eloheichem”. Yechezkel - Ezekiel
20:19-20. (JPS).
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“The More Torah, the More Life”
For אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, Blessed be His Sanctified Name,
He is
the one who gave us our Life!”
May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace
of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts.
be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as
well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim -
Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s (Prayers)
and regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s
(blessings) before food and drinks, etc!
שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Rabbi,
Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens,
PhD.
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