Malachi

"God's messenger." The last of the minor prophets, and the writer of the last book of the Old Testament canon.¹ Nothing is known of him beyond what is contained in his book of prophecies. Some have supposed that the name is simply a title descriptive of his character as a messenger of Yahweh, and not a proper name. There is reason, however, to conclude that Malachi was the ordinary name of the prophet.

He was contemporary with Nehemiah.² No allusion is made to him by Ezra, and he does not mention the restoration of the temple, and hence it is inferred that he prophesied after Haggai and Zechariah, and when the temple services were still in existence.³ It is probable that he delivered his prophecies about 420 BCE, after the second return of Nehemiah from Persia,⁴ or possibly before his return.

The contents of the Book of Malachi are comprised in four chapters. In the Hebrew text the third and fourth chapters form but one. The whole consists of three sections, preceded by an introduction,⁵ in which the prophet reminds Israel of Yahweh's love to them. The first section⁶ contains a stern rebuke addressed to the priests who had despised the Lord's name, and been leaders in a departure from his worship and from the covenant, and for their partiality in administering the law. In the second⁷ the people are rebuked for their intermarriages with idolatrous heathen. In the third⁸ he addresses the people as a whole, and warns them of the coming of the God of judgment, preceded by the advent of the Messiah.

This book is frequently referred to in the New Testament.⁹

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