Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible · Malachi Capítulo 1

Malachi 1:1. The burden— The charge, or message.

return to '

Malachi 1:4. They shall build, &c.— "The Edomites may rebuild their cities, but the Lord will raise against them the Maccabees, who shall subject them, and constrain them to receive circumcision, and the other laws and customs of the Jews." See 1Ma 5:3. 2Ma 10:16-17 and Joseph. Antiq. lib. 13: cap. 17.

return to '

Malachi 1:5. And your eyes shall see, &c.— That is, the eyes of Israel, who are here addressed. See Malachi 1:1. The latter clause should be rendered, The Lord hath done wonderfully for the borders of Israel.

return to '

Malachi 1:6. A son honoureth his father, &c.— "Those degrees of respect which were due to human authority, are in a more eminent manner to be paid to the supreme Lord of all. So the priests, who are dedicated to my service in a peculiar manner, behave themselves undutifully by that disrespect which they show to my name and worship." See Lowth.

return to '

Malachi 1:7. In that ye say, &c.— Houbigant puts a semicolon at the end of this verse, and begins the eighth thus, And when ye bring the blind for sacrifice, this seems not evil, nor when ye offer the lame and the sick. The prophet reproves them for paying no reverence to the altar of God, but admitting victims of every kind, however contrary to the law, that they might make as much gain as possible.

return to '

Malachi 1:9. This hath been by your means— Since this seem easy to you, will he, &c. Houbigant. The avaricious priests deny that there was any thing in the choice of victims, and aver that God would be as propitious to them upon the offering of an unclean as of a clean sacrifice. Therefore the prophet calls upon them to make the trial, and to ask some sign of God, that they may prove his attention and regard to them.

return to '

Malachi 1:10. Who is there even among you, &c.— Yea, truly the doors will be shut because of you, that you may not kindle fire, &c. The similitude is continued which was taken from a prince or governor, Mal 1:8 who would reject a blind or sick animal brought to him for tribute, and shut his doors against the offerer and his gift. Houbigant.

return to '

Malachi 1:11. For, from the rising of the sun, &c.— In this and the preceding verse, we have two important points of our religion declared in the fullest manner: First, the abolition of the sacrifices and ceremonies of the ancient law. The second, a pure sacrifice offered to the Lord in every place and in every nation; the synagogue rejected, and the church of the Gentiles chosen. The prophet describes the Christian sacrifice of prayer and thanksgiving, by the external rites of the Jewish worship. Incense was considered as an emblem or figure of prayer by the Jews themselves. This spiritual service, the prophet says, shall be offered up in every place; whereas the Jewish worship was confined to the temple. The words of our Saviour, Joh 4:21-22 are a good commentary on this passage. Nothing can be more simple than the principle here enforced, or more agreeable to the rules of just interpretation, than to suppose that the language of the law is employed to convey these prophetic intimations of the Gospel. This offering is said to be pure, to intimate, that it would not be less acceptable for not being at the temple. See the note on Zechariah 14:18. Div. Leg. book 6: sect. 6 and Calmet.

return to '

Malachi 1:12. And the fruit thereof, &c.— And even the meat of it also is contemptible. Houbigant.

return to '

Malachi 1:13. Ye said also, Behold— And in that ye say, depart hence; and while you reject some, you afterwards bring that which is torn, or lame, or sick, for an offering. Should I, &c. Houbigant. Those who understand it according to our translation, explain it thus; "You who have complained that a constant attendance on my altar was a wearisome employment, and that the victims which you offered were not given by the people, but were the fruits of your own labours, and were bestowed out of your tithes." See Lowth, and Grotius.

return to '