translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: MAL

label: NET study note

text: Edom , a “brother” nation to Israel, became almost paradigmatic of hostility toward Israel and God (see Num 20:14-21 ; Deut 2:8 ; Jer 49:7-22 ; Ezek 25:12-14 ; Amos 1:11-12 ; Obad 10-12 ).


text: The epithet Lord who rules over all occurs frequently as a divine title throughout Malachi (24 times total). This name ( יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת , yÿhvah tsÿva ’ ot ), traditionally translated “ Lord of hosts” (so KJV, NAB, NASB; cf. NIV NLT “Lord Almighty”; NCV, CEV “Lord All-Powerful”), emphasizes the majestic sovereignty of the Lord, an especially important concept in the postexilic world of great human empires and rulers. For a thorough study of the divine title, see T. N. D. Mettinger, In Search of God , 123-57.


text: The word table , here a synonym for “altar,” has overtones of covenant imagery in which a feast shared by the covenant partners was an important element (see Exod 24:11 ). It also draws attention to the analogy of sitting down at a common meal with the governor (v. 8 ).


text: Offerings of animals that were lame or sick were strictly forbidden by the Mosaic law (see Deut 15:21 ).


text: The rhetorical language suggests that as long as the priesthood and people remain disobedient, the temple doors may as well be closed because God is not “at home” to receive them or their worship there.


text: My name will be great among the nations . In what is clearly a strongly ironic shift of thought, the Lord contrasts the unbelief and virtual paganism of the postexilic community with the conversion and obedience of the nations that will one day worship the God of Israel.


text: The epithet great king was used to describe the Hittite rulers on their covenant documents and so, in the covenant ideology of Malachi, is an apt description of the Lord .