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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Malachi 1:1-5

The prophecy of this book is entitled, The burden of the word of the Lord (Mal. 1:1), which intimates, 1. That it was of great weight and importance; what the false prophets said was light as the chaff, what the true prophets said was ponderous as the wheat, Jer. 23:38. 2. That it ought to be often repeated to them and by them, as the burden of a song. 3. That there were those to whom it was a burden and a reproach; they were weary of it, and found themselves so aggrieved by it that they were... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Malachi 1:1

The burden of the word of the Lord ,.... By which is meant the prophecy of this book, so called, not because heavy, burdensome, and distressing, either for the prophet to carry, or the people to bear; for some part of it, which respects Christ, and his forerunner, was matter of joy to the people of God; but because it was a message sent by the Lord, and carried by the prophet to the people; See Gill on Zechariah 9:1 , Zechariah 12:1 and this was not the word of man, but of God, a part of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Malachi 1:1

The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi - This prophet is undoubtedly the last of the Jewish prophets. He lived after Zechariah and Haggai; for we find that the temple, which was begun in their time, was standing complete in his. See Malachi 3:10 . Some have thought that he was contemporary with Nehemiah; indeed, several have supposed that Malachi, is no other than Ezra under the feigned name of angel of the Lord, or my angel. John the Baptist was the link that connected... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Malachi 1:1

Verse 1 They who explain משא, mesha, burden, as signifying prophecy, without exception, are mistaken, as I have elsewhere reminded you; for prophecy is not everywhere called a burden; and whenever this word is expressed, there is ever to be understood some judgment of God; and it appears evident from Jeremiah 23:38, that this word was regarded as ominous, so that the ungodly, when they wished to brand the Prophets with some mark of reproach, used this as a common proverb, “It is a burden,”... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Malachi 1:1

§ 1 . Heading and author. The burden ( Zechariah 9:1 ; Zechariah 12:1 ; see note on Nahum 1:1 ). The word of the Lord is heavy and full of threats, but, as St. Jerome notes, it is also consolatory, because it is not "against" but to Israel. By this name the whole covenanted nation is designated, here, perhaps, with some idea of reminding the people of Jacob's faith and patience, and stimulating them to imitate their great ancestor. By Malachi; literally, by the hand of Malachi ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Malachi 1:1

Malachi and his burden. I. MALACHI , THE LAST OF THE PROPHETS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT . He may be compared to: 1 . A late evening closing a long day of light and blessing, and which is itself: 2 . A midsummer twilight in some northern latitude, bearing on its besom the new and still brighter day of the gospel. 3 . A finger post pointing across an untrodden waste of time in the direction in which the ages should move onwards towards the advent of their expected... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Malachi 1:1

Burdensome prophecies. "The burden of the Lord to Israel by Malachi." Much of the work of the Old Testament prophets involved a serious strain on feeling, and may appropriately be figured as a "burden" which they were called to bear. A very large proportion of it consists of denunciations, declarations of swiftly coming and overwhelming Divine judgments. Those prophets were, in fact, raised up to meet a condition of society and national life of which God disapproved, and by which God was... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Malachi 1:1-5

The sovereignty of God in relation to man's secular condition of life. "The burden of the word of the Lord," etc. Malachi—which means "Messenger" the last of the Hebrew prophets, is a man whose personal history is wrapped in utter obscurity. He is supposed to have lived after Haggai and Zechariah, and to be contemporary with Nehemiah. It is likely that he occupied a relationship to Nehemiah somewhat analogous to that which Haggai and Zechariah sustained to Zerubbabel. The general opinion... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Malachi 1:1

The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel - o “The word of the Lord is heavy, because it is called a burden, yet it hath something of consolation, because it is not ‘against,’ but to Israel. For it is one thing when we write to this or that person; another, when we write ‘against’ this or that person; the one being the part of friendship, the other, the open admission of enmity.”“By the hand of Malachi;” through him, as the instrument of God, deposited with him; as Paul speaks of 1... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Malachi 1:1-3

Malachi 1:1-3. The burden of the Lord The word burden is here, as often elsewhere, equivalent to prophecy; to Israel To those of all the tribes that were returned from captivity. I have loved you, saith the Lord That is, in a particular and extraordinary degree; not only as men, but above the rest of men, and above the other posterity, both of Abraham and Isaac. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? That is, wherein does thy particular love to us appear? What proofs hast thou... read more

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