Verse 10
10. The translators of A.V. misunderstood the force of 10a. R.V. expresses the thought much more clearly, though in some respects it is less literal than A.V.: “Oh that there were one among you that would shut the doors, that ye might not kindle fire on mine altar in vain!” The sense of the passage is: It were better that the doors of the temple be closed, and that sacrifices would cease entirely, than that the present condition be continued. Oh that there were one (R.V.) Literally, Who is there even among you? This question has the force of a wish (compare 2 Samuel 15:4; Psalms 4:6): Is there not even one among you? Would that some one were among you (G.-K., 151a)!
Shut the doors Of the temple, so that all worshipers will be excluded, and in consequence all sacrifices will cease.
Kindle fire on mine altar Literally, light my altar, with sacrificial fires (Isaiah 27:11; Isaiah 50:11). In vain (R.V.) To no purpose, for it does not secure for them the divine favor (Malachi 1:9).
I have no pleasure in you Primarily the priests, but also the worshipers in general, because they leave undone the things pleasing to him, and for the things which they do he does not care (compare Isaiah 1:10-17; Amos 5:21-24).
An offering The word is ordinarily used to denote the meal offering (see on Joel 1:9); here it stands for sacrifice or offering of every sort (compare Zephaniah 3:10).
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