Malachi 1:13

Malachi 1:13 continues the thought of Malachi 1:12. Their faithlessness and corruption is seen in their attitude toward the entire sacrificial service. The tenses should be translated, with R.V., as present tenses, for the prophet condemns present sacrifices.

What a weariness is it! Not the eating of their portion of the sacrificial meat, but the priestly office and the service at the sanctuary. It they consider a trouble and a burden instead of an honor and a privilege, as they should.

Ye have snuffed at it At the service or table of Jehovah. An expression of contempt. Here is found one of the emendations of the scribes (see on Habakkuk 1:12); and following the Masoretic suggestion that at it is a change from an original at me, some commentators read “ye have snuffed at me,” but the thought remains essentially the same. The contempt finds expression in the offering of unfit animals as sacrifices.

Torn Better, R.V., “taken by violence”; that is, something stolen. They were too selfish to give of their own (Compare 2 Samuel 12:1 ff.), and when they did give of their own they gave only what was of no use to them. An additional thought may be implied, namely, that by giving stolen goods to Jehovah they would make him a participant in the crime, and thus make it impossible for him to punish them. Some scholars, following Malachi 1:8, read “blind.”

Lame,… sick See on Malachi 1:8. The rebuke closes with a question similar to the one in Malachi 1:8.

Should I accept this of your hand? Simply because you are priests. He cannot do this. Sacrifice of this sort is an abomination to him (compare Amos 5:21-24; Isaiah 1:10-15).