The Lord’s Love for Israel
1 A pronouncement: 1:1 Is 13:1; Zch 9:1; 12:1
The word of the Lord 1:1 Hs 1:1; Jl 1:1; Mc 1:1; Zph 1:1 to Israel through 1:1 Jr 37:2; Hg 1:1 Malachi. 1:1 = My Messenger
2 "I have loved you," 1:2 Dt 4:37; 7:6–8; 10:14–15; Neh 13:26; Ps 78:68 says the Lord.
Yet you ask, "How have you loved us? "
"Wasn’t Esau Jacob’s brother? " 1:2 Gn 25:25–26; 36:19 This is the Lord’s declaration. "Even so, I loved Jacob, 3 but I hated Esau. 1:3 Gn 25:23; Rm 9:10–13 I turned his mountains into a wasteland, and gave his inheritance to the desert jackals." 1:3 Is 34:5–17; Jr 49:7–22; Ezk 35:1–15
4 Though Edom says, "We have been devastated, but we will rebuild 1:4 Or will return and build the ruins," the Lord of Armies says this: "They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called a wicked country 1:4 Mal 3:12,15 and the people the Lord has cursed 1:4 Or Lord is angry with forever. 1:4 Is 34:5–17; Jr 49:17–18; Mal 1:14; 2:2; 3:9; 4:65 Your own eyes will see this, and you yourselves will say, ‘The Lord is great, even beyond 1:5 Or great over the borders of Israel.’ 1:5 Ps 67:1–7; 72:8–11; Ezk 39:7; Zch 12:1–10; Rm 11:11–12
Disobedience of the Priests
6 "A son honors his father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is your fear of me? 1:6 1Sm 2:30; Dn 5:23; Hg 1:8 says the Lord of Armies to you priests, who despise my name."
Yet you ask, "How have we despised your name? "
7 "By presenting defiled food on my altar."
"How have we defiled you? " you ask. 1:7 Ezk 22:26
When you say, "The Lord’s table is contemptible." 1:7 Ezk 41:22; 44:16
8 "When you present a blind animal for sacrifice, is it not wrong? And when you present a lame or sick animal, is it not wrong? 1:8 Lv 22:18–25; Dt 15:21; 17:1 Bring it to your governor! Would he be pleased with you or show you favor? " asks the Lord of Armies. 9 "And now plead for God’s favor. Will he be gracious to us? 1:9 1Sm 13:12; Pr 19:6; Dn 9:13 Since this has come from your hands, will he show any of you favor? " 1:9 Nm 6:25–26 asks the Lord of Armies. 10 "I wish one of you would shut the temple doors, 1:10 2Ch 28:24 so that you would no longer kindle a useless fire on my altar! 1:10 Pr 1:17; Is 1:14 I am not pleased with you," says the Lord of Armies, "and I will accept 1:10 Lv 22:19–21 no offering from your hands. 1:10 Is 1:10–17; Jr 6:20; Am 5:21–23; Mc 6:6–8
11 "My name will be great among the nations, 1:11 Ps 113:3; Is 45:6; 59:19; Mt 8:11 from the rising of the sun to its setting. Incense 1:11 Or Burnt offerings and pure offerings will be presented in my name in every place because my name will be great among the nations," 1:11 Or is great . . . are presented . . . is great says the Lord of Armies.
12 "But you are profaning it 1:12 Lv 22:2; Ezk 13:19; 22:26; 36:20–23; Mal 2:10–11 when you say, ‘The Lord’s table is defiled, and its product, its food, is contemptible.’ 13 You also say, ‘Look, what a nuisance! ’ And you scorn 1:13 Lit blow at it," 1:13 Alt Hb tradition reads me, 1:13 1Sm 2:29 says the Lord of Armies. "You bring stolen, 1:13 Or injured, 1:13 2Sm 24:24 lame, or sick animals. You bring this as an offering! Am I to accept that from your hands? " asks the Lord.
14 "The deceiver is cursed who has an acceptable male in his flock and makes a vow but sacrifices a defective animal to the Lord. 1:14 Lv 22:18–25; 27:9–10; Nm 30:2; Dt 23:21–23; Ec 5:4–7 For I am a great King," says the Lord of Armies, "and my name will be feared among the nations.