Malachi 2 Study Notes

2:13-14 To marry pagan women, some men were divorcing their Jewish wives to whom they had sworn faithfulness before God. Another thing you do is not the weeping of v. 13, but introduces the issue of divorce in v. 14 (you are covering could be rendered “while covering”). Divorce was the second detestable act of treachery that was profaning the sanctuary (v. 11). The verb forms in vv. 13-14 are different from those in vv. 11-12. This may suggest that Malachi was even more concerned with divorce than with intermarriage. Divorce profaned the sanctuary because the people continued to offer their sacrifices (v. 13) despite their marital betrayals. God’s refusal to respond favorably to their offerings (hence their tears; see Gn 4:4-5; Ps 6:6-9) was probably linked to their continuing economic and social troubles (Neh 9:32-37; Hg 1:6,9-11; 2:16-19). Persistent sin renders worship meaningless. Marriage partner renders a word for someone with whom one is bound by friendship, common goals and commitments, kinship, or covenant, the latter being the case here. (On marriage as covenantal, see Pr 2:17; Ezk 16:8,59-62; Hs 2:16-20.)

2:15 The translation and point of v. 15a is unclear, but it seems to indicate that the marriage bond is not only earthly and easily dissolved, but that it is the product of God’s Spirit, whose purpose is to produce godly offspring.

2:16 This verse ends by repeating v. 15b with one significant change. After speaking to “you” in vv. 13-15a, v. 15b switches back to third person “he” as in vv. 11-12, ending literally, “and with the wife of your youth let him not act treacherously.” Then after a conjunction opening v. 16 (meaning “because,” “if,” “when,” “that,” or “indeed”) is a verb that clearly means “he hates,” although most translations change it to “I hate.” But the subject apparently is the one who “acts treacherously,” and who also covers his garment with injustice. The one speaking is the Lord God of Israel, and contrary to KJV, NKJV, etc., there is no indication of indirect discourse (“says that”), so God cannot be the subject of “he hates.” This verse specifies how wives were being betrayed. Their husbands were “hating” so as to “divorce” (a Hb infinitive) them for no legitimate reason (Dt 24:3), which was a heinous injustice. Such a cold-blooded and unscrupulous traitor to his marital responsibilities, who would deny his wife the very things he had pledged to provide—devotion, care, companionship, protection, intimacy, peace, justice (Gn 2:24; Ex 21:10; Dt 22:13-19; Pr 5:15-20)—stood condemned by God, and he wore the stain of his crime like a garment for all to see (Ps 73:6).

2:17 The people’s treachery against one another (v. 10) was a form of injustice (failing to give someone his due), but they accused God of injustice for not coming to their aid and punishing people they considered “evil” (1:2; 3:15). God’s ironic reply was to announce in 3:1-6 a coming messenger of “judgment” (3:5; the same Hb word as justice) who would purge and purify God’s people, including the priests.