Book Of Malachi

The book of Malachi is a book of the Old Testament.

The book of " Malachi "is a book completely anonymous. Indeed, it is not a proper name, but simply a common name meaning "envoy." The book has no section autobiographical and the author gives no information about his identity. Attempts to identify this anonymous character known to some ( Ezra eg.) are mere assumptions not based on any conclusive evidence. Available by cons of evidence sufficient to propose a date. Indeed, the cult operates normally again and the destruction of Edom seems well underway, which brings us already in the early ^fifth century BC. AD. The situation of the clergy seems very problematic due to decadence and release, which is quite a time away from the fervor of the beginnings of religion in Israel. It is actually in the same context as that of the books of Ezra and Nehemiah (social injustice, the problem of mixed marriages ...) and we can date the book can be a few years before the intervention of Nehemiah ( - 445 ), probably around -460. But the prophet's activity probably took place over several years or even decades, and the latest oracles may be subsequent to that intervention.

Pillars of the prophecy

Malachi much emphasis on the dysfunctions of religion, and invites listeners to promptly remedy: pay tithes, sacrifice animals in good quality ... He denounces the frauds that are attempts to deceive God. The prophet also tackled the issue of mixed marriages, that is to say, between a Jew and a Gentile. It comes ahead of the books of Ezra and Nehemiah and addresses especially to those who do not hesitate to repudiate their Jewish wife to marry a foreigner. Finally, he announced the immediate coming of the Lord's day. A Day of Judgement will be preceded by the arrival, or rather the return of the prophet Elijah. The announcement of Malachi will lead a lot of speculation found in the New Testament (eg: 11 And they were asking this question: "Why say the scribes that Elijah must come first?" 12 It said, "Yes, Elijah must come first and everything back in order. And how is it written of the Son of man he must suffer many things and be despised? 13 But I tell you, Elijah is already come and they treated their own way, as it is written of him. ")

Summary

Or the book of Malachi's prophecy seems to follow four main themes: (1) The sins of Israel: Mal 1:6-2:17, 3:8-9, (2) The judgments come upon Israel because of his disobedience: Mal 1:14; 2:2-3, 12; 3:5, (3) The promises for obedience: Mal 3:10-12, 16-18, 4:2-3, and (4) The prophecies concerning Israel: Mal 3:1-5, 4:1, 5-6.

In his prophecy, Malachi speaks of John the Baptist (Mal 3:1, Mt 11:10), the law of tithing (Mal 3:7-12), the second coming of the Lord (Mal 4:5) and the return of Elijah (Mal 4:5-6).