Malaquias 2

Malaquias 2

Piper - Three Reasons Not to Be Faithless to One Another - 1. We have one Father: "Have we not all one father?" (Mal 2:10). In other words when we betray a trust, we betray the family of God. We deceive our own flesh and we dishonor our Father. 2. We have one Creator. "Has not one God created us?" (Mal 2:10). If I am faithless to you, and break my commitment to you, I act as though you and I are accountable to two different Creators. I act as though my Creator lets me function on one set of terms—like self-indulgence that ignores my commitment to you—while I expect your Creator to hold you to another set of terms—like respect for my rights and stay off my case. But if we are both utterly dependent upon and accountable to one and the same Creator, that double standard will not do. 3. The third reason we should not break faith with others is that it profanes the covenant of our fathers. "Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our fathers?" (Malachi 2:10-16 - Let None Be Faithless to the Wife of His You) Walter Kaiser - Malachi’s day may have been no different from our own. Many ministers and teachers are intimidated to the point of silence on issues regarding sexual practices of single people, extra-marital affairs of believers and unbelievers, and divorce. One recent cartoon in Leadership magazine showed a pastor appearing before his congregation in a full panoply of knight’s armor. As he lifted the hatch over his mouth, he intoned, “My subject today is ‘Divorce.’ ” If that is not a picture of an intimidated pastor, what is? ><>><>><> In an Internet chat room, questions and accusations flew wildly. Everyone who loved the pair was distraught. Biologists warned the amateur eagle enthusiasts not to attribute human values to birds. But everyone did. We all wanted the original couple to reunite. Everyone seemed to “know” that the family unit is sacred. As chat room members expressed their sadness, I wondered if they knew that God feels much the same way about human family breakups. I also wondered about myself: Why did I feel more sadness over the eagles than over the fractured human families in my community? Clearly, I need to revise my priorities. In Malachi 2, we see God’s view of marriage. It symbolizes His covenant with His people (v.11). He takes it very seriously—and so should we. Thinking It Over In Malachi 2:11, what is “profaned” and how? How does Malachi 2:15 echo Genesis 2:24? Why is this important? (Mal. 2:15-16). Put Christ first if you want your marriage to last. Malachi 2:11 "Judah has dealt treacherously, and an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the LORD which He loves and has married the daughter of a foreign god.: (and an: Lev 18:24-30 Jer 7:10 Eze 18:13 22:11 Rev 21:8) (profaned: Ex 19:5,6 Lev 20:26 Dt 7:3-6 14:2 33:26-29 Ps 106:28,34-39 Jer 2:3,7,8,21,22) (And has: Ge 6:1,2 Jud 3:6 1Ki 11:1-8 Ezr 9:1,2,12 10:2 Ne 13:23-29 Ho 6:7 2Co 6:14-18) MIXED MARRIAGES NET Malachi 2:11 Judah has become disloyal, and unspeakable sins have been committed in Israel and Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the holy things that the LORD loves and has turned to a foreign god! Judah has dealt treacherously - They people had not lived up to the standards of the covenant. This was not new behavior, for "in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah stern measures had been taken to put an end to a renewed tendency to marry into pagan families (Ezra 9:1-2; 10:1-4; Nehemiah 13:25-27), but now the practice was again widespread." (Phillips). Dealt treacherously (0898)(bagad apparently from an Arabic root meaning to deceive) means to act deceitfully, unfaithfully, to commit faithlessness.. This word describes a traitor, one who violates his allegiance and betrays something or someone (e.g., God). Bagad means to ‘break faith’ which speaks of one who does not honour the terms of an existing agreement. The root idea of bagad is to cover or cloak things over, and so to act covertly or falsely, perfidiously (acting untrue to what should command one’s fidelity or allegiance and adds to faithless the implication of an incapacity for fidelity or reliability!). "The verb connotes unfaithfulness in relationships like marriage (Ex. 21:8; Jer. 3:20; Mal. 2:14); Israel’s covenant with the Lord (Ps. 78:57; 119:158); friendships (Job 6:15; Jer. 3:20; Mal. 2:10); leadership (Jdg. 9:23)." (Baker) The Septuagint translates bagad in this verse with egkataleipo which means to abandon, desert or forsake. In English treacherous describes one likely to betray trust and thus one who is unreliable, even implying a mental readiness to betray trust or confidence. That which is treacherous does not provide secure footing or support. Webster's 1828 say treacherous = "Violating allegiance or faith pledged; faithless; traitorous to the state or sovereign; perfidious in private life; betraying a trust. A man may be treacherous to his country, or treacherous to his friend, by violating his engagements or his faith pledged." Kaiser notes that bagad "is related to the word beged, “garment.” In effect, what the people were doing in their treacherous dealing was involving themselves in a “cover-up” job. They were masking their covenants with God and their wives. Therein lay the insidious nature of their treachery!" Bagad- 39 verses (note emphasis in Malachi) - Ex 21:8; Jdg 9:23; 1Sa 14:33; Job 6:15; Ps 25:3; 59:5; Ps 73:15; 78:57; 119:158; Pr 2:22; 11:3, 6; 13:2, 15; 21:18; 22:12; 23:28; 25:19; Isa 21:2; 24:16; 33:1; 48:8; Jer 3:8, 11, 20; 5:11; 9:2; 12:1, 6; Lam 1:2; Hos 5:7; 6:7; Hab 1:13; 2:5; Mal 2:5, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16 Usage: acted deceitfully(1), acted treacherously(2), betrayed(1), betrays(1), deal(1), deal treacherously(10), deal very treacherously(1), deals treacherously(1), dealt treacherously(8), dealt very treacherously(1), faithless(2), treacherous(15), treacherous one still deals treacherously(1), treacherous deal(1), treacherously(1), unfairness(1). Here are some samples to help you get a sense of the meaning of the Hebrew verb bagad... Judges 9:23 "Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously (Lxx = atheteo = `to act toward anything as though it were annulled'; hence, to deprive a law of force by opinions or acts opposed to it, to transgress it") with Abimelech." 1Sa 14:33 Then they told Saul, saying, “Behold, the people are sinning against the LORD by eating with the blood.” And he said, “You have acted treacherously; (How? They broke the law, the Old Covenant stipulations against eating blood - see Lev 17:10-11, 12-14) roll a great stone to me today.” Ps 25:3 Indeed, none of those who wait for Thee will be ashamed; Those who deal treacherously (Lxx = anomeo [see anomia] in the present tense referring to this as their lifestyle = be lawless, act lawlessly, be wicked, be corrupted by sins - Isa 24:5, sin exceedingly or flagrantly) without cause will be ashamed. Ps 59:5 And Thou, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, Awake to punish all the nations; Do not be gracious to any who are treacherous (Lxx = asuntheteo [see asunthetos] = to be faithless to, in present tense = continually, as their lifestyle. Asuntheteo is used in Neh 13:27 of marrying foreign women!) in iniquity. Selah. (One of those pithy imprecatory prayers of David - cf Ps 59:1! The target? Those how deal treacherously. And how do they do so? By "immersing" themselves in iniquity - in a sense their the "water in which they swim" is that of iniquity or sin! Woe!) Ps 78:57 (Context - Ps 78:55, 56) But turned back and acted treacherously like their fathers; They turned aside like a treacherous bow. (From the context we see acting treacherously includes testing God, rebelling against God, not keeping His Word, all aptly summed up in the phrase "they turned aside.") Ps 119:158 I behold the treacherous (Lxx = asuntheteo [see asunthetos] = to be faithless to, in present tense = continually, as their lifestyle. Asuntheteo is used in Neh 13:27 of marrying foreign women!) and loathe them, Because they do not keep Thy word. (Note this excellent "working definition" of the meaning of dealing treacherously with someone, in this case God Himself! Personal Application: Do I think of myself as "treacherous" toward God when I willfully, wantonly disobey His Holy Word? Probably not, but it's a good "perspective" to keep in mind to give us godly motivation to not sin willfully! Let this mind be in us O Lord. Amen) Jer 3:8 “And I saw that for all the adulteries of faithless (backsliding) Israel, I had sent her away and given her a writ of divorce, yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear; but she went and was a harlot also. Jer 3:11 And the LORD said to me, “Faithless Israel has proved herself more righteous than treacherous Judah. (So that treachery is not just faithless, but worse!) Jer 3:20 “Surely, as a woman treacherously departs from her lover, So you have dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel,” declares the LORD. Hos 5:7 They have dealt treacherously against the LORD, For they have borne illegitimate children. Now the new moon will devour them with their land. Hos 6:7 But like Adam they have transgressed the covenant; There they have dealt treacherously against Me. (Treachery is associated with breaking covenant, similar to what is described here in Malachi 2.) Solomon teaches us much about the attitude, actions and the fate of the treacherous... Pr 2:22 But the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous (Lxx = paranomas [see paranomia] = pertains to that which is contrary to the law, lawless, against the law, wicked) will be uprooted from it. (Note the "synonym" for treacherous and the final demise of the treacherous!) Pr 11:3 The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the falseness of the treacherous (Lxx = asebes = ungodly, irreverent, godless) will destroy them. (Note the heart attitude of the treacherous and to whom the treacherous are contrasted. Clearly the antonym of treachery is uprightness - see also Pr 11:6 below) Pr 11:6 The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, But the treacherous (Lxx = paranomas [see paranomia] = pertains to that which is contrary to the law, lawless, against the law, wicked) will be caught by their own greed. Pr 13:2 From the fruit of a man’s mouth he enjoys good, but the desire of the treacherous (Lxx = paranomas = pertains to that which is contrary to the law, lawless, against the law, wicked) is violence. Pr 13:15 Good understanding produces favor, but the way of the treacherous (kataphroneo - one who despises, looks down upon, "thinks down" on another) is hard. Pr 21:18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, And the treacherous is in the place of the upright. Pr 22:12 The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, But He overthrows (Lxx - phaulizo - despises, considers worthless, disparages) the words of the treacherous man (Lxx = paranomas [see paranomia] = pertains to that which is contrary to the law, lawless, against the law, wicked). Pr 23:28 Surely she lurks as a robber, And increases the faithless among men. Pr 25:19 Like a bad tooth and an unsteady foot is confidence in a faithless (Lxx = paranomas [see paranomia] = pertains to that which is contrary to the law, lawless, against the law, wicked) man in time of trouble. (Bagad here describes an unreliable person, one you cannot count on when you need them most!) An abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem - Malachi uses the word abomination, a term reserved for the worst of evils (e.g., immorality, idolatry, witchcraft, etc). T V Moore - The greatness of the sin (of marriage "to the daughter of a foreign god") arose from the fact that it tended to defeat one of the purposes of the Mosaic economy. God isolated the Jews from all other nations (Ex 19:6), that they might be a nursery for the great ideas of religion that were to be elaborated in the history of the world, and a stock from which he would bring forth the Messiah. All mingling with other nations who had not been trained in this way and preserved for this purpose, tended to defeat this design. Especially was this true of matrimonial alliances. Heathen women retained a natural longing for the indulgences of their own religion, and easily led their husbands into guilty compliances. The women of Moab and Philistia, and the wives of Solomon, furnish mournful proofs of this fact. They led their infatuated husbands and paramours into the grossest idolatry. Hence these connections were grievous sins against God; but as they led to cruel treatment of the Jewish wives, they were also sins against humanity. The prophet strikes at once at the heart of the sin, and shows that it is want of fidelity to God that lies at the root of it all. Whoever violates the theocratic law, rebels against God who made it. They, therefore, who chose heathen wives, thereby rejected the God of Israel. (Malachi 2 Commentary 1856) Abomination (08441) (toebah) is a feminine noun describing that which is abhorrent, repulsive, disgusting, repugnant. Toebah signifies things and acts which are abominable in the sight of God, such as idolatry, impurity, etc. It describes that which is loathsome (disgusting) and frequently referred to idols (Dt 7:26, Dt 32:16; 2Ch 34:33; Jer 16:18; Eze 5:9; 7:20; 11:18, 21; 16:36). Abomination in English is that which is a cause of extreme disgust and hatred. Webster's 1828 - "Hence, defilement, pollution, in a physical sense, or evil doctrines and practices, which are moral defilements, idols and idolatry, are called abominations. The Jews were an abomination to the Egyptians; and the sacred animals of the Egyptians were an abomination to the Jews." Israel had been clearly warned before entering the promised land filled with the Canaanites and their detestable practices... When you enter the land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the detestable (toebah) things of those nations (Now he lists some of these abominations). 10 “There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire (child sacrifice!), one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11 or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. 12 “For whoever does these things is detestable (toebah) to the LORD; and because of these detestable (toebah) things the LORD your God will drive them out before you.13 “You shall be blameless before the LORD your God. (Deut 18:9-13) Verhoef comments that "By using this significant word (toebah) Malachi equates Judah’s faithlessness with the defection into paganism." The Egyptians considered it "is loathsome (abomination)" to eat with the Hebrews (Ge 43:32). More often toebah refers to God's response of extreme loathing of Israel's covenant disobedience and also the abhorrent practices of the Canaanites. "Such abominations in the sight of God include: unlawful sexual practices (Lev. 18:22 ff.); intermarriage with pagans (Ezra 9:1, 11, 14); shrine prostitution (Dt 23:18); dishonesty, wickedness, and lying in various contexts (Pr 6:16; 8:7; 11:1; 12:22; 15:8; 20:23; 29:27, etc.). By far the most common use of toebah, however, is in reference to God’s abhorrence of idolatry in all its forms. Idolatry is a mixture of ethical and religious malpractice on the part of both Israel and the Gentile nations. The term is used in this way in about fifty different places." (Renn) Vine - toebah is used in some contexts to describe pagan practices and objects (Deut. 7:25-26). In other contexts, toebah describes the repeated failures to observe divine regulations (Ezek. 5:7, 9). Toebah may represent the pagan cultic practices themselves, as in Dt. 12:31, or the people who perpetrate such practices (Deut. 18:12). If Israelites are guilty of such idolatry, however, their fate will be worse than exile: death by stoning (Deut. 17:2-5). The Lxx translates toebah with bdelugma which describes something that is extremely hated, detested or abhorred, as is the case with anything connected with idolatry (cf Rev 17:4) or with worship of the Antichrist (Mt 24:15). Both toebah and bdelugma emphasize idolatry and blasphemy as the fundamental catalysts for the outpouring of divine wrath. Ronald Youngblood says toebah is an abomination which "may be of a physical, ritual or ethical nature and may be abhorred by God or man. Sharing a meal with a Hebrew was ritually offensive to an Egyptian (Gen 43:32), as was offering certain kinds of sacrifices (Ex 8:22). homosexuality and other perversions are repugnant to God and fall under his judgment (Lev 18:22–30; 20:13). Idolatry (Dt 7:25), human sacrifice (Deut 12:31), eating ritually unclean animals (Dt 14:3–8), sacrificing defective animals (Dt 17:1), conducting one’s business dishonestly (Dt 25:13–16), practicing ritual prostitution (1Kgs 14:23f.), and similar acts of disobedience (for seven more abominations, see the list in Pr 6:16–19) were sure to bring God’s wrath on those who perpetrated them. Twelve times the book of Proverbs uses the phrase, “is an abomination to the Lord.” In Ps 88, a prayer for help written by a man close to death, the physically repulsive appearance of a tôēbâ is stressed; the man’s former friends avoid him because they consider him to be a thing of horror (Ps 88:8). Sometimes tôēbâ is used as a synonym for “idol” as in Isa 44:19, or even for a specific pagan deity, as in 2Kgs 23:13 where Milcom is called “the abomination of the Ammonites,” parallel to “Ashtoreth the abomination (šiqqû) of the Sidonians” and Chemosth the abomination (šiqqû) of Moab.” At the other end of the spectrum, even prayer is an abomination if offered by one who refuses to obey God’s Word (Pr. 28:9)." (TWOT) Toebah - 112 verses - Ge 43:32; 46:34; Ex 8:26; Lev 18:22, 26f, 29f; 20:13; Deut 7:25f; 12:31; 13:14; 14:3; 17:1, 4; 18:9, 12; 20:18; 22:5; 23:18; 24:4; 25:16; 27:15; 32:16; 1Kgs 14:24; 2Kgs 16:3; 21:2, 11; 23:13; 2Chr 28:3; 33:2; 34:33; 36:8, 14; Ezra 9:1, 11, 14; Ps 88:8; Pr 3:32; 6:16; 8:7; 11:1, 20; 12:22; 13:19; 15:8f, 26; 16:5, 12; 17:15; 20:10, 23; 21:27; 24:9; 26:25; 28:9; 29:27; Isa 1:13; 41:24; 44:19; Jer 2:7; 6:15; 7:10; 8:12; 16:18; 32:35; 44:4, 22; Ezek 5:9, 11; 6:9, 11; 7:3f, 8f, 20; 8:6, 9, 13, 15, 17; 9:4; 11:18, 21; 12:16; 14:6; 16:2, 22, 36, 43, 47, 50f, 58; 18:12f, 24; 20:4; 22:2, 11; 23:36; 33:26, 29; 36:31; 43:8; 44:6f, 13; Mal 2:11. Usage: abominable(5), abominable act(1), abomination(39), abominations(60), detestable(2), detestable act(1), detestable thing(3), detestable things(3), loathsome(2), object of loathing(1). For - Notice this term of explanation (always pause and ponder). In this case Malachi is explaining the significance of the atrocity just described.. Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the LORD - The effect of dealing treacherously and committing an abomination is that the sanctuary was profaned. MacKay explains that "the sanctuary’ is literally ‘holiness of the LORD’ (KJV). This may be understood of the Temple as the holy place. The sin of pagan marriages would thus be an affront to the presence of God in their midst, which was symbolized by the Temple. Alternatively, ‘holiness of the LORD’ may refer to the people themselves. As those set aside to the service of the LORD they are called ‘holy’ and ‘holiness’ (Ex. 19:6; 31:13; Lev. 20:26; Deut. 7:6; Jer. 2:3). ‘Judah became God’s sanctuary’ (Ps. 114:2), the people he loves (Mal 1:2). So by their actions they had profaned their national dedication to the LORD and his service." Verhoef - This interpretation (sanctuary = people rather than the temple) is reflected in the translation of the Targum: “Because the house of Judah desecrated themselves, who have been sanctified by the Lord, and whom he loves.” As such it is of the utmost significance. Malachi reminds his people of what is implied in connection with their breach of faith. They are violating and desecrating the intimate bond with God as their Father and Creator, as well as desecrating themselves, since they are the sanctuary of the Lord. What a deep and striking exposure of the nature and effect of the covenant people’s breach of faith. All are involved in the transgression of one, and every relation is detrimentally affected thereby. (NICOT) Profane (02490)(chalal - word study) means to defile, pollute, desecrate. Profane means to treat (something sacred) with abuse, irreverence, or contempt. The Lxx uses the verb bebeloo (see bebelos) which means disregarding what is to be kept sacred or holy. Bebeloo means to cause something highly revered to become identified with the commonplace and thus to violate its sanctity, John Piper writes that "by consistently using this little word bagad and tracing faithlessness through in all the relationships of the text, Malachi makes clear for us two alternative ways for people to try to live in a community. One way is what you might call covenantal order—it's what the OT means by shalom. All relationships are made peaceful and pure by the fulfillment of covenants and promises and oaths and contracts and commitments. Children to parents, and parents to children. Husbands to wives and wives to husbands. Employer to employee and employee to employer. Citizen to state and state to citizen. The peace and prosperity and joy—the shalom—of the community is held together by the deep strong spirit of covenant-keeping that pervades the community. The very fabric of the community is the trustworthiness of its people. Do they keep their commitments? The other way for people to try to live together in community is the opposite of covenantal order; it's what you might call the disorder of self-indulgence. In this community the spirit of commitment-making and commitment-keeping has been replaced by a spirit of emotional and physical impulse. The moral fabric of faithfulness to covenants and promises and contracts is unraveled and what's left are the individual strands of private gratification." (Malachi 2:10-16 - Let None Be Faithless to the Wife of His You) Daughter of a foreign (strange) god - More literally "dependent of a strange god" which describes the woman as an idolatress. They had not become converts to Jehovah but continued in their pagan beliefs, which is what God had warned would occur "For they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods; then the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you, and He will quickly destroy you." (Dt 7:14) The desires of their flesh far outweighed their fear of the Lord, the result of which is always sin! Can we not all identify with them at least to some degree? We need to continually recall the principle that "by the fear of the LORD one keeps away from evil." (Pr 16:6-note) and that "the fear of the LORD is to hate evil." (Pr 8:13) Indeed "The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death." Dear reader, be wary and beware, if your "titer" of godly fear is on the decline! MacKay - A mixed multitude had left Egypt with Israel, but they had been circumcised and kept the Passover (Ex. 12:48; Num. 9:14). Ruth had come from Moab, but she had allied herself to Israel’s God (Ruth 1:16). Married the daughter of a foreign god - Did you hear what Malachi said? They did not just marry the unbelieving woman, but they also "married" her idolatrous gods! The NET Bible renders it "Judah has profaned the holy things that the LORD loves and has turned to a foreign god!" BDAG says Judah "has lived his life with an eye toward" other gods. The Greek verb can mean to make an object of one's purpose. Ryrie explains that these "heathen girls brought foreign gods into Jewish homes and said, in effect, "Marry me, marry my religion." Mixed marriages had been reported in Ezra 9:2–6; 10:18–19 and Neh 10:30; 13:23–27, but had been clearly forbidden in Ex 34:11–16; Dt 7:3; and 1Ki 11:1–2. The warning against mixed marriages was clearly repeated by Paul in a series of five rhetorical questions (all calling for a definitive "None!")... Do not be bound together (present imperative with a negative = stop doing this) with unbelievers; for (term of explanation - explains this strong warning) what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial (the devil), or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? 16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple (cf one of the interpretations of the people as the sanctuary of the LORD in Mal 2:10) of the living God; just as God said, “I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. (2Cor 6:14-16-note, note 2) David Levy - The concept of being “unequally yoked” is taken from Deuteronomy 22:10, where the Israelites were told not to plow with an ox (a clean animal) and an donkey (an unclean animal) yoked together. Their natures and temperaments made them incompatible and uncooperative for plowing. The same is true for a believer who tries to establish a harmonious walk through life with an unbelieving partner! (Ed: An ox and a donkey yoked -- What a picture of a spiritually unequal marriage!)....Believers do not realize the web they weave for themselves by marrying unbelievers. They often look back in deep sorrow over their actions, wishing they had thought twice before entering into such unholy relationships. Moses reminds us in Numbers 25 of how serious a sin intimate interrelationship with pagan society was in ancient Israel... While Israel remained at Shittim, the people began to play the harlot (commit illicit sexual intercourse) with the daughters of Moab. 2 For they invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. 3 So Israel joined themselves to Baal of Peor, and the LORD was angry against Israel. 4 And the LORD said to Moses, "Take all the leaders of the people and execute them in broad daylight before the LORD, so that the fierce anger of the LORD may turn away from Israel." 5 So Moses said to the judges of Israel, "Each of you slay his men who have joined themselves to Baal of Peor." 6 Then behold, one of the sons of Israel came and brought to his relatives a Midianite woman, in the sight of Moses and in the sight of all the congregation of the sons of Israel, while they were weeping at the doorway of the tent of meeting. 7 When Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he arose from the midst of the congregation, and took a spear in his hand; 8 and he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and pierced both of them through, the man of Israel and the woman, through the body. So the plague on the sons of Israel was checked. 9 And those who died by the plague were 24,000. (Numbers 25:1-9) Steven Cole on believers marrying unbelievers - I want you to hear me loud and clear: It is never God's will for a Christian to marry a non-Christian! Period!! No exceptions!! You should no more pray about marrying a non-Christian than you should pray about whether it is God's will for you to commit adultery or murder your neighbor. God has made it abundantly plain that it is sin for His children to marry an unbeliever. It is never God's will for you to sin! Someone may be thinking, "But I know of cases where a believer married an unbeliever and everything has turned out fine. The unbeliever came to faith in Christ and today they have a fine Christian family." Yes, God is often gracious in using even our sins for good when we repent. I've heard of people who tried to commit suicide, but God spared their lives and saved them. But that should not encourage us to sin that grace may abound! Malachi 2:12 "As for the man who does this, may the LORD cut off from the tents of Jacob everyone who awakes and answers, or who presents an offering to the LORD of hosts.: (cut: Lev 18:29 20:3 Nu 15:30,31 Jos 23:12,13 1Sa 2:31-34) (1Ch 25:8 Ezr 10:18,19 Ne 13:28,29 Isa 9:14-16 24:1,2 Eze 14:10 Ho 4:4,5 Mt 15:14 2Ti 3:13 Rev 19:20)(cuff off: Nu 24:5 Zec 12:7) (Who presents: Mal 2:10 Ge 4:3-5 1Sa 3:14 15:22,23 Isa 61:8 66:3 Am 5:22) INTERMARRIAGE CALLS FORTH AN INVOCATION OF A "CURSE" As for the man who does this - Marries a pagan wife which invariably includes her idols. Even Solomon fell into this deadly trap with tragic results - read 1Ki 11:1-12. Clearly mixed marriage opens the door to apostasy and idolatry, which explains the severity of the punishment for which Malachi prays. May the LORD cut off - This is expressed as a prayer calling for "excommunication" of the offending parties, resulting in their separation from the covenant people of God and by "default" from God Himself. Note that Malachi no longer identifies himself with this group (cf "we" and "us" in Mal 2:10) We see a similar zeal in Ezra 9:3 and Neh 13:25-29 in a similar context of mixed marriages. Cut off (03772)(karath - word study) means either to die (which speaks of separation - cf Ge 9:1) or to be excluded (effectively "dead" because they are separated) from the covenant community and the land of promise (Ex 12:15, 19), which would obviously include his lineage, so that he would have no descendents in the covenant people (cf 2Sa 20:1, 1Ki 12:16)! Everyone who awakes and answers - The interpretation of this Hebrew phrase (presumably an idiom) is very uncertain as reflected by the wide variation in the English translations (KJV = “the master and the scholar.” Young’s Literal = “Tempter and tempted.” NAB = “both witness and advocate.” Moffatt = “kith and kin.” NEB =“nomads or settlers”). Here is the NET Note - The idea seems to be a merism expressing totality (Ed: by means of describing two opposite categories), that is, everybody from the awakener to the awakened, thus "every last person who does this" (NLT similar); NIV "whoever he may be." T V Moore on awakes and answers - The Arabs have a similar proverbial expression, “No caller and no answerer.” The meaning is, whatever or whoever he may be; being an idiomatic phrase for universality, like our English one “root and branch.” Who presents an offering to the LORD of hosts - There are two possible interpretations, although the substance of both is that this sin could not be atoned for (cf defiant sins, Nu 15:30, contrasted with unintentional sins in Nu 15:22-29). One interpretation is that if another individual presented an offering on behalf of the guilty party (the one who intermarried), he would also incur the perpetrator's punishment! God is serious about the danger of this practice! How many times have we heard stories about a born again believer marrying an unbeliever and the tragic consequences that almost invariably followed! Keil & Delitzsch agree writing “May God not only cut off every descendant of such a sinner out of the houses of Israel, but any one who might offer a sacrifice for him in expiation of his sin.” Bible Knowledge Commentary on the other hand writes that this description "emphasizes the hypocritical and insensitive attitude of those who committed this sin of intermarrying. One is shocked to read that despite the abomination such a person committed he still brought offerings to seek the Lord’s favor."