Mal 1:2-5 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Mal 1:2-5: 1:2-5 Malachi’s sermons are literary disputations —a format that calls to mind the setting of a courtroom and establishes the tone of a trial for the prophet’s message. This first disputation presents the truth that God loves Israel (1:2 ). The prophet then debates this thesis with his audience in the five messages that follow. 1:2 loved: In portraying a relationship between the Lord and Israel, love has covenant implications. The term may be equated with God’s choice, or election, of Israel as his people. Malachi’s message indicates that the other dimensions of God’s unconditional covenant love for Israel (such as his patient mercy; see 3:6 , 17 ) are also still operative. See also Rom 9:13 .

Summary for Mal 1:2-5: 1:2-5 ^a Malachi’s sermons are literary disputations—a format that calls to mind the setting of a courtroom and establishes the tone of a trial for the prophet’s message. This first disputation presents the truth that God loves Israel (1:2 ^b). The prophet then debates this thesis with his audience in the five messages that follow. 1:2 ^c loved: In portraying a relationship between the Lord and Israel, love has covenant implications. The term may be equated with God’s choice, or election, of Israel as his people. Malachi’s message indicates that the other dimensions of God’s unconditional covenant love for Israel (such as his patient mercy; see 3:6 ^d, 17 ^e) are also still operative. See also Rom 9:13 ^f.
1:3 ^g rejected (literally hated, the antonym of loved in 1:2 ^h): Love and hate form a polar word pair in Old Testament legal and prophetic texts (see Deut 7:9-10 ⁱ; Amos 5:15 ^j), often used to describe the alienation of a broken covenant relationship. Here, God says that he rejected Esau (and his descendants, the Edomites). Esau had despised and rejected covenant relationship with the Lord (see Gen 25:34 ^k; 26:34-35 ^l).

• Esau was the ancestor of the Edomite nation, and his inheritance, the territory of Edom, was located on the southeastern rim of the Dead Sea. The mention of Jacob and Esau calls to mind the twin brothers’ rivalry (Gen 25:23-26 ^m).
1:4 ⁿ the Lord of Heaven’s Armies (Hebrew Yahweh tseba’oth): This name for God is prominent in Old Testament prophetic literature. Heaven’s Armies are the angelic armies at God’s command; the phrase emphasizes the invincible power of God.

• The Land of Wickedness: Esau was selfish and contemptuous of the tokens of the Lord’s covenant (see Gen 25:34 ^o). The nation of Edom came to personify the pride of self-centered existence (see Jer 49:16 ^p). The Edomites were also allies of Babylon in the destruction of Jerusalem (see Ps 137:7-9 ^q; Obad 1:10 ^r, 12 ^s).