Malaquias 4

Malaquias 4

Phillips comments on curse as the last word of the Old Testament - Thus the Old Testament ends. The first book in the Bible ends with a coffin. Isaiah ends on a note of judgment and so do Ecclesiastes and Lamentations. Finally Malachi ends with the word "curse." The rabbis sought to avoid the full force of that dread word by repeating verse 5 after verse 6. But God did not want the word muted. He wanted it to wail out its woe down through the silent centuries. He wanted it to haunt the minds of men, to echo down the years. God wanted the Jew to find the word "curse" at the end of his Bible. What better preparation could there be for a new beginning in Christ? What better preparation could there be for the coming of Jesus, who would bring blessing? A curse or Christ-that choice was God's final message to the Old Testament Jew. J. Baldwin - From early times attempts have been made to avoid the harsh ending of the book (smite the land with a curse). Greek manuscripts placed Mal 4:4 after Mal 4:6, while Hebrew liturgical use led to the repetition of Mal 4:5 after Mal 4:6. Hebrew Bibles continue to print Mal 4:5 a second time at the end of the chapter. The fathers - Steven