History Literature / BookOfMalachi

-->''Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the [[MagicIsEvil sorcerers]], against the [[YourCheatingHeart adulterers]], against the [[MaliciousSlander perjurers]], against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against [[SacredHospitality those who turn aside the stranger]], and do not fear Me, says the Lord of Hosts.''

-->''Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against the perjurers, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who turn aside the stranger, and do not fear Me, says the Lord of Hosts.''

* {{Foreshadowing}}: In traditional Christian interpretation, Malachi 3:1 prophesies about the coming of John the Baptist, who would prepare the way of Jesus' first coming.

* ApatheticCitizens: The people of Israel in their attitude of their worship of God, as voiced in Malachi 1:13:
-->''You also say, “What a weariness it is,” and you snort at it, says the Lord of Hosts.''

-->''‘What a weariness this is,’ you say, and you sniff at me, says the Lord of hosts.''

One of the books of the Minor Prophets that appears in the Old Testament. In standard Christian ordering, it's the last book of the Old Testament itself; in the Jewish ''Tanakh'' ordering, it is the last of the prophetic books (''Nevi'im'') and is followed by the first of the Writings (''Ketuvim''), which happens to be the Literature/BookOfPsalms.

One of the books of the Minor Prophets that appears in the Old Testament. In standard Christian ordering, it's the last book of the Old Testament itself.

* MalignedMixedMarriage: Not just that, but also divorce, which Chapter 2 in this book says God hates, because it's like covering violence with a garment.

* {{Curse}}: God calls a curse upon the earth (or land) in regards to His sending Elijah before "the day of the Lord" comes, that either he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and vice versa, or this curse will happen.

* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: The whole book is basically this to the Levitical priests, due to their mistreatment and indifferent attitude toward their duties toward God. To wit: offering blemished sacrifices, showing partiality to the Law of God, marriages to women of foreign gods, divorcing their earlier wives for such marriages, complaining about people that "test God and escape", withholding their tithes from God. In the middle of that speech, God says that He will come and purify the sons of Levi so that they will present offerings in righteousness.

* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: The whole book is basically this to the Levitical priests, due to their mistreatment and indifferent attitude toward their duties toward God. To wit: offering blemished sacrifices, showing partiality to the Law of God, marriages to women of foreign gods, divorcing their earlier wives for such marriages, complaining about people that "test God and escape", withholding their tithes from God.

* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: The whole book is basically this to the Levitical priests, due to their mistreatment and indifferent attitude toward their duties toward God. To wit: offering blemished sacrifices, showing partiality to the Law of God, marriages to women of foreign gods, complaining about people that "test God and escape", withholding their tithes from God.

* StopWorshippingMe: "Who is there among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on My altar in vain?" (Malachi 1:10) Basically, if you're not going to give God your best when you offer your sacrifices, then why waste your time giving anything to Him for an offering?

* ParentalFavoritism: In the first several verses, God speaks of "loving Jacob and hating Esau" (metaphors for both Israel and Edom, respectively) and making Esau's land a wilderness and a place for jackals. It's to remind Israel that, despite all the hard things he has to say to them through his prophet, He still loves them.

* ParentalFavoritism: In the first several verses, God speaks of "loving Jacob and hating Esau" (metaphors for both Israel and Edom, respectively) and making Esau's land a wilderness and a place for jackals.

* {{Foreshadowing}}: In traditional Christian interpretation, Malachi 3:1 prophesies about the coming of John the Baptist, who would prepare the way of Jesus' first coming.

* GodTest: God actually encourages His people Israel to test Him in regards to bringing the full tithe to the storehouse instead of withholding in Chapter 3, saying that He will pour out so much blessing that there will not be enough room to store it.

* MalignedMixedMarriage: Not just that, but also divorce, which Chapter 2 in this book says God hates, because it's like covering a garment with violence.

* MalignedMixedMarriage: Not just that, but also divorce, which Chapter 2 in this book says God hates, because it's like covering violence with a garment.

* CoveredInMud: Or in this case, covered in dung, as God threatens to do this to the priests who don't take the command to be impartial to the Law to heart.