The Skeptics Annotated Bible (724 page)

(14.13)
“They shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour.”
God will make everyone fight and kill his neighbor.

14 And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance.

(14.15)
“So shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts.”
God sends his plagues on animals too.

15 And
so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts
that shall be in these tents, as this plague.

(14.16)
“Every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts.”
Whoever survives all these plagues and slaughters must worship God.

16 And it shall come to pass, that
every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts
, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.

17 And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.

18 And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain;
there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.

(14.18) “There shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.” God will “smite the heathen” with a plague.

19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.

(14.20-21)

20
In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD
; and the pots in the LORD’S house shall be like the bowls before the altar.

(14.20)
“In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD.”

21 Yea,
every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD
of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day
there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD
of hosts.

(14.21a) “Every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD.”

(14.21b)
“There shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD.”

Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces.
—
Malachi 2.3

The book of Malachi is anonymous; Malachi is just a transliteration of the Hebrew words for “my messenger.”

Here are some highlights:

• God, for some strange reason, “hated Esau.”
  1.3
  
• He also hates the Edomites, and his hatred will last forever.
  1.4
  
• He continues to demand animal sacrifices. And not just any animals will do. He is insulted when blind, lame, or sick animals are killed for him.
  1.8
  ,
  13-14
  
• Give glory to God or he will curse you.
  2.2
  
• “Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces.”
  2.3
  
• When God spreads dung upon your face, you’ll know where it came from.
  2.4
  
• God will curse you if you don’t give him money and meat.
  3.8
  
• He will burn “the wicked” and the “righteous” will walk around on their ashes.
  4.1-3
  
• The Old Testament ends fittingly with these words: “lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.”
  4.6
  

1
The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.

(1.1)
“The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.”
The book of Malachi is anonymous; Malachi is just a transliteration of the Hebrew words for “my messenger.”

2 I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet
ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob,

(1.2)
“Ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob.”
Malachi was addressing the skeptics of his day who questioned God’s love for them. He explains that God must love them since he loved Jacob, hated Esau, and will be angry with the Edomites forever.

3 And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.

(1.3)
“I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.”
God hated Esau and gave his inheritance to the dragons.
131 Does God love everyone?

4 Whereas
Edom
saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and,
The people against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever.

(1.4)
“Edom … The people against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever.”
God hates the Edomites, and his hatred will last forever. Whenever the Edomites build something, God will tear it down.
144 How long does God’s anger last?