The Skeptics Annotated Bible (725 page)

5 And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel.

6 A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?

(1.7-14) God 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.

7
Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar
; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible.

(1.7)
“Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar.”

8 And
if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil?
offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.

(1.8)
“If ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil?”

9 And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the LORD of hosts.

10 Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.

11 For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.

12 But ye have profaned it, in that ye say,
The table of the LORD is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible.

(1.12) “The table of the LORD is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible.”

13 Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and
ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering
: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD.

(1.13)
“Ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering.”

14 But
cursed be the deceiver, which
hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and
sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing
: for I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and
my name is dreadful among the heathen.

(1.14a) “Cursed be the deceiver, which … sacrificeth unto the LORD a corrupt thing.”

(1.14b)
“My name is dreadful among the heathen.”

2
And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you.

2
If ye will not
hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to
give glory unto my name
, saith the LORD of hosts,
I will even send a curse upon you
, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.

(2.2) “If ye will not … give glory unto my name … I will even send a curse upon you.” Give glory to God or he will curse you.

3
Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces
, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it.

(2.3) “Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces.”
250 Is every word of God pure?

4
And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you
, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.

(2.4)
“And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you.”
When God spreads dung upon your face, you’ll know where it came from.

5 My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith
he feared me, and was afraid before my name.

(2.5)
“He feared me, and was afraid before my name.”
132 Should we fear God?