The Skeptics Annotated Bible (726 page)

6 The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.

7 For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.

8 But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.

9 Therefore have
I also made you contemptible and base before all the people
, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.

(2.9) “I also made you contemptible and base before all the people.”

10 Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?

11 Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for
Judah
hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and
hath married the daughter of a strange god.

(2.11) “Judah … hath married the daughter of a strange god.”

12 The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts.

13 And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand.

14 Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.

15 And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and
let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.

(2.15) “Let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.”

16 For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.

17
Ye have wearied the LORD with your words
. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?

(2.17) “Ye have wearied the LORD with your words.”

3
Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me
: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

(3.1, 4.5) “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me.” The gospel of Mark claims that John the Baptist fulfilled the prophecy given in Malachi. But the Malachi prophecy says that God will send Elijah before “the great and dreadful day of the LORD” in which the world will be consumed by fire. Yet John the Baptist flatly denied that he was Elijah (Elias) in John 1.21 and the earth was not destroyed after John’s appearance.

2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ sope:

3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

4 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.

5 And I will come near to you to judgment; and
I will be a swift witness against
the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against
false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right
, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.

(3.5)
“I will be a swift witness against … false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right.”
God disapproves of adultery, lying, oppressing workers, and mistreating widows, orphans, and strangers. Does this mean that he also disapprove of slavery?
42 Does God approve of slavery?

6 For
I am the LORD, I change not
; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

(3.6)
“I am the Lord, I change not.”
32 Does God repent?

7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?

(3.8-10) God will curse you if you don’t give him money and meat.