MALACHI
Year of Prophecy 3448
Number of verses in Sefer 55
Number of Chapters 3
Malachi was the last prophet of Israel. He lived during the early years of the Second Bais HaMikdash. Plato and Socrates also lived at this same time. He was the last prophet to appear in the book of Trai Assar, The Twelve Prophets.
His name is from the word MAL'ACH meaning a "messenger" or "angel", and the YUD at the end means that he is "My" (i.e., G-d's) special messenger. Malachi prophesied at the beginning of the Second Temple period together with Haggai and Zecharyah, but unlike in the case of their prophecies, no date is included in that of Malachi. Nor are there any indications in the text about his identity. The opinion of Rav Nachman in the Talmud is that Malachi was a pseudonym for Mordechai (who according to this opinion was called Malachi, "my agent," because he was "second to the king" Esther 10:3). However, the opinion of R. Yehoshua ben Korchah is that Malachi was Ezra (Megilah 15a). Targum Yonasan (on Mal. 1:1) likewise identifies Malachi with Ezra, although other sages considered that he was a separate prophet (Megilah ibid.). He was a member of the Great Assembly and came up to Jerusalem from Babylon, where he had learned Torah from Baruch ben Neriyah, the student of Jeremiah (Rambam, Intro. to Mishneh Torah).
The fact that Malachi’s identity and date were perhaps intentionally left obscure gives his message a timelessness that makes it as relevant today as ever, since his was the very last prophetic message to Israel. With Malachi everything has come full circle, because the first prophet who came to reprove Israel after the death of Joshua was also anonymous and was simply called G-d's MALACH or "messenger" (Shoftim 2,1)
Messages in the Book of Malachi (delivered in question & answer style)
- HaShem still loves Israel
- The people must restore the Temple ritual and meet their religious obligations as a show of love of HaShem.
- Not only ritual, but also ethical behavior as well must be observed. Malachi denounced adultery, perjury and oppression of widows and orphans. He condemned the divorce of Jewish wives and marriage with gentiles as disloyalty to Hashem.
- Sincere heathen worship is an offering to HaShem, a concept of universalism.
- The day of the Lord, Judgment day will come on it.
- Israel will be judged and not the other nations.
- The wicked will be destroyed and the righteous will be rewarded.
- Elijah's coming will proceed and foretell this event.
- The messianic era will follow Judgment day and bring peace and harmony to the world
- Malachi preached strict observance of the Torah.
Famous Phrase from the Book of Malachi
Chapter 3 verse4: (said during the Korbanos recited in the siddur)
"V'arvah la HaShem minchat yedudah v'yerushalaim keyemai olam uschshanim Kadmaniyos"
“Then the offering of Yehudah and Yerushalayim will be pleasing to HaShem as in the days of old and previous years.”
Other Background Events
- 3338 – Destruction of First Temple
- 3392-3406 – Purim
- 3408-12 – Construction of Second Temple
- 3448 – End of Prophecy
