{"id":47680,"date":"2020-09-14T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-09-14T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/blog\/?p=47680"},"modified":"2023-03-01T13:56:23","modified_gmt":"2023-03-01T21:56:23","slug":"quick-dive-into-malachi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/blog\/quick-dive-into-malachi\/","title":{"rendered":"Quick Dive into Malachi"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>When you think of Old Testament books, Malachi probably doesn&#8217;t make the top five. Yet, this minor prophet book touches on important subjects, like divorce. Since it&#8217;s lesser-known book, we&#8217;ve pulled introductory material, notes, and articles from the revised <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/store\/product.php?product_id=59059\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">NIV Study Bible<\/a>. Join us for a quick dive into the book of Malachi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-introduction-to-malachi\"><strong>INTRODUCTION TO MALACHI<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The following information is pulled directly from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/store\/product.php?product_id=59059\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">NIV Study Bible Fully Revised Edition<\/a>. We didn&#8217;t include <em>all<\/em> the introductory notes because, well, it&#8217;s a lot! But the paragraphs we did include will provide good context for the rest of our study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-author\"><strong>Author<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The book is ascribed to Malachi, whose name means \u201cmy messenger.\u201d Since the term occurs in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Mal+3%3A1&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">3:1<\/a>, and since both prophets and priests were called messengers of the Lord (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Mal+2%3A7&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2:7<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Hag+1%3A13&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Hag 1:13<\/a>), some have thought \u201cMalachi\u201d to be only a title that tradition has given the author. The view has been supported by appeal to the Septuagint (the pre-Christian Greek translation of the OT), which translates the term in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Mal+1%3A1&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1:1<\/a> \u201chis messenger\u201d rather than as a proper noun. However, this would be the only case in which a prophetic book was not entitled with a proper name. So it is likely that Malachi was the author\u2019s name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-background\"><strong>Background<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Spurred on by the prophetic activity of Haggai and Zechariah, the returned exiles under the leadership of their governor, Zerubbabel, finished the temple in 516 BC. In 458 the community was strengthened by the coming of the priest Ezra and several thousand more Jews. Artaxerxes I, king of Persia, encouraged Ezra to reconstitute the temple worship (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Ezr+7%3A17&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ezr 7:17<\/a>) and to make sure the law of Moses was being obeyed (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Ezr+7%3A25-26&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ezr 7:25\u201326<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fourteen years later (444 BC) the same Persian king permitted his cupbearer Nehemiah to return to Jerusalem and rebuild its walls (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Neh+6%3A15&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ne 6:15<\/a>). As newly appointed governor, Nehemiah also spearheaded reforms to help the poor (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Neh+5%3A2-13&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ne 5:2\u201313<\/a>) and convinced the people to shun mixed marriages (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Neh+10%3A30&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ne 10:30<\/a>), to keep the Sabbath (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Neh+10%3A31&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ne 10:31<\/a>) and to bring their tithes and offerings faithfully (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Neh+10%3A37-39&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ne 10:37\u201339<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 433 BC Nehemiah returned to the service of the Persian king, and during his absence the Jews fell into sin once more. Later, however, Nehemiah came back to Jerusalem to discover that the tithes were ignored, the Sabbath was broken, the people had intermarried with foreigners, and the priests had become corrupt (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Neh+13%3A7-31&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ne 13:7\u201331<\/a>). Several of these same sins are condemned by Malachi (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Mal+1%3A6-14&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1:6\u201314<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Mal+2%3A14-16&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2:14\u201316<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Mal+3%3A8-11&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">3:8\u201311<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-date\"><strong>Date<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The similarity between the sins denounced in Nehemiah and those denounced in Malachi suggests that the two leaders were contemporaries. Malachi may have been written after Nehemiah returned to Persia in 433 BC or during his second period as governor. Since the governor mentioned in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Mal+1%3A8&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1:8<\/a> was probably not Nehemiah, the first alternative may be more likely (c. 430). Malachi was most likely the last prophet of the OT era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-malachi-2-10-16-niv\"><strong>MALACHI 2:10-16, NIV<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Next, read these six verses from chapter two of Malachi. Then, we&#8217;ll take a look at the accompanying notes and articles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#d7d7d7\"><em><sup>10&nbsp;<\/sup>Do we not all have one Father?&nbsp;Did not one God create us?&nbsp;Why do we profane the covenant&nbsp;of our ancestors by being unfaithful&nbsp;to one another? <br><br><sup>11&nbsp;<\/sup>Judah has been unfaithful. A detestable&nbsp;thing has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem: Judah has desecrated the sanctuary the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;loves&nbsp;by marrying&nbsp;women who worship a foreign god.&nbsp;<sup>12&nbsp;<\/sup>As for the man who does this, whoever he may be, may the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;remove&nbsp;him from the tents of Jacob\u2014even though he brings an offering&nbsp;to the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;Almighty. <br><br><sup>13&nbsp;<\/sup>Another thing you do: You flood the&nbsp;Lord\u2019s altar with tears.&nbsp;You weep and wail&nbsp;because he no longer looks with favor&nbsp;on your offerings or accepts them with pleasure from your hands.&nbsp;<sup>14&nbsp;<\/sup>You ask,&nbsp;\u201cWhy?\u201d It is because the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;is the witness&nbsp;between you and the wife of your youth.&nbsp;You have been unfaithful to her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant. <br><br><sup>15&nbsp;<\/sup>Has not the one God made you? You belong to him in body and spirit. And what does the one God seek? Godly offspring. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth. <br><br><sup>16&nbsp;<\/sup>\u201cThe man who hates and divorces his wife,\u201d says the&nbsp;Lord, the God of Israel, \u201cdoes violence to the one he should protect,\u201d&nbsp;says the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;Almighty. So be on your guard,&nbsp;and do not be unfaithful.<br><br><strong>\u2014Malachi 2:10-16, NIV<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-notes-on-malachi-2-10-16\"><strong>NOTES ON MALACHI 2:10-16<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that we have context <em>and<\/em> read the passage, let&#8217;s take a look at the study notes. We&#8217;ve included nearly everything the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/store\/product.php?product_id=59059\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">NIV Study Bible Fully Revised<\/a> offers on this section of Scripture. However, some of the notes refer  you to read other notes in the study Bible. We didn&#8217;t include them here. But when you use this study Bible in the app, it will be incredibly simple to jump between the notes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-malachi-2-10-16\"><strong>Malachi 2:10\u201316<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Malachi rebukes the people\u2014in a passage framed by references to being \u201cunfaithful.\u201d Two examples of their unfaithfulness are specifically mentioned: marrying pagan women (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Malachi+2%3A11&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">v. 11<\/a>) and divorcing \u201cthe wife of your youth\u201d (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Malachi+2%3A14&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">v. 14<\/a>; see also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Malachi+2%3A16&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">v. 16<\/a>); i.e., from within the covenant people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-malachi-2-10-one-father\"><strong>Malachi 2:10 <em>one Father.<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>See <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Isa+63%3A16&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Isa 63:16<\/a>. God\u2019s oneness should be apparent in the covenant unity of his people. <em>create us. <\/em>As his special people (see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Isa+43%3A1&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Isa 43:1<\/a>). <em>covenant of our ancestors. <\/em>The covenant God had made with their ancestors at Mount Sinai. <em>being unfaithful. <\/em>The people could not even trust their own fellow Israelites or the national leaders\u2014 like the priests (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Malachi+2%3A16&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">v. 16<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-malachi-2-11-women-who-worship-a-foreign-god\"><strong>Malachi 2:11 <em>women who worship a foreign god.<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Pagan women.<\/em> Such marriages were strictly forbidden in the covenant law, not for ethnic or cultural reasons but because they would lead to apostasy (see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Ex+34%3A15%E2%80%9316&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ex 34:15\u201316<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Dt+7%3A2%E2%80%935&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dt 7:2\u20135<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Jos+23%3A12%E2%80%9313&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jos 23:12\u201313<\/a>). Ezra and Nehemiah both wrestled with this problem. Cf. King Solomon in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=1Ki+11%3A1%E2%80%939&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1Ki 11:1\u20139<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-malachi-2-12\"><strong>Malachi 2:12<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The alternative given in the NIV text note (particularly \u201c<em>gives testimony<\/em>\u201d) is supported, e.g., by the use of the same Hebrew verb in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Ge+30%3A33&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ge 30:33<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Dt+5%3A20&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dt 5:20<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=1Sa+12%3A3&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1Sa 12:3<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=2Sa+1%3A16&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2Sa 1:16<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Isa+3%3A9&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Isa 3:9<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Jer+14%3A7&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jer 14:7<\/a>. On this reading, the one to be cut off is the one who speaks in defense of the wrongdoer. <em>tents of Jacob. <\/em>A figurative expression for the community (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Jer+30%3A18&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jer 30:18<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-malachi-2-13-weep-and-wail\"><strong>Malachi 2:13 <em>weep and wail.<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Because the Lord does not respond to their sacrifices with blessing, they add wailing to their prayers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-malachi-2-14-witness-marriage-covenant\"><strong>Malachi 2:14 <em>witness&#8230; marriage covenant.<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Marriage was a covenant (see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Pr+2%3A17&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pr 2:17<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Eze+16%3A8&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Eze 16:8<\/a>), and covenants were affirmed before witnesses (see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Dt+30%3A19&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dt 30:19<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=1Sa+20%3A23&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1Sa 20:23<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Isa+8%3A1%E2%80%932&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Isa 8:1\u20132<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-malachi-2-15-one-god\"><strong>Malachi 2:15 <em>one God.<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>See <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Ex+20%3A3&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ex 20:3<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Dt+4%3A35&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dt 4:35<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Dt+6%3A4&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">6:4<\/a>. <em>Godly offspring. <\/em>People who reflect the attributes of their divine Father, such as faithfulness and loving care for covenant partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-two-articles-on-malachi-2-10-16\"><strong>TWO ARTICLES ON MALACHI 2:10-16<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Lastly, check out these two short articles included in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/store\/product.php?product_id=59059\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">NIV Study Bible<\/a> notes. We love the way this study Bible keeps you informed, but not overwhelmed with information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-divorce-in-malachi\"><strong>Divorce in Malachi<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The context of Malachi\u2019s message regarding divorce is God\u2019s charge that his people are fail\u00ading to accurately reflect his attributes in the world. The people should love him to show that he is loving (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Mal+1%3A2-5&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1:2\u20135<\/a>). The people should honor him to communicate that he is honorable (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Mal+1%3A6-2%3A9&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1:6\u20132:9<\/a>). They should pursue social justice, because he is a just God (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Mal+2%3A17-3%3A5&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2:17\u20133:5<\/a>). They should give tithes and offerings to communicate that he is a giving God (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Mal+3%3A6-12&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">3:6\u201312<\/a>). And they should serve him in humble trust because he is trustworthy (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Mal+3%3A13-15&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">3:13\u201315<\/a>). In other words, their behavior should be demonstrat\u00ading truths about God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Mal+2%3A10-16&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2:10\u201316<\/a> Malachi\u2019s emphasis is on unity. This emphasis is highlighted by the uncommon and repeated term \u201cone Father\/God\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=mal+2%3A10&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">(2:10<\/a> [2x], <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=mal+2%3A15&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">15<\/a> [2x]), which occurs only here in the entire OT. By using this unusual term, God is stressing to his people how important it is for them to be unified\u2014to be one just as he is one. His people, however, are demonstrating just the opposite. Their disunity is most strikingly obvious in the relationship that should exemplify unity most clearly\u2014marriage. Husbands are being unfaithful to their wives, the very ones they should be most careful to protect. Far from protecting her, by divorcing his wife (to marry another woman), the husband was doing violence to the one for whom he was relationally\/covenant\u00ad ally responsible; i.e., his wife (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=mal+2%3A14-16&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">vv. 14\u201316<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The \u201cgodly offspring\u201d God is said to desire (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=mal+2%3A15&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">v. 15<\/a>) are those who reflect his own attributes, giving evidence that they are his spiritual children. Divorce among his people did not reflect truth about God\u2019s own unity and was therefore among those behaviors condemned by his prophet Malachi.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-does-god-hate-divorce\"><strong>Does God Hate Divorce?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;For the traditional interpretation of this verse as \u201cI hate divorce, says the Lord . . .\u201d see NIV text note. The Hebrew is difficult to translate, however, and many interpreters render it as in the NIV: \u201cThe man who hates and divorces his wife . . .\u201d There is no pronoun \u201cI\u201d in the Hebrew and the verb \u201chates\u201d is in the third person (\u201che hates\u201d). In context, the one who hates is most likely the man divorcing his wife, not God. This fits well the next clause, which speaks of divorce as an act of violence against the one the husband should be protecting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This interpretation does not in any way condone divorce or water down the statement. It still strongly condemns divorce as contrary to God\u2019s will. The one who divorces his wife is abusing the one whom God has given him responsibility to protect.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-learn-more-with-the-niv-study-bible\"><strong>LEARN MORE WITH THE NIV STUDY BIBLE<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.olivetree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/NIVStudyBibleFullyRevisedSocial-1.jpg\" alt=\"NIV Study Bible Fully Revised Malachi\" class=\"wp-image-47689\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The study Bible millions have come to trust has been fully revised and updated. A new committee of top biblical scholars &#8211; who are current and former NIV translators with a passion for making the Bible&#8217;s meaning clear &#8211; have pored over every note, every article, every chart, and every essay to refine this treasured resource even more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thousands of newly written or revised notes and articles combine with hundreds of four-color maps, charts, photos, and illustrations to create an entire library of study helps designed to increase your understanding and application of God&#8217;s Word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-499968f5 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-499968f5 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-text-color has-background\" href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/store\/product.php?product_id=59059\" style=\"background-color:#77aa3c\">NIV STUDY BIBLE NOTES<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-background\" style=\"background-color:#d0d0d0\"><em><strong>DO YOU STRUGGLE TO STAY IN THE WORD?<\/strong><br>With the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/store\/biblestudypacks.php?includes=niv#translations\">Olive Tree NIV Study Pack<\/a><\/strong>, you gain access to the best study tools, including the above NIV Study Bible. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/store\/biblestudypacks.php?includes=niv#translations\"><strong>Start today<\/strong><\/a> and study the Bible like never before!<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When you think of Old Testament books, Malachi probably doesn&#8217;t make the top five. Yet, this minor prophet book touches on important subjects, like divorce. Since it&#8217;s lesser-known book, we&#8217;ve pulled introductory material, notes, and articles from the revised NIV Study Bible. Join us for a quick dive into the book of Malachi. INTRODUCTION TO<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":49537,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5339],"tags":[8590],"class_list":{"0":"post-47680","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-old-testament-articles","8":"tag-niv-study-bible-revised"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v27.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Quick Dive into Malachi - Olive Tree Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"When you think of Old Testament books, Malachi probably doesn&#039;t make the top five. 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