What Does Malachi 1:2 Mean?

(2) **I have loved**—*i.e.,* shown abundant proof of my love. The prophet goes on to show how God has shown so great proofs of His love. **Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?**—And would not one suppose from that fact they would have similar privileges? But not so. **I loved Jacob, (3) and I hated Esau . . .**—The ethical reason for God’s love of Jacob and hatred of Esau is not touched upon here, nor is it necessary to the argument. It is God’s *love* for Israel that the prophet wishes to dwell on, and he mentions the hatred towards Esau merely for the sake of a strong contrast. The nations, Israel and Edom, are here referred to, not the individuals, Jacob and Esau. This passage receives a graphic illustration from the words of Psalm 137:7, composed after the return from the captivity: “*Remember, O Lord, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Raze it, raze it, even to the foundation thereof.*” (On St. Paul’s application of the words of Malachi, see Notes on Romans 9:13.) **Laid his mountains . . . waste . . .**—It is a somewhat disputed point to what historical fact this refers. But, on the whole, we may reasonably infer from Jeremiah 49:7; Jeremiah 49:17-21, compared with Jeremiah 25:9; Jeremiah 25:21, that the subjugation of the Edomites by Nebuchadnezzar is here referred to. **Dragons.**—Better, *jackals.* The LXX. and Gesenius render the word “habitations,” by comparison with a similarly sounding Arabic word.