1. Survey of the Old Testament
Chapter 44
Malachi

2. The Writing of the Book The Background Uncertain authorship and dating
Discouragement, skepticism, and doubt among the returned exiles
Photo: Edom is the nation which came from Esau, the brother whom the Lord "hated" because he "loved" Jacob (Mal. 1:2-5).

3. Structure and Organization
Purpose and Message
Israel's covenant relationship with Yahweh and its ramifications
Structure and Organization
Poetry or prose?
Disputation speech
Photo: In this Egyptian tomb painting (Tuthmosis IV, BC), scribes are recording the quantities of harvested wheat. When Malachi 3:10 says, "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house," he is asking the people to bring the first of their crops to God.

4. Major Themes Marriage and Divorce Elijah the Prophet
Photo: Part of the situation Malachi addressed is a corrupt priesthood. To remedy the situation, the Lord promises that as a refiner and purifier of silver, "he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver" (Mal 3:3). This relief in the tomb of Mereruke (vizier under Pharaoh Teti, 24th century BC) depicts metalworkers at their task of refining metal.