“The oracle
Of the word of Yahweh
To Israel
By Malachi.”
This opening phrase of the Book of Malachi indicates that the word of Yahweh came to the prophet Malachi, but it was for Israel. There is no indication of a time or place for this oracle. Neither is there any mention of biographical details. His name Malachi means my messenger. Thus, he is a messenger of Yahweh for the people of Israel.
“Yahweh said to me.
‘Son of man!
Can these bones live?’
I answered.
‘O Yahweh God!
You know!’
Then he said to me.
‘Prophesy
To these bones!
Say to them!
O dry bones!
Hear
The word of Yahweh!’”
This is a short crisp dialogue between Yahweh and Ezekiel. Normally, these oracles were long Yahweh monologues. Yahweh here asked Ezekiel if these dry bones could live. Ezekiel wisely responded that if anyone knew about them, it would be Yahweh himself. Then Yahweh told Ezekiel to prophesize to these dry bones. Ezekiel was to tell these dry bones to listen to the word of Yahweh, a common theme of many Yahweh oracles.
“You!
Son of man!
Prophesy
To the mountains
Of Israel!
Say!
‘O mountains of Israel!
Hear
The word of Yahweh.’”
Next Yahweh, via Ezekiel, turned to the mountains of Israel. As opposed to the mountains of Edom, Mount Seir, Yahweh wanted these mountains to listen to the word of Yahweh as presented by Ezekiel.
“But neither he,
Nor his servants,
Nor the people of the land
Listened to
The words of Yahweh
That he spoke
Through the prophet
Jeremiah.”
As usual, King Zedekiah with his servants and the people of Judah did not listen to the words of Yahweh as pronounced via the prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah was clearly Yahweh’s prophet or mouthpiece to the people of Judah and its king.
“The word came
To Jeremiah
From Yahweh.
‘Hear the words of this covenant!
Speak to the people of Judah!
Speak to the inhabitants of Jerusalem!
You shall say to them!
Thus says Yahweh!
The God of Israel.’”
Yahweh is very clear when he was speaking to Jeremiah as the word came directly from him. Yahweh wanted Jeremiah to speak to the people of Judah and Jerusalem about the words of the covenant. Jeremiah was to proclaim that he was speaking in the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel.
