Malachi מַלְאָכִי

Malachi (Malachi) — 'My messenger' — closes the books of the prophets. Speaking to the restored community in the Persian age, when the Temple stood but the service had grown weary and contemptuous, the book proceeds by disputation: 'I have loved you, says Hashem — yet you say: Wherein have You loved us?' Blemished offerings on the altar, the covenant of Levi profaned, treachery against the wife of one's youth, the tithe withheld — each charge is met with the people's retort and answered. Through it runs the promise of the messenger who prepares the way, the refiner's fire, the book of remembrance written for them that fear Hashem, and the sun of righteousness with healing in its wings; and the last words of prophecy send Elijah before the great and terrible day, to turn the heart of fathers to children. Tradition identifies Malachi with Ezra the scribe. This volume presents the complete Hebrew text with English translation, a word-by-word interlinear layer with transliteration, roots, and gematria, and the classic commentaries of Rashi, Ibn Ezra, Radak, Metzudat David, Metzudat Zion, Malbim, and Abarbanel, newly translated into English.