the last of the twelve minor prophets. Malachi prophesied about
B. C. 400; and some traditionary accounts state that he was a native of
Sapha, and of the tribe of Zebulun. He reproves the people for their
wickedness, and the priests for their negligence in the discharge of
their office; he threatens the disobedient with the judgments of God,
and promises great rewards to the penitent and pious; he predicts the
coming of Christ, and the preaching of John the Baptist; and with a
solemnity becoming the last of the prophets, he closes the sacred canon
with enjoining the strict observance of the Mosaic law, till the
forerunner, already promised, should appear in the spirit of Elias, to
introduce the Messiah, who was to establish a new and everlasting
covenant.
B. C. 400; and some traditionary accounts state that he was a native of
Sapha, and of the tribe of Zebulun. He reproves the people for their
wickedness, and the priests for their negligence in the discharge of
their office; he threatens the disobedient with the judgments of God,
and promises great rewards to the penitent and pious; he predicts the
coming of Christ, and the preaching of John the Baptist; and with a
solemnity becoming the last of the prophets, he closes the sacred canon
with enjoining the strict observance of the Mosaic law, till the
forerunner, already promised, should appear in the spirit of Elias, to
introduce the Messiah, who was to establish a new and everlasting
covenant.