Malachi

By 430 B.C. Israel is back in the land; the city of Jerusalem has been rebuilt; and the temple is operating once again. After the catastrophe of the Babylonian captivity one would think that Israel had learned its lessons. But, no. In Malachi, God levels eight accusations against his people, saying in effect: “I’ve got a number of bones to pick with you!” In the common Christian canon of Scripture, Malachi is the final book of the Hebrew Scriptures, ending with the promise of redemption through the imminent coming of his Son, the Messiah.