wie en wat word veroordeel – en waarom? nogeens maleagi 2:10-16

Abstract

Who and what are being judged – and why? Once again Malachi 2:10-16 It has been said many times that Malachi 2:10-16 belongs to one of the most difficult parts not only in the book of Malachi, but in the Old Testament as a whole. The question put is suggested in the title: who are the people addressed by the prophet? What are the accusations levelled against them? Why did the prophet deem it something that has to be judged? The paper argues that two different groups of people are addressed: unmarried Judean men wishing to marry foreign women and married Judean men wishing to divorce their wives. The reason why they are accused, is because of the unforeseen social and religious consequences such marriages might have on Judean society. The reason why Judean men want to marry foreign women is most probably to better their social and financial standing in society.