Holier Than Thou

Who wrote the books of the Bible and when?

Book of Malachi, the oracles and prophecies of Malachi (Hebrew, "my messenger") concerning the spiritual zeal during the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the second coming of Elijah, was written some time between 425 and 450 B.C. by Malachi the phrophet. At the time Nehemiah and Ezra were re-establishing temple rituals and the law, the remnant of Judah was slowly neglecting the Lord and becoming like their ancestors who were punished by captivity in Babylon. The reference to the return of Elijah at the end is attributed to John the Baptist in the New Testament (Matthew 11:14, 17:11-13, Luke 1:17), which was fulfilled nearly four hundred years later. The Book of Malachi is three chapters in the Hebrew, the last chapter being divided into two in most English translations. Some scholars consider this book to have been written anonymously, the term "Malachi" referring in general terms to a messenger of God, since Malachi is not identified by his family lineage. Regardless, this individual was the last known prophet of the Old Testament.

The Book of Malachi includes:

Jacob I loved and Esau I hated -- the remnant of the tribe of Esau who lived in Edom will always be under the wrath of the Lord. (1:1-5)
Blemished sacrifices are not pleasing to the Lord. (1:6-14)
Admonition for the priests to honor God, who are the messengers of the LORD Almighty, or else they'll be cursed. (2:1-9)
Judah is again unfaithful by its worship of foreign gods and allowance of marrital divorce, which the Lord hates. (2:10-16)
Day of judgment to come on the ungodly -- those who do evil and do not fear the Lord. (2:17-3:5)
Israel is under a curse because they have robbed God by withholding tithes. (3:6-14)
A scroll of remembrance is written in the presence of the Lord for those who feared and honored his name. (3:16-18)
Day of the Lord is coming, when evildoers will be burned and trampled. (4:1-4)
Elijah the prophet will return. (4:5-6)

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." (Malachi 3:10)