Charles Ellicott Commentary Malachi 1:2

"I have loved you, saith Jehovah. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob`s brother, saith Jehovah: yet I loved Jacob;" — Malachi 1:2 (ASV)

I have loved (Malachi 1:2) — that is, shown abundant proof of my love. The prophet goes on to show how God has demonstrated such great proofs of His love.

Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? (Malachi 1:2) — And would one not suppose from that fact that they would have similar privileges? But not so.

I loved Jacob, and I hated Esau... (Malachi 1:2–3) — The ethical reason for God’s love of Jacob and hatred of Esau is not touched upon here, nor is it necessary to the argument. It is God’s love for Israel that the prophet wishes to dwell on, and he mentions the hatred towards Esau merely for the sake of a strong contrast.

The nations, Israel and Edom, are referred to here, not the individuals Jacob and Esau. This passage receives a graphic illustration from the words of Psalm 137:7, composed after the return from the captivity: “Remember, O Lord, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Raze it, raze it, even to the foundation thereof.”

(On St. Paul’s application of the words of Malachi, see the notes on Romans 9:13.)

Laid his mountains... waste... (Malachi 1:3) — It is a somewhat disputed point to what historical fact this refers. But, on the whole, we may reasonably infer from Jeremiah 49:7, 17-21, compared with Jeremiah 25:9, 21, that the subjugation of the Edomites by Nebuchadnezzar is referred to here.

Dragons. — Better, jackals. The Septuagint and Gesenius render the word as “habitations,” by comparison with a similarly sounding Arabic word.