Introduction and God’s Election of Israel

1:1 What follows is divine revelation.1 The word of the Lord came to Israel through Malachi:2

1:2 “I have shown love to you,” says the Lord, but you say, “How have you shown love to us?”

“Esau was Jacob’s brother,” the Lord explains, “yet I chose Jacob 1:3 and rejected Esau.3 I turned Esau’s4 mountains into a deserted wasteland5 and gave his territory6 to the wild jackals.”

1:4 Edom7 says, “Though we are devastated, we will once again build the ruined places.” So the Lord who rules over all8 responds, “They indeed may build, but I will overthrow. They will be known as9 the land of evil, the people with whom the Lord is permanently displeased. 1:5 Your eyes will see it, and then you will say, ‘May the Lord be magnified10 even beyond the border of Israel!’ ”