‘charge’ (NJPS) is not a separate verdict of judgment, but rather a reference to the command of the priestly office as a divinely ordained sacral institution. The core of this commandment is summarized in observing the word of YHWH, keeping his covenant, teaching Jacob God’s law, and offering sacrifices upon YHWH’s altar (Deut. 33:9–10). It is this standard by which Malachi indicts and judges the priests. 2. The verb listen means ‘to listen’ or ‘hear’ in the sense of ‘obey’ (NJPS, cf. Deut. 28:15). The idiom