Covenant in the Book of Malachi

Covenant is mentioned three times in Malachi: 2:8; 2:10; 2:14. McKenzie and Wallace have convincingly demonstrated that references to covenant are inferred in other passages as well, mainly in Mal 1:2-5, 1:6-14. In this paper I intend to show that covenant plays an even greater role in the Book. References to covenant are found, additionally in other passages in the Book: 2:17-3:6; 3:7-12; 3:13-21 and 3:22-24. I suggest, however, that the idea of covenant is the primary structuring element of all the pericopes in the Book. This suggestion sheds new light on the widely discussed topic of the question/answer format of in the Book. Contrary to other suggestions, I maintain that the "disputation" oracles were designed primarily to address the most acute problem of the time: the strained covenantal relationship between God and Israel. I conclude that the idea of covenant is the most fundamental topic of Malachi. The historical and social background of this topic within the society of Persian Yehud will be discussed.