Abstract
There are close affinities between the anti-Edomite oracle in Malachi 1:2-5 and Malachi's condemnation of mixed marriages in 2:10-16. Following the demonstration of these connections, this paper suggests that intermarriage is the consequence of the people's conviction that they are rejected by God. After the destruction of the Temple, the people felt that they were rejected as the chosen people. This feeling is reflected in the anti-Edomite oracle. Because they felt that they were no longer the chosen nation, the people felt that the distinction between them and other nations was no longer relevant. This paper posits the view that the people of Yehud adopted a humanistic ideology of equality between peoples that enabled intermarriage with foreign women. Malachi refuted these ideologies and conduct by claiming that Israel was still the chosen people, and that the ideology justifying relationships with foreign women should be abandoned.
Original language | American English |
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Pages (from-to) | 109-120 |
Journal | Journal of Northwest Semitic Languages |
Volume | 35 |
Issue number | 2 |
State | Published - 2009 |