Malachi in Easton's Bible Dictionary
messenger or angel, the last of the minor prophets, and the
writer of the last book of the Old Testament canon
(Mal. 4:4, 5,
6). Nothing is known of him beyond what is contained
in his book
of prophecies. Some have supposed that the name is
simply a
title descriptive of his character as a messenger of
Jehovah,
and not a proper name. There is reason, however, to
conclude
that Malachi was the ordinary name of the prophet.
He was contemporary with Nehemiah (comp. Mal. 2:8
with Neh.
13:15; Mal. 2:10-16 with Neh. 13:23). No allusion is
made to him
by Ezra, and he does not mention the restoration of
the temple,
and hence it is inferred that he prophesied after
Haggai and
Zechariah, and when the temple services were still
in existence
(Mal. 1:10; 3:1, 10). It is probable that he
delivered his
prophecies about B.C. 420, after the second return
of Nehemiah
from Persia (Neh. 13:6), or possibly before his
return.
Read More about Malachi in Easton's Bible Dictionary
