Inner-Biblical Allusion of the Day of the Lord in Malachi 1:2-5 and its Thematic Function

Abstract

Scholars generally focus on discussing the concept of the Day of the LORD
(DOL) in Malachi 3:1-5 and 4:1-6 but hardly touch on the DOL allusion in Mal.
1:2-5. The purpose of the study was to establish the DOL allusion in Mal. 1:2-5
and to determine the thematic function of the concept of the “the Day of the
LORD” in Malachi. This study, employing the Inner-biblical Allusion and
Exegesis method, established that Mal. 1:2-5 alluded to the DOL thematically and
linguistically as indicated by the following Hebrew terms: (1) ה ָ֔מ ָמ ְשׁ, (2) ן ַתּ, (3)
שׁ ַשׁ ָר, (4) םוֹ ֜ד ֱא, (5) הָבּ ְר ָח; (6) תוֹ ֔א ָב ְצ; (7) ס ַר ָה; and (8) ל
֣
ַדְּ גִ י. Historically, structurally,
and linguistically, Edom had experienced desolation already upon the writing of
Malachi. Some of the thematic functions of the historical DOL in this passage are
(1) it serves as a thematic inclusion in the book of Malachi. The first one in
Malachi 1:2-5 is a historical DOL and the latter in Mal. 4:1-6 seems to be
eschatological. It shows that Malachi purposely structured his book to start with
DOL and ends with DOL, (2) it shows that the “Jacob and Esau/Edom” theme
does not stop in Mal. 1:2-5 but extends in Malachi 4:1-6, (3) it serves as a
reminder of God’s love for Judah and a warning at the same time. It will be a
fruitful study, which this paper recommends, if Mal. 3:1-5 and Mal. 4:1-6 will be
studied deeper in connection with Mal. 1:2-5 in the context of DOL.