Malachi 2

“Because the Lord has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant” (v14). Malachi charged Israel with breaking the covenant in several ways. Offering sick, worthless animals for sacrifice was one. Divorcing their Jewish wives in order to marry young foreign wives was another (v11). The priests who were supposed to teach the Law were partly responsible (v1-9).

Rejecting God’s ways leads to brokenness and death. He called His people back to the path of “life and peace” (v5).