Matthew Poole and continuators on Malachi 2:14

14 ¶ Yet ye say, Wherefore ? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth , against whom thou hast dealt treacherously : yet is she thy companion , and the wife of thy covenant

Though the fault was so great in the nature of it, and so notorious in the evidence of it, these impudent sinners will not see, but dispute, what just cause God hath to reject their offerings.

The Prophet answers them God was witness both of the Matrimonial contract, when you promised other deportment, and affections; and he is witness also of your violating this contract, and hath seen how false, and perfidious you have been, what inhumanity you have shewed against your Wives.

Whom in thy youth thou marriedst, and hast had the best of her time and strength, and in age shouldst love and deal kindly with.

See ver. 10. let. f,

Yet she is, what she was, by the Sacred Institution of God, made thy Companion, not thy Drudge, or Slave, thou art most unjust to her, thus to change thy affection and deportment when there is no change in her State and Relation,

Covenants ought to be very exactly kept, and those especially which are of our own freest, and most voluntary making, our Covenant, such was this between the unnatural Husband, and his despised Wife; all which as they should have been arguments to his Duty, so they are aggravations of his neglect of Duty, and provocations to God, and now iudge ye disputing, quarrelling Hypocrites whether God hath not justest cause to reject your offerings.

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