Matthew Poole and continuators on Malachi 2:8

8 But ye are departed out of the way , ye have caused many to stumble at the law : ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.

Priests that now are in office, now live, when I Malachi am sent to preach.

Have shamefully degenerated and turned away from your duty, are Apostates

of Gods Law, and of those holy Priests your Predecessors, out of the way of Truth, Holiness, Peace, and Equity.

Your expositions of the Law, your manner of worshipping God, and your manner of living, all together were great scandals to very many, and too many of these that were offended by these things, these [illegible: 1 letter]aults of yours, fell to sinning with you.

The Covenant of Priesthood, Neh. 13.29: chargeth them with this sin, and therefore they have no reason to expect the blessings of this Covenant, viz. Life and Peace, since their making the Covenant void on their part had cut off all claim and right to the blessings promised in that Covenant, and had exposed them to the Curses God threatned them with.

Marginal references: Or, fall in the law.