Matthew Poole and continuators on Malachi 4:1

1 FOR behold , the day cometh that shall burn as an oven , and all the proud , yea, and all that do wickedly shall be stubble , and the day that cometh shall burn them up , saith the LORD of hosts , that it shall leave them neither root nor branch .

The words immediately foregoing, (which as we have the Chapters divided, did end the third Chapter) foretold a day to come then, though 'tis now long since past, in which such Judgments should be executed upon the Iewish Nation as should make the stoutest contemners of God to see and acknowledge his different respects and providences toward the good and toward the evil. Now in this verse (which continueth the discourse) he accounteth how it should be.

Mark well what now the Lord doth foretell.

Before mentioned, the day of visitation and discerning of men.

Though it be at some 400 years distance from you, yet 'tis coming and will overtake you and overwhelm you too about that time; nay you shall have some tastes of bitter cups before, some less and shorter troubles, the presage and assurance of that dreadful day I now speak of, saith our Prophet.

The Refiners fire, chap. 3.2. is now represented to us as a fire burning more dreadfully, which really was more dreadful in the fulfilling then here it is in the prediction. When Ierusalem and the Temple were on Fire, and none could quench it, when the Fire raged every where, but burnt most fiercely where the arched Roofs did make it as in Ovens or Furnaces to double it self, and infold flames with flames, and with dreadful roarings increast its Terrors. This day may well be an Emblem of the Day of Judgment, and this place may be accommodated thereto, but it principally speaks of the times of vengeance on Ierusalem in its final desolation.

Such as chap. 1.13. and 3.13, 14, 15. are described.

This is another part of the character of these persons, and explicatory of the former passage, proud men, such as (the Text mentions) will be wicked workers,

Dried and cast into the Oven, consumed as soon as cast in.

Of which already, chap. 3.15. and this verse let. c.

Totally and speedily consume them.

Added to confirm the certainty of the thing, the Lord of Hosts hath said it shall be, and he can do what he saith he will.

In allusion to the utter extirpation of trees for the fire, whose branches lopt off, the body cleft▪ and the roots stock'd up, and all cast into the fire, so that nothing remains but the ashes, into which all is turned, and this was fully accomplish'd upon the irreligious Iewes when the Rom[illegible: 2 letters]s burnt their City and Temple, and destroy'd the people.

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