Malachi: Messenger or angel, the last of the minor prophets, and the writer of
the last book of the Old Testament canon
(Malachi 4:4,5,6) Nothing is
known of him beyond what is contained in his book of prophecies. Some
have supposed that the name is simply a title descriptive of his
character as a messenger of Jehovah, and not a proper name. There is
reason, however, to conclude that Malachi was the ordinary name of
the prophet. He was contemporary with Nehemiah (comp.)
No allusion is made to him by Ezra, and he does not mention the
restoration of the temple, and hence it is inferred that he prophesied
after Haggai and Zechariah, and when the temple services were still in
existence
(Malachi 1:10; 3:1,10) It is probable that he delivered his
prophecies about B.C. 420 after the second return of Nehemiah from
Persia
(Nehemiah 13:6) or possibly before his return.
