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Minor Prophets, Part 3: Persian Period and Restoration

  1. Lesson One
    Obadiah
    17 Activities
    |
    2 Assessments
  2. Lesson Two
    Haggai
    17 Activities
    |
    2 Assessments
  3. Lesson Three
    Zechariah
    20 Activities
    |
    2 Assessments
  4. Lesson Four
    Malachi
    18 Activities
    |
    2 Assessments
  5. Lesson Five
    OT Wrap-Up (Psalm 119)
    15 Activities
    |
    5 Assessments
  6. Course Wrap-Up
    Course Completion
    1 Activity
    |
    1 Assessment

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In the years that followed Malachi’s prophecy, the Israelite priesthood became increasingly political and powerful. The corruption of Levites was a well-known and widely criticized civic problem. The ancient historian Flavius Josephus (AD 37–100) commented on the prominence of this issue during his lifetime:

[AD 62] But as for the High Priest Ananias, he increased in glory every day; and this to a great degree: and had obtained the favor and esteem of the citizens in a signal manner. For he was a great hoarder up of money . . . He had also servants who were very wicked; who joined themselves to the boldest sort of the people, and went to the threshing floors, and took away the tithes that belonged to the priests by violence: and did not refrain from beating such as would not give these tithes to them. So the other High Priests acted in the like manner, as did those his servants, without any one’s being able to prohibit them. So that [some of the] priests, that of old were wont to be supported with those tithes, died for want of food.
Josephus, Antiquities, 20.9.2

We might note a couple things from this account: 1) The problem Malachi describes with tithing was not a minor issue, but a notorious problem among the Israelite priesthood that cost some their lives, and 2) Malachi’s condemnation of this kind of behavior went unheeded. It appears to have continued into the New Testament era. Josephus’ description above is from AD 62, roughly 30 years after the death and resurrection of Christ. 

Source: Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Book XX, 20.9.2.