The covenant of "life and peace" God had made with the sons of Levi--the covenant which, if kept, would have brought untold blessing--the Lord now offered to renew with those who once had been spiritual leaders, but who through transgression had become "contemptible and base before all the people." Malachi 2:5, 9.

Den pagt, som Gud havde indgået med Levis sønner om at give dem "liv og fred" en pagt, som ville have bragt uendelige velsignelser tilbød han nu at forny med dem, der engang var åndelige ledere, men var blevet "ringeagtede og oversete af alt folket" på grund af deres synder.