Digging4Truth,
You may be correct. I have just thought that since the prophet refers to "this entire nation" there in 3:9, he was once again addressing all Israel and not the Levites. This could be sustained by verse 12 where he says, "all nations shall call you blessed: for you shall be a delightsome land." Also, verses 12-18 in chapter 3, and all of chapter 4 could be addressed to Israel.
I'm not arguing, it just sounds like you and I see this differently. And, by the way, if you've read my posts here you see that I do not believe tithing is a New Testament requirement, but if someone wants to use a 10 percent amount for his giving, I have no problem with that just so long as he does not try to make that a requirement for others or use it as a badge of superiority over anyone who gives less.
The Living Bible (yes I know it's a paraphrase and not a real translation) reads this way for
Mal. 3:8-9:8
"Will a man rob God? Surely not! And yet you have robbed me.
"'What do you mean? When did we ever rob you?'
"You have robbed me of the tithes and offerings due to me. 9 And so the awesome curse of God is cursing you, for your whole nation has been robbing me.
In the NASB, it reads:
8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, 'How have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings.
9"You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you!
The NIV reads:
8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me.
"But you ask, 'How do we rob you?'
"In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me.
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