Il compito di Elia in Malachia 3,23-24 (TM)

The concluding verses of the book of Malachi, namely 3:23-24, attribute a key role to Elijah in salvation. It is quite different from what one usually finds in the tradition which portrays him as a figure of a great intercessor in the company of Abraham, Moses and Jeremiah (1 Kgs 19). In this paper, the author highlights some significant relationships between these verses and the Book of the Twelve. They refer to the figure of the messenger, the theme of the covenant, the Day of Yahweh, the use of the verb šwb and the eschatological perspective of salvation. This study demonstrates the uniqueness of this passage and the extraordinary nature of the message it conveys, especially in relation to the idea of salvation offered through Elijah. By working on the concept of the day of the Lord, the redactor seems to have effected a re-reading of the book of the Twelve on the plan of salvation which is not linked to the concept of collective responsibility. It is not only offered to the remnant but is extended to all and without conditions.