I. Malachi and the priesthood -- Overviews of the history of the priesthood -- Traditionalist view -- Wellhausen and the developmental model -- After Wellhausen -- Synthesis of histories of the priesthood -- Understandings of Malachi's view of the priesthood -- II. Lewi and Kohen: A syntactical study -- Problem -- Methodology -- Occurrences -- Comparison of the descriptions -- III. The form of the book of Malachi -- From criticism and the prophets -- The unity and integrity of the book -- Suggestions of form -- The Rib form -- Malachi as rib -- The significance of this thesis -- Implications for the book's unity -- The Sitz im Leben of the Rib -- Significance of form for priest and Levite in Malachi -- Conclusion -- IV. The sources used by the book of Malachi -- Introduction to the problem -- Deuteronomy and the priestly code -- General language -- Technical language -- Cultic institutions -- Language for describing priests -- Conclusions regarding D and P -- Other biblical traditions -- The canon known to Malachi -- Conclusions -- V. Malachi and the priesthood in context -- Date of the book -- Historical references -- Similarities to the historical situation of Ezra/ Nehemiah -- Linguistic analysis -- Quotes from other literature -- Genre and style -- Conclusions regarding date -- Malachi's description of the priesthood compared with other literature -- Deuteronomistic history -- Jeremiah and Ezekiel -- Miscellaneous prophetic writings -- Haggai and Zechariah 1-8; Zech. 9-14 -- Ezra and Nehemiah -- Chronicles -- Old Testament pseudepigrapha -- Qumran -- Conclusions regarding context.