Malachi 2:14

“Yet ye say, Wherefore? etc.] What is the meaning of the women covering the altar with tears? as if they knew not what was the reason of it, when they were so notoriously guilty of breach of covenant with them; which is an instance of their impudence, as Abarbinel observes: or, “if ye say, wherefore?” as the Targum and Kimchi interpret the words; should you say, what is the reason why the Lord will not regard nor receive our offerings? the answer is ready, Because the Lord hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth: when espoused together in their youthful days, the Lord was present at that solemn contract, and saw the obligations they were laid under to each other, and he was…”

“Wherefore?--Why does God reject our offerings? Lord . . . witness between thee and . . . wife--(so Gen 31:49-50). of thy youth--The Jews still marry very young, the husband often being but thirteen years of age, the wife younger (Pro 5:18; Isa 54:6). wife of thy covenant--not merely joined to thee by the marriage covenant generally, but by the covenant between God and Israel, the covenant-people, whereby a sin against a wife, a daughter of Israel, is a sin against God [MOORE]. Marriage also is called "the covenant of God" (Pro 2:17), and to it the reference may be (Gen 2:24; Mat 19:6; Co1 7:10).”

“And ye say, Wherefore? - They again act the innocent, or half-ignorant. What had they to do with their wives’ womanly tears? He who knows the hearts of all was Himself the witness between them and the wife of youth of each; her to whom, in the first freshness of life and their young hearts, each had plighted his troth having been entrusted by her with her earthy all. Genesis 31:49-50. “The Lord,” said even Laban, when parting from his daughters, “watch between me and thee, when we are absent, the one from the other; if thou shalt afflict my daughters, or if thou shalt take wives beside my daughters, no man is with us; see, God is witness between me and thee.” And he dealt treacherously…”

“The wife of thy covenant - To whom thou art so firmly bound, that while she continues faithful, thou canst not be loosed. Malachi 2:15”

“2:14 The expression faithful partner identifies a marriage companion (Greek Old Testament koinōnos, “joint partner”). The Hebrew word, used for a seam or a joint in construction (e.g., Exod 26:6-11), suggests a permanent bond. • marriage vows (literally covenant): Marriage is a solemn covenant to which God is witness (see Prov 2:17).”

“Wherefore: Mal 1:6, Mal 1:7, Mal 3:8; Pro 30:20; Isa 58:3; Jer 8:12 the Lord: Mal 3:5; Gen 31:50; Jdg 11:10; Sa1 12:5; Jer 42:5; Mic 1:2 the wife: Mal 2:15; Pro 5:18, Pro 5:19; Ecc 9:9; Isa 54:6 thy companion: Gen 2:18; Pro 2:17; Sol 1:15 \*marg. Eze 16:8 Malachi 2:15”