There are many instances where the idiom “the tents of” is followed by the name of a nation (“tents of Shem” in Genesis 9:27; “tents of Ham” in Psalm 78:51, and the “tents of Judah” in Zechariah 12:7; see also Numbers 24:5, Jeremiah 30:18, Psalm 83:6, Habakkuk 3:7). The idiom refers to the people who dwell in these tents. In our text, Malachi refers to the people of Jacob. The reference to “Jacob” is a term of endearment, highlighting God’s sovereign love and grace of election towards Jacob and his descendants in contrast to Esau and his descendants (1 Chronicles 16:13, Malachi 1:2).
12 May the LORD cut off from the tents of Jacob any descendant of the man who does this, who brings an offering to the LORD of hosts!