Malachi 2:4

Then you will know that I sent this commandment to you so that my covenant ¹  may continue to be with Levi,” says the Lord who rules over all.

1Ki 22:25; Isa 1:24-28; Isa 26:11; Isa 27:9; Jer 28:9; Eze 20:38-41; Eze 33:33; Eze 38:23; Eze 44:9-16; Mt 3:12; Lu 10:11; Joh 15:2

¹ sn My covenant refers to the priestly covenant through Aaron and his grandson Phinehas (see Exod 6:16-20; Num 25:10-13; Jer 33:21-22). The point here is to contrast the priestly ideal with the disgraceful manner in which it was being carried out in postexilic times.