Malachi 3:1

[Michael W Abernathy]

Malachi 3:1
הִנְנִ֤י שֹׁלֵחַ֙ מַלְאָכִ֔י וּפִנָּה־דֶ֖רֶךְ לְפָנָ֑י וּפִתְאֹם֩ יָב֨וֹא אֶל־הֵיכָלֹ֜ו הָאָד֣וֹן׀ אֲשֶׁר־אַתֶּ֣ם מְבַקְשִׁ֗ים וּמַלְאַ֨ךְ הַבְּרִ֜ית אֲשֶׁר־אַתֶּ֤ם חֲפֵצִים֙ הִנֵּה־בָ֔א אָמַ֖ר יְהוָ֥ה צְבָאֽוֹת׃
is usually translated something like, Behold, I am sending my servant and he will prepare the way before me and he will come suddenly to his temple; the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold he is coming says the Lord of hosts.
I can understand that translation but I normally think of אֲשֶׁר relating to the nearest noun that it can. Following that rule I would anticipate the translation, "the messenger of the covenant in which you delight." Since I cannot find a single translation that suggests this alternative is possible I am wondering if I'm missing a clue that makes this clear.
Sincerely,
Michael Abernathy

[S_Walch]

I believe its more that אשר is in reference to מלאך הברִית as a whole, rather than just either הברִית or מלאך separately.

[SteveMiller]

That is interesting, Michael.
Looking at other instances of asher following 2 nouns acting as a whole in Malachi:
Mal 2:11 The sanctuary of the Lord, which He loved. asher refers to "sanctuary of the Lord" as a whole.
2:14 wife of your youth, whom you have dealt treacherously against. again asher refers to "wife of your youth" as a whole.
4:4 the law of Moses My servant, which I commanded to him. again asher refers to "the law of Moses My servant" as a whole.
So Ste is right.