Zephaniah 2:1-3
II. (1-3) An exhortation to seek God before His day of vengeance is revealed.... [ Continue Reading ]
II. (1-3) An exhortation to seek God before His day of vengeance is revealed.... [ Continue Reading ]
GATHER YOURSELVES TOGETHER. — This rendering has little to recommend it. Two translations of the obscure verb here used are possible: _Sift yourselves, yea sift_ — _i.e.,_ winnow out the sins which have roused Jehovah’s anger; or _Bend yourselves, yea bend._ We prefer the latter. The contumacious na... [ Continue Reading ]
BEFORE THE DECREE BRING FORTH. — _i.e.,_ before God’s decree or ordinance, against which they have offended, brings forth the curse foretold in Zephaniah 1. There is no occasion to identify the “decree” with the Book of the Law brought to light at the time of Josiah’s Reformation (see Introd. II.).... [ Continue Reading ]
WROUGHT HIS JUDGMENT. — Or, rather, _executed His sentence_ — acted in compliance with His revealed will by refraining from the sins above specified.... [ Continue Reading ]
In the words “Gaza (_Azzâh_) shall be forsaken (â_zab_)” and “Ekron shall be rooted up (_âkar_)” there is a paronomasia, or play on the words, similar to that in Micah 1:10, _et seq._ AT THE NOON DAY. — _i.e.,_ this city shall be so weak and defenceless that there will be no need to surprise it at... [ Continue Reading ]
(4-7) The sentence against the great Philistine strongholds.... [ Continue Reading ]
(4-15) Jehovah’s chastisement of foreign powers. These Divine visitations are introduced somewhat abruptly. The connection is perhaps that they are intended to lead God’s people to repent, and put their faith in Him who orders the destinies of all mankind. Also, as being inflicted on hostile peoples... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CHERETHITES. — Perhaps Cretans. See on 1 Samuel 30:14; Ezekiel 25:16, where the same term is applied to the Philistines. CANAAN originally means “low-lying ground.” It here indicates the low maritime plain inhabited by the Philistines.... [ Continue Reading ]
DWELLINGS AND COTTAGES FOR SHEPHERDS. — Better, _places for shepherds_’_ pastures._ In _c_’_rôth_ (best taken as plural of _car,_ “a pasture”) there is a paronomasia on _c_’_rêthîm_ of Zephaniah 2:5. The term “sea coast” (literally, _line of the sea_) here, as in Zephaniah 2:5, designates maritime P... [ Continue Reading ]
VISIT THEM. — For their relief, not their punishment. This is plain from the context; but such a use of the verb is rare.... [ Continue Reading ]
REPROACH. — _i.e.,_ abusive speech, or offensive design expressed in words. Balak’s appeal to Balaam, “Come, curse me this people,” at once suggests itself. We may instance also the conspiracy described in Psalms 83 as illustrating this combination of Moab and Ammon for hostile purposes.... [ Continue Reading ]
(8-11) The sentence against Moab and Ammon, the descendants of Lot and the enemies of God’s people, even in the post-exilic period, comp. Nehemiah 2:19; Nehemiah 4:1; Nehemiah 4:3; Nehemiah 4:7.)... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BREEDING OF NETTLES. — Better, _an inheritance of nettles._ The propriety of illustrating the fate of Moab and Ammon by that of the cities of the plain is the greater in that Lot, the ancestor of these nationalities, was an inhabitant of Sodom, and narrowly escaped sharing its destruction. Ravag... [ Continue Reading ]
FAMISH. — Literally as in margin “make lean:” to “cause to disappear.” EVERY ONE FROM HIS PLACE. — It is difficult to accept Keil’s theory of a pregnant construction, “each one coming from his place:” _scil._ to Jerusalem. This passage, therefore, is one of the very few which foretell that the wors... [ Continue Reading ]
Ethiopia is to suffer by the sword in the execution of God’s purpose of magnifying His people. The conjunction of Ethiopia and Assyria is probably suggested by the earlier passage in Nahum 3:8. _et seq._ In addition to its earlier vicissitudes at the hands of Assyrian invaders, Ethiopia perhaps suff... [ Continue Reading ]
(13-15) The sentence against Assyria in the north. This was fulfilled as early as B.C. 625, when Nineveh was taken and destroyed by the Medes and Babylonians. It will be remembered that this catastrophe is the theme of Nahum’s prophecy. Its effects are here described in language similar to that of N... [ Continue Reading ]
BOTH THE CORMORANT.... — Better, _Both the pelican and the hedgehog shall lodge on her pillar capitals,_ these lying strewn upon the ground. THEIR VOICE. — Better, _The voice_ [of the bird] _shall sing in the windows._ “In the midst of the desolation, the muteness of the hedgehog, and the pensive l... [ Continue Reading ]
The earlier part of this verse is doubtless based on Isaiah 47:8, “Hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am and none else beside me.” (See also Isaiah 23:7, and compare the language in Revelation 18:7.) The remainder of the verse rem... [ Continue Reading ]