THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ZEPHANIAH _Chronological Notes relative to this Book, upon the_ _supposition that it was written in the twelfth year_ _of the reign of Josiah, king of Judah_ -Year from the Creation, according to Archbishop Usher, 3374. -Year of the Julian Period, 4084. -Year since the Fl... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zephaniah 1:2. _I WILL UTTERLY CONSUME ALL_ THINGS] All being now ripe for destruction, I will shortly bring a universal scourge upon the land. He speaks particularly of the idolaters.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zephaniah 1:3. _I WILL CONSUME MAN AND BEAST_] By _war_, and by _pestilence_. Even the _waters_ shall he infected, and the _fish_ destroyed; the _air_ become contaminated, and the _fowls_ die.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 4. _I WILL CUT OFF THE REMNANT OF BAAL_] I think he refers here, partly at least, to the reformation which Josiah was to bring about. See the account, 2 Kings 23:5. _THE CHEMARIMS_] The _black-robed_ priests of different idols. 2 Kings 23:5. These were put down by Josiah.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 5. _THE HOST OF HEAVEN_] Sun, moon, planets, and stars. This worship was one of the most ancient and the most common of all species of idolatry; and it had a greater semblance of reason to recommend it. See 2 Kings 23:5; 2 Kings 23:12; Jeremiah 19:13; Jeremiah 32:29. _THAT SWEAR BY THE LORD,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 6. _THEM THAT ARE TURNED BACK_] Who have forsaken the true God, and become idolaters. _NOR INQUIRED FOR HIM_] Have not desired to know his will.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 7. _HOLD THY PEACE AT THE PRESENCE OF THE LORDS GOD_] הס _has_, the same as _hush, hist_, among us. Remonstrances are _now_ useless. You had time to acquaint yourselves with God; you would not: you cry now in vain; destruction is at the door. _THE LORD HATH PREPARED A SACRIFICE_] A slaughter... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 8. _I WILL PUNISH THE PRINCES, AND THE KING'S CHILDREN_] After the death of Josiah the kingdom of Judah saw no prosperity, and every reign terminated miserably; until at last King Zedekiah and the _king's children_ were cruelly massacred at Riblah, when Nebuchadnezzar had taken Jerusalem. _ST... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 9. _THAT LEAP ON THE THRESHOLD_] Or, _that leap over the_ _threshold_. It is most probable that the _Philistines_ are here meant. After the time that Dagon fell before the ark, and his hands were broken off on the threshold of his temple, his worshippers would no more set a foot upon the thre... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zephaniah 1:10. _A CRY FROM THE FISH-GATE_] This gate, which is mentioned Nehemiah 3:3, was opposite to Joppa; and perhaps the way in which the news came of the irruption of the Chaldean army, the _great crashing from the hills_. _THE SECOND_] Or _second_ city, may here mean a part of Jerusal... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zephaniah 1:11. _MAKTESH_] _Calmet_ says this signifies a _mortar_, or a _rock in form of a mortar_, and was the name of a quarter of Jerusalem where they hulled rice, corn, c., according to St. Jerome. Some think the city of Jerusalem is meant, where the inhabitants should be beat and pounded... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zephaniah 1:12. _I WILL SEARCH JERUSALEM WITH CANDLES_] I will make a universal and thorough search. _THAT ARE SETTLED ON THEIR LEES_] Those who are _careless_, satisfied with the goods of this life; who trust in their riches, and are completely irreligious; who, while they acknowledge that t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zephaniah 1:13. _THEIR GOODS_ (in which they trust) _SHALL BECOME A_ _BOOTY_] To the Chaldeans. They shall have no profit of all their labours. _The houses they have built they shall not inhabit_; of the wine of the _vineyards they have planted_, they shall not drink. See Amos 5:11, where we f... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zephaniah 1:14. _THE GREAT DAY OF THE LORD_ IS _NEAR_] It commenced with the death of the good king Josiah, who was slain by Pharaoh-necho at Megiddo, and continued to the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zephaniah 1:15. _THAT DAY_ IS _A DAY OF WRATH_] See the parallel passages in the _margin _(Isaiah 22:5; Jeremiah 30:7; Joel 2:2, Joel 2:11; Amos 5:18; Zephaniah 1:18), and the notes there. From the _fourteenth_ to the _sixteenth_ verse inclusive (Zephaniah 1:14) there i... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zephaniah 1:17. _THEY SHALL WALK LIKE BLIND MEN_] Be in the most perplexing _doubt_ and uncertainty; and while in this state, have their blood poured out by the sword of their enemies, and their flesh trodden under foot.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zephaniah 1:18. _THEIR SILVER NOR THEIR GOLD_] In which they trusted, and from which they expected happiness; these shall not profit them in this awful day. And God will bring this about speedily; and a _speedy riddance _- a universal desolation, shall in a short time take place in every part... [ Continue Reading ]