CHAPTER II _The prophet, having declared the judgments which were ready to_ _fall on his people, earnestly exhorts them to repentance, that_ _these judgments may be averted_, 1-3. _He then foretells the fate of other neighbouring and hostile_ _nations: the Philistines_, 4-7; _Moabites and Ammo... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zephaniah 2:3. _YE MEEK OF THE EARTH_] ענוי _anavey_, ye _oppressed_ and _humbled_ of the land. _IT MAY BE YE SHALL BE HID_] The sword has not a commission against you. Ask God, and he will be a refuge to you from the storm and from the tempest.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 4. _GAZA SHALL BE FORSAKEN_] This prophecy is against the _Philistines_. They had been greatly harassed by the kings of Egypt; but were completely ruined by Nebuchadnezzar, who took all Phoenicia from the Egyptians; and about the time of his taking Tyre, devastated all the seignories of the Ph... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 5. _THE SEA-COASTS, THE NATION OF THE CHERETHITES_] The _sea-coasts_ mean all the country lying on the Mediterranean coast from Egypt to Joppa and Gaza. The _Cherethites _- the _Cretans_ who were probably a colony of the Phoenicians. See on 1 Samuel 30:14, and Amos 9:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 6. _AND THE SEA-COASTS SHALL BE DWELLINGS_] _Newcome_ considers כרת _keroth_ as a proper name, not _cottages_ or _folds_. The _Septuagint_ have κρητη, _Crete_, and so has the _Syriac_. Abp. _Secker_ notes, _Alibi non extat_ כרת, et forte notat patriam των כרתים. "The word כרת is not found else... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 7. _THE COAST SHALL BE FOR THE REMNANT_] Several devastations fell on the Philistines. Gaza was ruined by the army of Alexander the Great, and the _Maccabees_ finally accomplished all that was predicted by the prophets against this invariably wicked people. They lost their polity, and were at... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 8. _I HAVE HEARD THE REPROACH OF MOAB_] God punished them for the cruel part they had taken in the persecutions of the Jews; for when they lay under the displeasure of God, these nations insulted them in the most provoking manner. See on Amos 1:13, and the parallel texts in the _margin_. (Amo... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 9. _THE BREEDING OF NETTLES_] That is, their land shall become desolate, and be a place for nettles, thorns, c., to flourish in, for want of cultivation.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zephaniah 2:10. _BECAUSE THEY HAVE REPROACHED_] See on Zephaniah 2:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zephaniah 2:11. _HE WILL FAMISH ALL THE GODS OF THE EARTH_] They shall have no more _sacrifices_; their worship shall be entirely destroyed. Idolaters supposed that their gods actually _fed_ on the _fumes_ and _spirituous_ exhalations that arose from the burnt-offerings which they made unto th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zephaniah 2:12. _YE ETHIOPIANS ALSO_] Nebuchadnezzar subdued these. See Jeremiah 46:2; Jeremiah 46:9; Ezekiel 30:4; Ezekiel 30:10. See also on Amos 9:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zephaniah 2:13. _HE WILL - DESTROY ASSYRIA_] He will overthrow the empire, and _Nineveh_, their metropolitan city. See on Jonah and Nahum.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zephaniah 2:14. _AND FLOCKS SHALL LIE DOWN IN THE MIDST OF HER_] Nineveh was so completely destroyed, that its situation is not at present even known. The present city of _Mossoul_ is supposed to be in the _vicinity_ of the place where this ancient city stood. _The cormorant_ קאת kaath; and t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zephaniah 2:15. _THIS_ IS _THE REJOICING CITY_] The city in which mirth, jocularity, and pleasure, reigned without interruption. AND _WAG HIS HAND_] Will point her out as a mark and monument of Divine displeasure.... [ Continue Reading ]