Zephaniah 2:4

For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up. FOR. He makes the punishment awaiting the neighbouring states an argument why the ungodly should repent () and the godly persevere-namely that so they may escape from the general calamity. GAZA SHALL BE FORSAKEN. In the Hebrew there is a play of similar sounds, Gazah Gazubah; Gazah shall be forsaken, as its name implies. So the Hebrew of the next clause. EKRON SHALL BE ROOTED UP - Ekron teeakeer. "Ekron," probably meaning the firm rooting, "shall be rooted up." THEY SHALL DRIVE OUT ASHDOD AT THE NOON-DAY - when, on account of the heat, Orientals usually sleep, and military operations are suspended. So "Ishbosheth lay on a bed at noon" when the two a...

The Prophet begins here to console the elect; for when God’s vengeance had passed away, which would only be for a time against them, the heathens and foreigners would find God in their turn to be their judge to punish them for the wrongs done to his people; though some think that God’s judgment on the Jews is here described, while yet the Prophet expressly mentions their neighbors: but the former view seems to me more suitable,—that the Prophet reminds the faithful of a future change of things, for God would not perpetually afflict his chosen people, but would transfer his vengeance to other nations. The meaning then is—that God, who has hitherto threatened the Jews, would nevertheless be propitious to them, not indeed to all the people, for a great part was doomed to destruction, but to the remnant, whom the Lord had chosen as a seed to himself, that there might be some church remaining...

4-15 Those are really in a woful condition who have the word of the Lord against them, for no word of his shall fall to the ground. God will restore his people to their rights, though long kept from them. It has been the common lot of God's people, in all ages, to be reproached and reviled. God shall be worshipped, not only by all Israel, and the strangers who join them, but by the heathen. Remote nations must be reckoned with for the wrongs done to God's people. The sufferings of the insolent and haughty in prosperity, are unpitied and unlamented. But all the desolations of flourishing nations will make way for the overturning Satan's kingdom. Let us improve our advantages, and expect the performance of every promise, praying that our Father's name may be hallowed every where, over all the earth....

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 Philistines. This ruin we have seen foretold by the other prophets, and have already remarked its exact fulfilment....

FOR - As a ground for repentance and perseverance, he goes through Pagan nations, upon whom God’s wrath should come. Jerome: “As Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, after visions concerning Judah, turn to other nations round about, and according to the character of each, announce what shall come upon them, and dwell at length upon it, so doth this prophet, though more briefly” And thus under five nations, who lay west, east, south and north, he includes all mankind on all sides, and, again, according to their respective characters toward Israel, as they are alien from, or hostile to the Church; the Philistines Zephaniah 2:4, as a near, malicious, infesting enemy; Moab and Ammon Isaiah 2:8, people akin to her (as heretics) yet ever rejoicing at her troubles and sufferings; Etheopians...

EXPOSITION. VERSE 2:1-3:8 Part II. EXHORTATION TO REPENTANCE AND TO PERSEVERANCE. ZEPHANIAH 2:1 § 1. The prophet urges all to examine their ways before the day of the Lord come; and he prays the righteous to seek the Lord more earnestly, in order that they may be safe in the judgment. ZEPHANIAH 2:1 GATHER YOURSELVES TOGETHER. So the versions; and this rendering is probably correct. The prophet calls upon his nation to assemble themselves together in order to take mutual counsel or to make general confession and supplication to God. Another rendering, based on some alteration

FOR GAZA SHALL BE FORSAKEN,.... Therefore seek the Lord; and not to the Philistines, since they would be destroyed, to whom Gaza, and the other cities later mentioned, belonged; so Aben Ezra connects the words, suggesting that it would be in vain to flee thither for shelter, or seek for refuge there; though others think that this and what follows is subjoined, either to assure the Jews of their certain ruin, since this would be the case of the nations about them; or to alleviate their calamity, seeing their enemies would have no occasion to insult them, and triumph over them, they being, or quickly would be, in the like circumstances. Gaza was one of the five lordships of the Philistines; a strong and fortified place, as its name signifies; but should be demolished, stripped of its fortifications, and forsaken by its inhabitants. It was smitten by Pharaoh king of Egypt; and was laid wast...

CHAPTER S 2-3:8 The Call to Repentance in View of the Judgment _ 1. The call to repentance (Zephaniah 2:1) _ 2. The judgment of the Philistines (Zephaniah 2:4) 3. The judgment of Moab and Ammon (Zephaniah 2:8) 4. The judgment of the other nations (Zephaniah 2:11) 5. The woe and warning to Jerusalem and His people (Zephaniah 3:1) Zephaniah 2:1. As we found it in Joel, so it is here. In view of the co

ZEPHANIAH 2. DOOM ON PHILISTIA [MOAB AND AMMON], ETHIOPIA, AND ASSYRIA. Zephaniah 2:1. Having spent its rage on Judah, the storm of Divine judgment sweeps south by the Philistian sea-board, uprooting cities and their inhabitants, driving them off like chaff, and leaving the once fertile plain a pasturage for shepherds and folds for flocks. ZEPHANIAH 2:1. The meaning of the first words is highly uncertain. An attractive suggestion yields, Get you shame, yea, be abashed, O nation unabashed, the reference being to the Philistines, rather than Judah, as many scholars maintain. Zephaniah 2:2. The text here is both corrupt and overladen. The original should perhaps be reduced to read, Ere ye be

FOR GAZA. Supply the logical _Ellipsis_ (App-6), here, and in verses: Zep 8:12, Zep 8:13, Zephaniah 3:1, thus: "[Mine anger shall be upon Gaza, saith the Lord], For", &c. GAZA... FORSAKEN. Note the Figure of speech _Paronomasia_ (App-6), for emphasis. Heb _'azzah._.. _'azubah._ ASHKELON. Now _'Askalan,_ on the coast of Philistia. DESOLATION. ruin. Long since fulfilled. AAHDOD Now _Esdud._ The same as Azotus in Acts 8:40. AT THE NOON DAY: i.e. during the noon day siesta. EKRON... ROOTED UP. Note the Figure of speech _Paronomasia_, for emphasis. Hebrew. _'ekron_... _te'aker._...