Zephaniah 3:10

From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering. FROM BEYOND THE RIVERS OF ETHIOPIA MY SUPPLIANTS [ `ªtaaray (H6282), from `aatar (H6279), to burn incense] - literally, burners of incense (cf. Psalms 141:2; Revelation 5:8, "odours (incense), which are the prayers of saints;" and Revelation 8:3). EVEN THE DAUGHTER OF MY DISPERSED. The Israelites are meant, called "the daughter of my dispersed," a Hebrew idiom for my dispersed people. ...

Interpreters agree not as to the meaning of this verse; for some of the Hebrews connect this with the former, as though the Prophet was still speaking of the calling of the Gentiles. But others, with whom I agree, apply this to the dispersed Jews, so that the Prophet here gives hope of that restoration, of which he had before spoken. They who understand this of the Gentiles, think that Atharai and Phorisai are proper names. But in the first place, we cannot find that any nations were so called; and then, if we receive what they say, these were not separate nations, but portions of the Ethiopians; for the Prophet does not state the fact by itself, that Atharai and Phorisai would be the worshipers of God; but after having spoken of Ethiopia, he adds these words: hence we conclude, that the Prophet means this,—that they would return into Judea from the farthest region of the Ethiopians to o...

8-13 The preaching of the gospel is predicted, when vengeance would be executed on the Jewish nation. The purifying doctrines of the gospel, or the pure language of the grace of the Lord, would teach men to use the language of humility, repentance, and faith. Purity and piety in common conversation is good. The pure and happy state of the church in the latter days seems intended. The Lord will shut out boasting, and leave men nothing to glory in, save the Lord Jesus, as made of God to them wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Humiliation for sin, and obligations to the Redeemer, will make true believers upright and sincere, whatever may be the case among mere professors....

Verse Zephaniah 3:10. _FROM BEYOND THE RIVERS OF ETHIOPIA_] This may denote both _Africa_ and the southern _Arabia_. _Bochart_ thinks that _Arabia_ _Chusaer_ is meant; and that the rivers are _Besor_, which flows into the _Mediterranean; Rhinocorura_, which flows into the Lake _Sirbonis; Trajanus Amnis_, which flows into the _Red Sea_; and the river _Corys_. _Calmet_ thinks that these _rivers_ mean the _Nile_, which by _seven mouths_ falls into the Mediterranean. The Nile comes from _Ethiopia_, properly so called; and runs through all Egypt, and falls into the sea at that part of Arabia which the Scripture calls _Cush_ or _Ethiopia_. _MY DISPERSED_] The Jews, scattered through different parts of the world. _Shall bring mine offering_. Shall acknowledge my mercy in s

FROM BEYOND THE RIVERS OF ETHIOPIA - (See Isaiah 18:1.) The farthest southern people, with whom the Jews had contact, stand as the type of the whole world beyond. The utmost bound of the known inhabited land should not be the bound of the Gospel. The conversion of Abyssinia is one, but the narrowest fulfillment of the prophecy. The whole new world, though not in the mind of the prophet, was in the mind of Him who spake by the prophet. MY SUPPLIANTS - He names them as what they shall be when they shall come to Him. They shall come, as needy, to the Fountain of all good, asking for mercy of the unfailing Source of all mercy. He describes the very character of all who come to God through Christ. “The daughter of My dispersed.” God is, in the way of Providence, the Father of all, although, by sin, alienated from Him; from whe

EXPOSITION. ZEPHANIAH 3:1 § 6. The prophet turns to Jerusalem, and warns her that, if God punishes the heathen, he will not spare the hardened sinners in Judah. ZEPHANIAH 3:1 WOE TO HER! This is addressed to Jerusalem, as is seen by Zephaniah 3:2. FILTHY; rather, _rebellious, i.e._ against God. The LXX; mistaking the word, renders ἐπιφανής, "notable." So the Syriac. Jerome has _provocatrix. _The true sense is seen by the expansion of the term in Zephaniah 3:2. polluted by her many sins. Jerome, follo

FROM BEYOND THE RIVERS OF ETHIOPIA,.... Either the African Ethiopia, or Arabia Chusea, which lay between Judea and Egypt: here some particular places and people are mentioned, in whom the preceding prophecy would be fulfilled. If these rivers of Ethiopia are such as ran in the midst of the country, and so point at some parts of it, though on the other side of them, then this prophecy might have its accomplishment, at least when the Evangelist Matthew went thither, and preached the Gospel, and very likely the Apostle Paul; as also when the Ethiopian eunuch was converted, who doubtless did what in him lay to promote the interest of Christ in those parts. Ben Melech makes this parallel with and illustrates it by Isaiah 18:1, Isaiah 18:1,...

CHAPTER 3:8-20 Judgment and Glory _ 1. The waiting for the end (Zephaniah 3:8) _ 2. The glory that follows (Zephaniah 3:9) Zephaniah 3:8. “Therefore wait for me, saith Jehovah, for the day when I arise for the prey; for my determination is to gather the nations, to assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, all my fierce anger; for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.” This verse leads us back to the opening exhortation of this chapter. They are as a nation to wait for Him, till the day comes in which He arises to execute the judgment of the nations. It has been a long waiting. Centuries have come and gone; His earthly people have been the wanderers

THE DELIVERANCE OF JERUSALEM, AND RENOWN OF REDEEMED ISRAEL. Zephaniah 3:8; Zephaniah 3:11. Let Yahweh's faithful people wait patiently till the day when He shall stand as a witness against the nations that oppress them. For it is His purpose to assemble them together for judgment, to pour out the fire of His jealousy upon them, and out of the depths of shame to bring the remnant of Israel to honour and glory, and to abiding righteousness and peace. For on the day of judgment Yahweh will remove from their midst all the proud and haughty ones that caused their dishonour, leaving a people humble and poor, trusting only in the name of Yahweh. ZEPHANIAH 3:8. For _le- ad_, to the prey, read le-

SUPPLIANTS. worshippers. Hebrew. _'athar._ Occurs in this sense nowhere else. From _'ath_ ar. to burn incense (Ezekiel 8:11); hence to pray or worship. THE DAUGHTER OF MY DISPERSED: i.e. My dispersed People [Israel]....