Zephaniah Chapter 1

From The Open Bible Project

1:1 The word of [1] Yahweh [See Zephaniah Footnotes 1] which came to Zephaniah, the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah, the son of Amon, king of Judah.

• The Argument - Seeing the great rebellion of the people, and that there was now no hope of amendment, he gives notice of the great judgment of God, which was at hand, showing that their country would be utterly destroyed, and they would be carried away captives by the Babylonians. Yet for the comfort of the faithful he prophesied of God’s vengeance against their enemies, such as the Philistines, Moabites, Assyrians, and others, to assure them that God had a continual care over them. And as the wicked would be punished for their sins and transgressions, so he exhorts the godly to patience, and to trust to find mercy by reason of the free promise of God made to Abraham: and therefore quietly to wait until God shows them the effect of that grace, by which in the end they should be gathered to him, and counted as his people and children.

1:2 I will utterly sweep away everything off of the surface of the earth, says Yahweh.

1:3 I will sweep away man and animal. I will sweep away the birds of the sky, the fish of the sea, and the heaps of rubble with the wicked. I will cut off man from the surface of the earth, says Yahweh.

• (a) Not that God was angry with these dumb creatures, but because man was so wicked for whose cause they were created, God makes them to take part of the punishments with him.

1:4 I will stretch out my hand against Judah, and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place: the name of the idolatrous and pagan priests,

• (b) Who were an order of superstitious priests appointed to minister in the service of Baal, and were as his special chaplains; read (2 Kings 23:5; Hosea 10:5).

1:5 those who worship the army of the sky on the housetops, those who worship and swear by Yahweh and also swear by Malcam,

• (c) He alludes to their idol Molech, which was forbidden; read (Leviticus 20:2), yet they called him their king, and made him as a god: therefore he here notes those that will both say they worship God, and yet will swear by idols and serve them: which faltering is here condemned, as in (Ezekiel 20:39; 1 Kings 18:21; 2 Kings 17:33).

1:6 those who have turned back from following Yahweh, and those who haven't sought Yahweh nor inquired after him.

1:7 Be silent at the presence of the [2] Lord [See Zephaniah Footnotes 2] Yahweh, for the day of Yahweh is at hand. For Yahweh has prepared a sacrifice. He has consecrated his guests.

1:8 It will happen in the day of Yahweh's sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, the king's sons, and all those who are clothed with foreign clothing.

• (d) Meaning, the courtiers, who did imitate the strange apparel of other nations to win their favour by it, and to appear glorious in the eyes of all others; read (Ezekiel 23:14-15).

1:9 In that day, I will punish all those who leap over the threshold, who fill their master's house with violence and deceit.

• (e) He means the servants of the rulers who invade other men’s houses, and rejoice and leap for joy, when they can get any gain to please their master with.

1:10 In that day, says Yahweh, there will be the noise of a cry from the fish gate, a wailing from the second quarter, and a great crashing from the hills.

• (f) Signifying that all the corners of the city of Jerusalem would be full of trouble.

1:11 Wail, you inhabitants of Maktesh, for all the people of Canaan are undone! All those who were loaded with silver are cut off.

• (g) This is meant of the street of the merchants which was lower than the rest of the place around it.

1:12 It will happen at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are settled on their dregs, who say in their heart, "Yahweh will not do good, neither will he do evil."

• (h) So that nothing will escape me.
• (i) By their prosperity they are hardened in their wickedness.

1:13 Their wealth will become a spoil, and their houses a desolation. Yes, they will build houses, but won't inhabit them. They will plant vineyards, but won't drink their wine.

1:14 The great day of Yahweh is near. It is near, and hurries greatly, the voice of the day of Yahweh. The mighty man cries there bitterly.

• (k) They that trusted in their own strength and condemned the Prophets of God.

1:15 That day is a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness,

1:16 a day of the trumpet and alarm, against the fortified cities, and against the high battlements.

1:17 I will bring distress on men, that they will walk like blind men, because they have sinned against Yahweh, and their blood will be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung.

1:18 Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them in the day of Yahweh's wrath, but the whole land will be devoured by the fire of his jealousy; for he will make an end, yes, a terrible end, of all those who dwell in the land.