4. stretch out mine hand--indicating some remarkable and unusual work
of vengeance
(Isa 5:25; 9:12, 17, 21).
Judah--including Benjamin. These two tribes are to suffer, which
thought themselves perpetually secure, because they escaped the
captivity in which the ten tribes were involved.
Jerusalem--the fountainhead of the evil. God begins with His
sanctuary
(Eze 9:6),
and those who are nigh Him
(Le 10:3).
the remnant of Baal--the remains of Baal worship, which as yet Josiah
was unable utterly to eradicate in remote places. Baal was the
Phœnician tutelary god. From the time of the Judges
(Jud 2:13),
Israel had fallen into this idolatry; and Manasseh lately had set up
this idol within Jehovah's temple itself
(2Ki 21:3, 5, 7).
Josiah began his reformation in the twelfth year of his reign
(2Ch 34:4, 8),
and in the eighteenth had as far as possible completed it.
Chemarims--idol priests, who had not reached the age of puberty;
meaning "ministers of the gods" [SERVIUS on
Æneid, 11], the same name as the Tyrian Camilli, r
and l being interchangeable (compare
Ho 10:5,
Margin). Josiah is expressly said
(2Ki 23:5,
Margin) to have "put down the Chemarim." The Hebrew root
means "black" (from the black garments which they wore or the
marks which they branded on their foreheads); or "zealous," from
their idolatrous fanaticism. The very "name," as well as themselves,
shall be forgotten.
the priests--of Jehovah, of Aaronic descent, who ought to have used
all their power to eradicate, but who secretly abetted, idolatry
(compare
Zep 3:4;
Eze 8:1-18; 22:26; 44:10).
From the priests Zephaniah passes to the people.
JFB.
The Book of Zephaniah
Zephaniah 1:4-8 - I will also stretch out mine hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, [and] the name of the Chemarims with the priests; And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship [and] that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham; And them that are turned back from the LORD; and [those] that have not sought the LORD, nor enquired for him. Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD [is] at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests. And it shall come to pass in the day of the LORD'S sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king's children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel.
Zephaniah 1:14-18 - The great day of the LORD [is] near, [it is] near, and hasteth greatly, [even] the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. That day [is] a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers. And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD'S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.
The Old Testament - A Brief Overview
Bible Survey - Zephaniah
Hebrew Name - Tsephaniyah
"Yahweh Hides"
Greek Name - Sophonias (Greek form of the Hebrew)
Author - Zephaniah (According to Tradition)
Date - 630 BC Approximately
Theme - The Day of the Lord is Approaching
Types and Shadows - In Zephaniah The Day of Jesus is Coming
Zephaniah lived during one of the worst times in the history of Judah, under the evil reign of King Manasseh. Fortunately for Judah it would not be long before Josiah would begin his glorious reign, and it was during the revival that took place during this period that Zephaniah began to prophesy. He was quick to to condemn the idolatrous worship of the Canaanite and Assyrian deities, and he predicted doom for the heathen nations that surrounded Judah: the Philistines, the Moabites, the Ammonites, the Ethiopians, and the Assyrians. Zephaniah also foretold of the destruction of Jerusalem, and also her glorious restoration. - The above text is © Rusty Russell - Bible History Online and must be sourced for use on a website.
The opening verses of the book of Zephaniah revealed the prophet Zephaniah's lineage that traced back to King Hezekiah, which made him of royal blood. Zephaniah probably lived in Judah, and possibly Jerusalem, since he clearly knew the city so well. According to Zephaniah 1:1 the prophecy took place during the early portion of the reign of Josiah (642-611 BC), and revival didn't come under the reign of Josiah until 18 years after he took the throne. Zephaniah brings up the lack of justice in the land, oppression of the poor, and wealth that was gained by violence and fraudulent practices (Zephaniah 1:8-9). The people had forsaken the Lord under the evil reign of King Manasseh, and they were still worshiping Baal (Zephaniah 1:4). Many were worshiping and swearing oaths by the name of heathen deities like Malcham, who was associated with the god Moloch, the god who required worship by human sacrifice (Zephaniah 1:5). Many had completely "turned back from the Lord" (Zephaniah 1:6). The Lord said that he will search out and punish those who have "settled on their lees" (Zephaniah 1:12), thinking in their heart that God will not do anything.
The prophet Zephaniah's main message was concerning the "Day of the Lord" which he mentions continually throughout the book. On that day the Lord will personally deal with those who had forsaken him and become corrupt. The day of the Lord is a day of destruction, a terrible day, a day in which very few will escape. Zephaniah 3 reveals the blessings of the day of the Lord, they will be a pure language "that everyone may call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent" (Zephaniah 3:9). He gives a beautiful imagery of the fortunes of the "Daughter of Zion": God will do away with their sins, there lies, their deceitful tongues, and "they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid." (Zephaniah 3:13).
"The LORD your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will quiet you with His love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17
The book of Zephaniah may be outlined as follows:
Outline of the Book of Zephaniah
Zephaniah 1:1-3 God's Judgment upon the World
Zephaniah 1:4-13 God's Judgment upon Judah and Jerusalem
Zephaniah 1:14-18 The Day of the Lord
Zephaniah 2:1-3 God's Call for Repentance
Zephaniah 2:4-7 God's Judgment upon the Philistines
Zephaniah 2:8-10 God's Judgment upon the Moabites and the Ammonites
Zephaniah 2:11-15 God's Judgment upon Other Nations like Ethiopia and Assyria
Zephaniah 3:1-8 God's Judgment upon Jerusalem
Zephaniah 3:9-13 Salvation and Blessings in the Kingdom
Zephaniah 3:14-20 God Is Praised in the Kingdom
Zephaniah Resources
The Divided Kingdom
The
Northern Kingdom of Israel
The
Southern Kingdom of Judah
The Assyrian Captivity
The Babylonian Captivity
The Return From Babylon
The Prophets
The Messiah
The Book of Zephaniah
More About the Book of
Zephaniah
Zephaniah in the Picture
Study Bible
Chart
of the Prophets of Israel and Judah
Timeline of the Ancient
World
Back to the Old Testament
Back to Bible
History Online