Zeph. 1:1 The word of the LORD which came unto Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hizkiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.
The prophet Zephaniah ministered to Judah in the days of Josiah (640-610 BC). Some of the commentaries identify him as a great-great-grandson of King Hezekiah. If so, that would make him Josiah’s cousin. Another possibility is that he is the great grandson of one of the high priests, Amariah, that served under King Hezekiah. It really doesn’t matter since the Holy Spirit is the author of the book; Zephaniah is just the human vessel that penned it.
Scripture is clear that Amon was an evil king and Josiah a good king.
2Kings 21:19-20 “Amon was twenty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Meshullemeth, the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as his father Manasseh did.”
2Kings 22:1-2 “Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Boscath. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.”
This father and son serve as a good example that children aren’t doomed because of the example of their fathers. They can choose to be different. As a mom, I would like to think that his mom was a primary influence for righteousness in young Josiah’s life.
Zeph. 1:2 I will utterly consume all things from off the land, saith the LORD.
Zeph. 1:3 I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumblingblocks with the wicked; and I will cut off man from off the land, saith the LORD.
Zephaniah begins with a message of judgment to come upon the land. The Hebrew for land can apply to the earth in general or to a country. I believe it probably has a double application here. It is probably referencing the destruction to come to Judah through the armies of Babylon and looks forward to the future destruction to come on planet earth during the time of God’s wrath associated with the tribulation period. It is going to be a devastating judgment. It will result in the destruction of things on the earth (man and beast), in the air (birds), and in the sea (fishes). In fact, there will be few men left in the land of Judah. The Hebrew for stumblingblocks made reference to idols, which were associated with the wicked—in this case, those Jews who had rebelled against Almighty God and turned to idol worship. Ezekiel used this same term in reference to idol worship.
Ezekiel 14:3-4 “Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them? Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols….”
Zeph. 1:4 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;
Zeph. 1:5 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;
Zeph. 1:6 And them that are turned back from the LORD; and those that have not sought the LORD, nor enquired for him.
God has singled out Israel and specifically Jerusalem as his possession on planet earth; it is specifically identified with the name of God.
1Kings 11:36 “And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there.”
Psalm 87:2 “The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.”
God is clear that He is a jealous God who is jealous for His name because His name represents Who He Is.
Exodus 34:14 “For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God….”
Ezekiel 39:25 “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name….”
The fact that the people of Judah had blatantly turned to idol worship, Baal being specifically named, had roused God’s anger. Isaiah also associated God’s stretched out hand with anger and judgment.
Isaiah 5:25 “Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.”
The Chemarims were the idolatrous priests of Baal. It would seem that they were serving alongside the priests of Judah. Others in Judah worshipped the hosts of heaven—the sun, moon and planets and stars. This is directly tied to the use of astrology in my mind.
2Kings 23:5 “And he put down the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah, and in the places round about Jerusalem; them also that burned incense unto Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of heaven.”
The flat housetops provided the obvious place for this type of worship. Some of the people gave a public display of worshipping and professing allegiance to the LORD while also worshipping and professing allegiance to Malcham, another name for Molech, the awful idol to which they sacrificed their young children.
Others had angered God through their general rebellion and rejection of Him as YHWH. They did not seek Him in worship or prayer. My mind connected these people with those today who claim to be atheists and live as though there is no God.
I think it is important to note that Josiah made a valiant effort at eliminating idol worship and turning the people back to the Lord (cf 2Kings 23). The sad truth is that God was not appeased and had determined that judgment was necessary in light of the acts of Manasseh, Josiah’s grandfather.
2Kings 23:24-27 “Moreover the workers with familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the abominations that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD. And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him. Notwithstanding the LORD turned not from the fierceness of his great wrath, wherewith his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked him withal. And the LORD said, I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the house of which I said, My name shall be there.”
This is one of those areas that is hard for me to understand. If it was Manasseh’s reign that incurred His wrath, why was it not Manasseh’s reign that experienced the judgment? I am also reminded that Manasseh repented of his sin and turned back to the LORD. In fact, he probably was influential in Josiah’s life. I have to again claim Isaiah 55.
Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
I don’t have to understand it; I know that God is righteous in all His ways. One day I believe He will help me gain more understanding.
Psalm 145:17 “The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.”
Zeph. 1:7 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.
This verse brings to mind the words of Habakkuk.
Habakkuk 2:20 “But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.”
This is a hard verse to me. It seems that Zephaniah is trying to impress upon the people the seriousness of God’s message of judgment. Who is the sacrifice that He has prepared? Judah. Who are the guests he has invited to partake of this sacrifice? The Babylonians.
I note that the term “day of the LORD” is a term of judgment. It has applied in the past and will apply again in the future. Commentators point out that it describes a time when God intervenes in events happening on planet earth. I personally believe that this verse speaks of judgment soon to come upon Judah at the hands of the Babylonians and has future application during the 70th week of Daniel that we call the tribulation.
Zeph. 1:8 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.
Zeph. 1:9 In the same day also will I punish all those that leap on the threshold, which fill their masters’ houses with violence and deceit.
It would seem that the LORD is making a point that even those of rank and privilege will not escape His judgment. In fact, these are some of the very people who are leading the people in their idolatrous ways. This obviously didn’t apply to King Josiah. It did, however, apply to his progeny.
I would assume that clothing oneself with strange apparel was another public identification with the worship of idols. JFB supplied the following explanation: “GROTIUS refers the ‘strange apparel’ to garments forbidden by the law, for example, men’s garments worn by women, and vice versa, a heathen usage in the worship of Mars and Venus.”
Deuteronomy 22:5 “The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.”
Some of the commentaries connect stepping over and not on the threshold as showing deference to the worship of Dagon.
1Samuel 5:5 “Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon’s house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day.”
It seems to have direct connection to servants who have rebelled against their masters—with violence, deceit or both.
I decided to check the internet and found another possible explanation from Iakov Levi at http://www.geocities.com/psychohistory2001/taboo.html.
“…Theodor Reik’s article ‘The Doorkeepers’, in which the author deals with the taboo, common to many peoples, of treading on the threshold. Reik shows that the reason for the taboo is that treading is unconsciously interpreted as an aggressive and contemptuous act towards the owner of the house.”
Adam Clarke’s commentary contained another possibility: “…others think that leaping on the threshold refers to the customs of the Arabs, who used to ride into people's houses and take away whatever they could carry….”
This seems to fit in better with the rest of the verse. Maybe this references Jewish servants who had determined to identify with the Arabs in rebellion against their masters.
Zeph. 1:10 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD, that there shall be the noise of a cry from the fish gate, and an howling from the second, and a great crashing from the hills.
Zeph. 1:11 Howl, ye inhabitants of Maktesh, for all the merchant people are cut down; all they that bear silver are cut off.
According to JFB, the fish gate corresponds to the gate known today as the Damascus Gate in the north wall, which is the direction associated with the attack of the enemy. According to the NIV Commentary, these verses describe the attack of the Babylonians until they reached the market place (Maktesh) in the southern part of the city. The destruction of Jerusalem is going to be complete.
Zeph. 1:12 And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil.
Zeph. 1:13 Therefore their goods shall become a booty, and their houses a desolation: they shall also build houses, but not inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, but not drink the wine thereof.
Verse 12 connects in my mind to verse 6. The Lord is pointing out that He is going to punish those that are “settled on their lees.” The CJB seems to give the best translation from the Hebrew: “When that time comes, I will search Yerushalayim with lamps and punish those who are [smug and thick, like wine] left too long on its dregs, who say to themselves, ‘ADONAI will do nothing — neither good nor bad.’”
The NIV references complacency, and the NLT “contented in their sins.” I think they are all giving the right idea. Maybe they aren’t denying there is a “god,” but they certainly don’t think He is interested in the affairs of men. So maybe I should have used the term agnostic in commenting on verse 6 rather than atheist.
I think it is interesting that the LORD is intent on searching Jerusalem to identify these people who think that their rejection of Him or failure to acknowledge Him is their own business as long as they don’t bother anyone else. God is clear throughout scripture in stating that every created being is going to confess that He Is YHWH, the LORD over His creation.
Isaiah 45:22-23 “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.”
Philippians 2:9-11 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
These rebellious Jews will have their belongings taken as the booty of war and their houses destroyed. They may build houses and plant crops, but they will eventually be taken captive or killed.
I liked this quote from David Guzik’s commentary; it seems to apply equally well to the people of Judah.
“Edward Gibbon in his book The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire described the attitude towards religion in the last days of the Roman Empire - attitudes remarkably like our own today.
The people regarded all religions as equally true.
The philosophers regarded all religions as equally false.
The politicians regarded all religions as equally useful.”
Zeph. 1:14 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.
Zeph. 1:15 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,
Zeph. 1:16 A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.
At this point, the prophet’s message seems to more directly reference the time still future to us known as “the day of the LORD” and the day of God’s wrath [with varied wording]. I would assume you could still make application to the judgment Judah would suffer at the hands of Babylon, but it definitely applies to end times.
It’s always interesting that in God’s economy of time, “it is near.” Considering that 1000 years to Him is as a day or a watch in the night, that’s understandable.
Psalm 90:4 “For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.”
2Peter 3:8 "But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”
In human thinking, however, it’s a long time coming.
“the voice of the day of the LORD” – I would assume this to reference the thundering voice of God in judgment as well as the fearful cries of the people who are experiencing that judgment. It would include the sounds of war and the sounds of pain and sorrow. It would include the sounds associated with earthquakes, roaring seas and other supernatural forms of judgment (e.g., the seal, trumpet and bowl judgments in Revelation). Jesus described it as a time when there “shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (Matthew 24:21)
The “day of the Lord” will cause even mighty men to cry; but, sadly, their tears will be those of anger (from the Hebrew for bitterly), not repentance. It is described as:
A day of wrath – Not just anyone’s wrath—God’s wrath
A day of trouble and distress
A day of wasteness and desolation – devastation and ruin
A day of darkness and gloominess – The Hebrew for darkness references misery, death and wickedness, and for gloominess references “misfortune.”
A day of clouds and thick darkness – I knew this was more than just a repetition of the previous two. The Hebrew for clouds states, “…to act covertly, i.e., practice magic…observe times…sorcerer.” That makes a clear connection to the works of the Antichrist and his false prophet. Paul describes this time in his letter to the Thessalonians.
2Thessalonians 2:8-9 “And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders….”
Jesus described this time with the following words: Matthew 24:24 “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”
The “thick darkness” speaks to me of great wickedness as the influence of evil spiritual forces exert their greatest power and influence.
A day of the trumpet and alarm against fenced cities and high towers – I can’t help but think of the seven trumpet judgments in Revelation that will precede specific judgments during that time. In context, the alarm gives reference to the battle cry or the clamor of battle. Fenced cities and high towers reference places that are prepared to defend themselves, but their preparation will prove useless.
Zeph. 1:17 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.
Zeph. 1:18 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 prophet is speaking the words of YHWH. It is God who is exacting this judgment upon men. Scripture is clear elsewhere that this judgment is directed at his enemies. The whole context of this chapter is judgment directed against those who have rejected God as LORD.
Isaiah 13:9 “Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. “
Jeremiah 46:10 “For this is the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries….”
“they shall walk like blind men” – This would seem to reference the inability to find their way to safety. There is a verse in Deuteronomy that applies well (with direct connection to the people of Israel in context).
Deuteronomy 28:29 “And thou shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways: and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, and no man shall save thee.”
“because they have sinned…” – God judges in righteousness. Once His judgment is declared, there is no escape. Those judged are reaping what they have sown. Their treasures of silver and gold, which have been sufficient to purchase what they needed and/or wanted until this time, will not be able to deliver them from God’s wrath. He is acting in honor of His holy name. He had privileged Israel as His chosen people and chosen Jerusalem as the place of His name on planet earth, and they had thoroughly dishonored Him in every way. His jealousy for His honor demands judgment, and He will purge the land of evil. To purge the land, He must destroy wicked men—and the wicked men far outnumber the righteous. Ezekiel makes a point of telling us that before the Babylonians destroy Jerusalem, God sets a mark upon the righteous to deliver them through this time as part of the promised remnant that He is preserving for Himself.
Ezekiel 9:4-6 “And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.”
During the 7-year period of the 70th week of Daniel, He will also preserve for Himself a remnant.
Revelation 12:14 “And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.” (see comments in journal on Revelation 12)
In spite of the evil choices of men and this time of judgment, God will still keep His promises to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, and most importantly, His Son Jesus.
Galatians 3:16 “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.”
Zeph. 2:1 Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired;
Zeph. 2:2 Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD’S anger come upon you.
Zeph. 2:3 Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger.
My first thought upon reading these verses was that the prophet is speaking to Judah. I was surprised to note that the Hebrew for nation (v1) made specific reference to the Gentiles or heathen although it was broad enough to include people in general. In context with the ending of the previous chapter and the bookend of verse 3, I’m inclined to think application can be made of the message as a call to repentance to all on planet earth. Since we know Zephaniah was prophesying primarily to Judah, you can’t deny application to the Jews of that time specifically.
Sadly, I don’t know Hebrew, so I’m dependent on the majority of translations and commentaries that indicate that “not desired” is a reference to being shameless. Chuck Smith states: “the Hebrew literally means ‘a nation that knows no shame.’" In that regard, it’s not surprising that the prophet would use language identifying Judah with the heathen.
Basically, the prophet is calling for the people to come together in repentance before God’s judgment falls. The call is urgent because the window for repentance is small; it can pass as swiftly as the chaff blows away.
The message of verse 3 is directed specifically to the “meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment.” They are being encouraged to petition the LORD in prayer to help them continue in righteous living with humility in spite of the wicked influences surrounding them. The motivation—“it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’s anger.” Due to my interest in prophecy, this phrase immediately jumped out at me. I referenced at the end of the last chapter that Ezekiel tells us that God placed a seal of protection on the righteous in Judah to preserve a remnant in the land when they were judged by Babylon. I also referenced the fact that He will preserve a remnant of the Jews through the tribulation period of Daniel’s 70th week. God is quite consistent in what He chooses to reveal to us in scripture. Noah and his family were delivered from the judgment of the flood. Lot and his family were delivered before Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed. I can’t help but make application to the fact that whether delivered through or removed from, God does not direct His judgment at people of faith. It was also significant that the Hebrew for hid states “be absent, keep close, conceal.” In its future application to the “day of the Lord” in end times, I can’t help but make a connection to the rapture for people of faith.
I can’t help but be reminded of a verse in my study of Isaiah.
Isaiah 26:20 “Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.”
(See comments in Journal on Isaiah 26.)
Zeph. 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.
In context, the prophet’s message continues its address to the Gentile nations, specifically those near Judah. These first four cities are all part of the land of the Philistines, and are in the general area today known as the Gaza strip.
Gaza – It was in Gaza that Samson was imprisoned and met his death. In context, the prophet seems to be saying that judgment on Judah would also affect these cities, and Gaza was captured by Nebuchadnezzar in 604 BC according to Eerdman’s Dictionary. I thought it was interesting to note that the Hebrew for forsaken made reference to relinquish or leave destitute. I can’t help but make application to now in light of what happened when Israel relinquished the Gaza strip and the resulting destitution of the people.
Ashkelon – This is the place where Samson succumbed to the wiles of Delilah and was taken captive. Its future—to be made a wasteland.
Ashdod – A couple of the commentaries made note that noon is the general siesta time, so this implies an attack when least expected. According to Wikipedia, “The Port of Ashdod is Israel's largest port accounting for sixty percent of the country's imported goods,” and is the fifth largest city in Israel today. Can’t help but think that the surprise attack at noon has future application as well.
Ekron – This was the northernmost of these four cities and was set more inland. The Hebrew for “rooted up” references extermination.
The first three cities were on a major travel route along the coast; Ekron is on a different travel route more inland. As far as I can tell, only Gaza is part of the “Palestinian” territory today.
Other scriptures seem to reiterate this prophecy.
Amos 1:8 “And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him that holdeth the sceptre from Ashkelon, and I will turn mine hand against Ekron: and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish, saith the Lord GOD.”
Zechariah prophesies regarding these cities in connection with the destruction of Tyre.
Zechariah 9:3-7 “And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets. Behold, the Lord will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire. Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also shall see it, and be very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited. And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines. And I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth: but he that remaineth, even he, shall be for our God, and he shall be as a governor in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite.”
I can’t put it together in my mind, but I can’t help but wonder if future application is tied to the terrorist activities of Hezbollah (in Lebanon), Hamas (in Gaza) and Syria and Iran as their sponsor states.
Zeph. 2:5 Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the LORD is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant.
Zeph. 2:6 And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks.
Zeph. 2:7 And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the LORD their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.
Eerdman’s identifies the Cherethites as loyal bodyguards of David who came from the southern part of the land of the Philistines. The whole of the land of the Philistines was located along the Mediterranean coast in the western part of Israel. The prophet’s message is emphasizing complete destruction of this land. It’s interesting that the destruction being prophesied will leave this land “no inhabitants.” It will become a place for flocks and shepherds and a place of refuge for “the remnant of the house of Judah.” As I read through these verses again, I noticed that the prophecy is directed to “the land” and its inhabitants. As I researched on the web, I find that indications are that though the Philistines as a nation disappeared from the scene, inhabitants in the land did not. Though Israeli’s gained some benefit from living in the Gaza Strip before being recently removed by their own government, this doesn’t seem to fit the description as a place where God visits them and turns away their captivity. That seems to be yet future.
Zeph. 2:8 I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border.
Zeph. 2:9 Therefore as I live, saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them.
Moab and Ammon are the descendants of Lot that occupied some of the area known today as Jordan. Scripture portrays them as ever at enmity with Israel. They lived on Israel’s eastern border, and were always looking for an opportunity to benefit from attack on Israel by her enemies. God is fed up with these ungrateful cousins of Israel. Their attitude towards Israel reflects their attitude toward YHWH, the God of Israel. The people and their land are prophesied to meet the doom of Sodom and Gomorrah—“perpetual desolation.” Again, I cannot find historical fulfillment for this prophecy. These lands are still inhabited today. Verse 9 indicates that the people of Israel will one day “spoil them” and “possess them.” I think one can safely conclude that this refers to events yet future.
Zeph. 2:10 This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the LORD of hosts.
Zeph. 2:11 The LORD will be terrible unto them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen.
God hates the sin of pride, and Moab in particular is rebuked for her pride many times in scripture. God is pronouncing judgment on them in answer to their pride and the contempt with which they have treated the Israelites, God’s chosen people. Though directed at Moab and Ammon, verse 11 broadens the picture to include judgment against “all the gods of the earth.” Famish is a reference to emaciating or making thin; Webster adds the idea of killing to destroy with hunger. This paints a picture to me of God showing once for all the impotence of these false gods through the terrible devastation happening among the people who worship them.
I think it is important to note that God’s judgment will result in Him being worshipped by every one, “even all the isles of the heathen.” This is definitely still future and has to be referring to His wrath as directed at the planet during those last seven years on planet earth before Jesus Christ comes back as King of kings, defeats the Antichrist and his armies and establishes His earthly Kingdom. The word isles can be misleading; in the Hebrew it is a reference to “a habitable spot, dry land, and a country” as well as the coastlands.
Zeph. 2:12 Ye Ethiopians also, ye shall be slain by my sword.
The Ethiopians are the descendants of Cush through Ham; I have often heard it described as referring to what we know as black Africa or Sudan. This is supported in part by the words of Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 13:23 “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.”
The prophecy is short and pointed, “you will be killed by my sword.” We know that God isn’t going to employ an actual weapon. His sword is His Word.
Ephesians 6:17 “And take the helmet of salvation, and the of the Spirit, which is the word of God….”
Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Revelation 19:15 “And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations….” [referring to Jesus when He returns as Kings of kings]
It is judgment declared by the word of God whether using other men or natural disaster or supernatural means. Because of the context, we know that these people are positioned as enemies of God and His people Israel. As I searched through the scripture to try and pinpoint actions by Ethiopia against Israel, the only thing I could really identify was that they were often in league with Egypt. Since I think there is more application to end times than to Zephaniah’s audience at that time, it is to be noted that Ethiopia is part of the Gog/Magog alliance that attacks Israel—a time yet future. (See journal for Ezekiel 38.)
Zeph. 2:13 And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a desolation, and dry like a wilderness.
Zeph. 2:14 And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it; their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds: for he shall uncover the cedar work.
Zeph. 2:15 This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand.
“And he…” = YHWH, the LORD
The “north” in general is the direction from which most of Israel’s enemies attacked. Assyria is singled out as those who had conquered the Northern Kingdom and dispersed them throughout their empire. Yes, they were instruments of judgment in the hand of God, but they acted with evil far beyond God’s purposes. It is only natural that God would choose to use wicked nations to bring judgment since it is in accordance with their evil desires and practices. It doesn’t, however, provide them with free pardon for their evil actions. Isaiah tells us that, again, it is pride that provokes God’s anger.
Isaiah 10:12-16 “Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks. For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man: And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs that are left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped. Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood. Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of hosts, send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory he shall kindle a burning like the burning of a fire.”
This obviously applied to the King of Assyria at that time, but I believe there is future application to the Antichrist. (Note: the Assyrian empire was a part of the Roman empire (the heritage of the future Antichrist), and I believe there is definite connection between “the Assyrian” referenced in Isaiah and the Antichrist. See journal for Isaiah 10, 14, 30, 31, and 52.)
Nineveh was first established by Asshur, the son of Shem, and became the capital of Assyria.
Genesis 10:11 “Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah,”
Easton’s Bible Dictionary describes it as follows: “Nineveh in its glory was (Jonah 3:4) an “exceeding great city of three days’ journey”, i.e., probably in circuit. This would give a circumference of about 60 miles.”
Nineveh was spared judgment for approximately 100 years after responding in repentance to the message of God declared by a reluctant Jonah. It was destroyed by the Medes and Babylonians around 612 BC. The people of Nineveh are described as dwelling carelessly—confident that they could never be destroyed. (Doesn’t that sound like pride again?) She is described as thinking that there is no other city on earth that compares to her. Doesn’t that remind you of the attitude of the city of Babylon in Revelation 17?
Revelation 18:7 “How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.”
Her destruction is described in much the same way as that of Babylon by the prophet Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 50:13 “Because of the wrath of the LORD it shall not be inhabited, but it shall be wholly desolate: every one that goeth by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues.”
Jeremiah 50:39 “Therefore the wild beasts of the desert with the wild beasts of the islands shall dwell there, and the owls shall dwell therein: and it shall be no more inhabited for ever; neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation.”
Nineveh is at least a type of the future destruction of Babylon.