CHAPTER 1. THE JUDGMENT OF GOD WILL ONE DAY BE VISITED ON CREATION, BUT AT THIS TIME ON JUDAH AND JERUSALEM. Zephaniah 1:2 of this chapter reveal God as Judge of all the world. It is a general picture of the far future. But in Zephaniah 1:4 we come closer to home, to His particular judgment on Judah... [ Continue Reading ]
‘The word of YHWH 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 detailed genealogy, unusual for a prophet, suggests that his was an important family, and we are probably therefore... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD WILL ONE DAY BRING THE WORLD INTO JUDGMENT (ZEPHANIAH 1:2). These first two verses speak of the apocalyptic future when YHWH will finally bring His judgment on the world because of their sin. This coming ‘Day of YHWH' had first been spoken of by Amos (Amos 5:18; Amos 5:20). There the people of I... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD'S PARTICULAR JUDGMENT WILL AT THIS TIME BE APPLIED TO JUDAH AND JERUSALEM (ZEPHANIAH 1:4). Zephaniah 1:4 “And I will stretch out my hand on Judah, And on all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, And I will cut off those who remain of Baal from this place, And the name of the Chemarim with the prie... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DAY OF YHWH AGAINST JUDAH AND JERUSALEM (ZEPHANIAH 1:7). Zephaniah 1:7 ‘Hold your peace at the presence of the Lord YHWH. For the day of YHWH is at hand. For YHWH has prepared a sacrifice. He has sanctified his guests.' All are to be silent in awe in the presence of the Lord YHWH (compare H... [ Continue Reading ]