CHAPTER III _The prophet reproves Jerusalem, and all her guides and rulers,_ _for their obstinate perseverance in impiety, notwithstanding_ _all the warnings and corrections which they had received from_ _God_, 1-7. _They are encouraged, however, after they shall have been_ _chastised for thei... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zephaniah 3:2. _SHE OBEYED NOT THE VOICE_] Of conscience, of God, and of his prophets. _SHE RECEIVED NOT CORRECTION_] Did not profit by his chastisements; was uneasy and ill-tempered under her afflictions, and derived no manner of good from these chastisements. _SHE TRUSTED NOT IN THE LORD_]... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zephaniah 3:3. _HER PRINCES _- ARE _ROARING LIONS_] Tearing all to pieces without shadow of law, except their own despotic power. _HER JUDGES_ ARE _EVENING WOLVES_] Being a little afraid of the lion-like princes, they practise their unjust dealings from evening to morning, and take the _day_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 4. _HER PROPHETS_ ARE _LIGHT_ AND _TREACHEROUS PERSONS_] They have no _seriousness_, no _deep conviction_ of the awful nature of their _office_, no _concern_ for the _immortal souls_ of the people. _Treacherous persons_ - they betray the souls of the people for the sake of worldly _honour, pl... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 5. _THE JUST LORD_ IS _IN THE MIDST THEREOF_] He sees, marks down, and will punish all these wickednesses. _EVERY MORNING DOTH HE BRING HIS JUDGMENT TO LIGHT_] The sense is, says Bp. _Newcome_, "Not a day passes but we see instances of his goodness to righteous men, and of his vengeance on th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 6. _I HAVE CUT OFF THE NATIONS_] Syria, Israel, and those referred to, Isaiah 36:18; Isaiah 36:20. - _Newcome_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 7. _SURELY THOU WILT FEAR ME_] After so many displays of my sovereign power and judgments. _BUT THEY ROSE EARLY_] And instead of returning to God, they practised every abomination. They were diligent to find out times and places for their iniquity. This is the worst state of man.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 8. _WAIT YE UPON ME_] Expect the fulfilment of all my promises and threatenings: I am God, and change not. _FOR ALL THE EARTH_] All the land of Judah.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 9. _WILL I TURN TO THE PEOPLE_] This promise must refer to the conversion of the Jews under the Gospel. _THAT THEY MAY ALL CALL_] That the whole nation may invoke God by Christ, and serve him with _one consent_; not one unbeliever being found among them. The _pure language_, שפה ברורה sapha... [ Continue Reading ]
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 Am... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zephaniah 3:11. _SHALT THOU NOT BE ASHAMED_] Thy punishment shall cease, for God shall pardon thy sin. _FOR THEN I WILL TAKE AWAY OUT OF THE MIDST OF THEE_] The wicked Jewish priests and scribes who blasphemed Christ, and would not come under his yoke. _BECAUSE OF MY HOLY MOUNTAIN._] Thou wi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zephaniah 3:12. _AN AFFLICTED AND POOR PEOPLE_] In such a state will the Jews be found when they shall hear the universal call, and believe in Christ Jesus. Indeed, this is the _general state_ of the Jews in the _present day_; except a _few_ that are _called Jews_, who are _very rich_; and who... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zephaniah 3:13. _THE REMNANT OF ISRAEL SHALL NOT DO INIQUITY_] O what a change! And then, how different shall they be from their _present_ _selves_! Iniquity, lying, and deceit shall not be found among them! A Jew once said to me, "Tere are shome of you Christians who are making wonderful effo... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zephaniah 3:14. _SING, O DAUGHTER OF ZION_] Here is not only a gracious prophetic promise of their restoration from captivity, but of their conversion to God through Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zephaniah 3:15. _THE KING OF ISRAEL,_ EVEN _THE LORD,_ IS _IN THE MIDST OF_ _THEE_] They have never had a _king_ since the death of Zedekiah, and never shall have one till they have the _King Messiah_ to reign among them; and this promise refers to that event.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zephaniah 3:16. _FEAR THOU NOT_] Thou shalt have no more captivities nor national afflictions. _LET NOT THINE HANDS BE SLACK._] This may refer, _first_, to the rebuilding of the temple of God, after the return from Babylon; and, secondly, to their diligence and zeal in the Christian Church.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zephaniah 3:17. _THE LORD THY GOD_] יהוה אלהיך _Yehovah Eloheycha_, "The self-existent and eternal Being, who is in covenant with you;" the character of God in reference to the Jews when standing in the nearest relation to them. IS _MIGHTY_] גבור _gibbor_, is the _prevailing One_, the _all-co... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zephaniah 3:18. _I WILL GATHER - SORROWFUL_] This may refer to those who, during the captivity, mourned for their former religious assemblies; and who were _reproached_ by their enemies, because they could not enjoy their religious solemnities. See Psalms 137:1: "By the rivers of Babylon, ther... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zephaniah 3:19. _I WILL UNDO ALL THAT AFFLICT THEE_] They who have persecuted you shall be punished for it. It shows much malignity and baseness of mind, to afflict or reproach those who are lying under the chastising hand of God. This was the conduct of the Edomites, Moabites, and Ammonites,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zephaniah 3:20. _AT THAT TIME_] _First_, when the _seventy_ years of the Babylonish captivity shall terminate. "I will bring you again" to your own land; and this restoration shall be a type of their redemption from sin and iniquity; and _at this time_, and at this only, will they have a _name... [ Continue Reading ]