Zephaniah 2:1-8

Judgments on Judah's Enemies

1 Gather yourselves together, yes, 1gather, O nation 2without shame,
2 Before the decree takes effect - The day passes 3like the chaff - Before * the 4burning anger of the LORD comes upon you, Before * the 5day of the LORD'S anger comes upon you.
3 6Seek the LORD, All you 7humble of the earth Who have carried out His ordinances; 8Seek righteousness, seek humility. Perhaps you will be 9hidden In the day of the LORD'S anger.
4 For 10Gaza will be abandoned And Ashkelon a desolation; 11Ashdod will be driven out at noon And 12Ekron will be uprooted.
5 Woe to the inhabitants of the seacoast, The nation of the 13Cherethites! The word of the LORD is 14against you, O 15Canaan, land of the Philistines; And I will 16destroy you So that there will be 17no inhabitant.
6 So the seacoast will be 18pastures, With caves for shepherds and folds for flocks.
7 And the coast will be For the 19remnant of the house of Judah, They will 20pasture on it. In the houses of Ashkelon they will lie down at evening; For the LORD their God will 21care for them And 22restore their fortune.
8 "I have heard the 23taunting of Moab And the 24revilings of the sons of Ammon, With which they have taunted My people And 25become arrogant against their territory.

Zephaniah 2:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ZEPHANIAH 2

In this chapter the prophet exhorts the Jews to repentance; and foretells the destruction of several neighbouring nations. The body of the people of the Jews in general are first called upon to gather together and humble themselves, who were a people neither desirable, nor deserving of the favours of God, nor desirous of them, Zep 2:1 and to this they are pressed, from the consideration of God's decree of vengeance being ready to bring forth and break forth upon them, Zep 2:2 and then the few godly among them are exhorted to seek the Lord, and what is agreeable to him; since there was at least a probability of their being protected by him in a time of general calamity, Zep 2:3 and that the destruction of this people might appear the more certain, and that they might have no dependence on their neighbours, the prophet proceeds to predict the ruin of several of them, particularly the Philistines; several places belonging to them are by name mentioned, and the whole land threatened with desolation; the maritime part of it to be only inhabited by shepherds and their flocks; and afterwards the coast possessed by the Jews, on their return from their captivity, Zep 2:4-7. Next the Moabites and Ammonites are prophesied of; whose destruction should come upon them for their pride, and for their contempt and reviling of the people of God; and which should be like that of Sodom and Gomorrah; and would issue in the abolition of idolatry, and the setting up of the worship of God in their country, and elsewhere, Zep 2:8-11. As for the Ethiopians, they should be slain with the sword, Zep 2:12 and the whole monarchy of Assyria, with Nineveh the metropolis of it, should be utterly laid waste, and become a desolation, and a wilderness; and the habitation, not only of flocks, but of beasts and birds of prey, Zep 2:13-15.

Cross References 25

  • 1. 2 Chronicles 20:4; Joel 1:14
  • 2. Jeremiah 3:3; Jeremiah 6:15
  • 3. Isaiah 17:13; Hosea 13:3
  • 4. Lamentations 4:11; Nahum 1:6
  • 5. Zephaniah 1:18
  • 6. Psalms 105:4; Amos 5:6
  • 7. Psalms 22:26; Isaiah 11:4
  • 8. Amos 5:14, 15
  • 9. Psalms 57:1; Isaiah 26:20
  • 10. Amos 1:7, 8; Zechariah 9:5-7
  • 11. Amos 1:7, 8; Zechariah 9:5-7
  • 12. Amos 1:7, 8; Zechariah 9:5-7
  • 13. Ezekiel 25:16
  • 14. Amos 3:1
  • 15. Zephaniah 1:11
  • 16. Isaiah 14:29, 30
  • 17. Zephaniah 3:6
  • 18. Isaiah 5:17; Isaiah 7:25
  • 19. Isaiah 11:16
  • 20. Isaiah 32:14
  • 21. Exodus 4:31; Psalms 80:14
  • 22. Jeremiah 32:44; Zephaniah 3:20
  • 23. Ezekiel 25:8
  • 24. Ezekiel 25:3
  • 25. Amos 1:13

Footnotes 9

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