Introduction

Zephaniah was almost certainly a person of some influence, mostly due to his family heritage. As a direct descendant of Hezekiah, he was probably a man of affluence, some renown, and influence. A contemporary of Jeremiah, Zephaniah would have been one of a few prophetic voices who lent their support to the king’s desire for reform. His position in the community would almost certainly have given strength to his voice and granted him a certain audience. However, his position in the community would also have likely exacerbated the opposition when the community realized the content of his call for repentance.

Zephaniah’s lineage also helps us to get an idea of when the book was written. His prophecy was written during the reign of Josiah, but before the fall of Nineveh. Helping us pinpoint it a bit more is the fact that it was written before Josiah’s reforms, which would have occurred around 621 BC. So, taking into account each of these features, we can be fairly confident that the book was written between 641 and 622 BC.

The dominant themes of the book are pretty clear. This is a book of judgment, a call to repentance, and a declaration of God’s gracious work on behalf of His people.