Zephaniah 3 Footnotes

3:14-20 Zephaniah looked ahead to the day of the Lord’s deliverance in language that had a historical application—apparently the return of Judah and Jerusalem from exile (v. 20)—and also to the coming of the kingdom of God, when the Lord would dwell amidst his people (v. 15; see Rv 21:3). The prophet summoned the people to “be glad and celebrate with all your heart,” indeed, to join the Lord in his own rejoicing (Zph 3:14). His poetic language depicts the Lord as a warrior, whose “singing” mark the festive celebration of victory in battle (see Ps 118:24, where the same Hb root smh is used).