Introduction to Zephaniah

III.Promised Blessings (3:9-20)

A.Salvation and deliverance (3:9-13)

B.Salvation demands praise (3:14-20)

Amos is called to travel from Judah to Israel to prophesy in Samaria. 783

Jonah is called to go to Nineveh and preach repentance.

Hosea’s prophetic ministry 750-722?

Micah begins his prophetic ministry. 750

Assyria emerges from years of decline as Tiglath-pileser III invades Israel and other territories in the region. 745-727

Isaiah is called to be a prophet. 740

Assyria’s Shalmaneser V besieges Samaria. 725-722

Samaria falls to Assyria’s Sargon II, nearly 28,000 Israelites are sent into exile, and Gentiles from Assyrian-controlled territories are resettled into what was the northern kingdom. 722

Third temple reform under Hezekiah 715

Years of prophetic silence (698-626) in Judah coincides with some of Judah’s darkest years under the rule of Manasseh (697-642) and Amon (642-640).

Josiah is placed on Judah’s throne at the age of eight when his father, Amon, is assassinated. 640

Initial reforms of Josiah 631

Zephaniah’s years of prophecy range between 626 and 612.

Jeremiah called to be a prophet; warns of invasion from the north 626

The book of the law is found and read publicly, spurring additional reform under Josiah. 621

Zephaniah and Nahum both prophesy the fall of Nineveh that occurred in 621.

With the fall of Nineveh, the Babylonian Empire succeeds the Assyrian Empire as the dominant force in the ancient Near East. 612

Josiah killed in battle by Pharaoh Neco 609

Habakkuk prophesies shortly before or after the battle at Carchemish (605) to point out what the growing Babylonian strength means for Judah.

Nebuchadnezzar attacks Jerusalem and leads citizens of Judah into exile. 605, 597, 586, 582