Zephaniah
Verse 1. Lord. Thus the prophets insinuate that they are not the authors but the ministers of God’s word. Worthington.
EXPLANATIONS
Zephaniah 1
Historical chapter commentary
Zephaniah
Verse 2. Gather, and so forth That is, I will assuredly take away and wholly consume, either by captivity or death, both men and beasts out of this land. Challoner.—To gather commonly implies a benefit, but the sequel shews that the contrary is here meant. Worthington.—It often signifies to kill or bury. Jeremiah 8:2. The whole country round Judea to Babylon, shall be a sepulchre for men and beasts. Osee 4:3. Calmet.
Zephaniah
Verse 3. Sea: the waters and air shall be pestilential. Bible.—S. Jerom frequently observes that when a country is depopulated, as the Roman empire was in his days, the most fertile regions were soon abandoned even by beasts and birds.—Meet. Septuagint “be weak.” Hebrew “I will gather ( Calmet. Prot. “consume.” Bible.) scandals (or idols) with the wicked.” Sym.
Zephaniah
Verse 4. Baal. Josias had not yet begun his reformation. 4 Kennicott. 23:4. Calmet.—At least he had not brought it to perfection, though from his infancy he had encouraged religion. Bible.—Wardens of the temples of the idols. Ædituos, in Hebrew, the Cemarim, that is such as kindle the fires or burn incense. Challoner.—Lit. “the blacks, ( Bible.) or those in black,” whether it alludes to their clothes or to the colour of their bodies, in consequence of their going almost naked. Camilli, which may be derived from this root, ( Calmet.) cemarim, ( Bible.) in Tuscan, signifies priests, or rather ( Calmet.) children who went naked before them. Macrob. iii. 8.—The priests of Baal appeared in this manner, and cut themselves, (3 Kennicott. 18:28) committing great indecencies, while God ordered his ministers to be clothed in white with the utmost gravity. Calmet.—The very remembrance of such idols and priests shall be abolished. Osee 2:16. They were designed for the worship of fire. Baal was the sun. Bible.
Zephaniah
Verse 5. Houses. The roofs were flat. Josias afterwards reformed this abuse. 4 Kennicott. 23:5. Calmet.—It continued among the Arabs. Strabo xvii.—Melchom. The idol of the Ammonites. Challoner.—Those who join idols with God do not worship Him indeed. Worthington.—Swearing was an act of religion. Matthew 5:33. God will not allow his glory to be given to another. Such lame worship or divided hearts he rejects. 3 Kennicott. 18:21. Calmet.
Zephaniah
Verse 7. Silent. Hebrew has, ( Bible.) an interjection, (Saint Jerome) like our hush. Bible.—This denotes the importance of what he is going to say.—Guests. The blood of the wicked is his victim. Jeremiah 46:10. Ezekiel 39:17. Calmet.—The day of punishment is commonly styled the day of the Lord. Isaiah 2 and 1 Corinthians 3. Worthington.
Zephaniah
Verse 8. Victim. Hebrew “sacrifice.” But MS. 1. Camb. has, “in that day, says the Lord,” eeva nam being substituted for zebach, ( Bible.) which is “a very remarkable variation.” In verse 7 it has Jehovah Elohim printed Adonai Jehovah. Kennicott.—Princes. After the death of Josias all fell to ruin. His sons were deposed, and led into captivity with the chief nobility and priests, who were richly adorned, and imitated the manners of idolaters, or kept the garments of the poor. Exodus 22:26. Deuteronomy 22:5. 11. and so forth Calmet.—All the posterity of Josias was afflicted. Joachaz died in Egypt; Joakim was harassed and put to death; Sedezias taken, and his eyes put out, when his children had been slain. Jechonias, or Joachin, was detained in prison at Babylon for a long time. Worthington.
Zephaniah
Verse 9. Entereth the temple, as if to shew themselves. Amos 6:1. Hebrew “jumpeth over,” and so forth denoting the Philistines. Chal. 1 Kennicott. 5:5. Calmet.—Septuagint “I will take vengeance on all openly before the gate in that day,” ( Bible.) on all who have cast themselves out of the Church. Saint Jerome—Lord. Hebrew “of their masters with,” and so forth This may relate to the Philistines, ( Calmet.) or to those who made the house of God a place of traffic, (Matthew 21:13) and offered victims unjustly acquired. Bible.
Zephaniah
Verse 10. Gate, looking towards Joppe. Saint Jerome—The news of the defeat at Mageddo came this way, or the cries of the Philistines were heard. Calmet.—Second. A part of the city so called, ( Challoner.) built by Manasses on the same side of the city, 2 Chronicles 33:14. Calmet.
Zephaniah
Verse 11. The Morter: (Maktesh) a valley in or near Jerusalem. Challoner.—All the people shall suffer in the city. Sanct. Tirinus.—Mactes was rendered famous by Samson, (Judges 15:19) and was in or near the country of the Philistines, who seem to be designated. The original is variously interpreted. Calmet.—Septuagint “of the city cut in pieces, because all the people resemble Chanaan.” Bible.—Chanaan. So he calls the Jews, from their following the wicked ways of the Chanaanites. Challoner.—The merchants (Grot.) are confounded, or ( Bible.) the Philistines are still meant. Calmet.
Zephaniah
Verse 12. Lamps, with the utmost diligence, (Lu. 15:8) so that none shall escape even in the most filthy places. Calmet.—The Romans found many Jews in the common sewers. Jos. Bel. vii. 16. 20. and 26.—Lees. That is, the wealthy, and such as live at their ease, resting upon their riches, like wine upon the lees. Challoner.—Evil, denying Providence. Calmet.
Zephaniah
Verse 13. Strength. Children or riches. Bible.
Zephaniah
Verse 14. Near. When all these miseries shall overtake the wicked, ( Worthington.) after the death of Josias. 4 Kennicott. 21:14. Calmet.—The mighty. Septuagint “and dreadful, powerful is the day of,” and so forth—Meet. Prot. “cry bitterly.” Bible.
Zephaniah
Verse 15. Day, is a day. The repetition elegantly describes the great danger. Worthington.
Zephaniah
Verse 16. Trumpet, when Nachao came and deposed Joachas.
Zephaniah
Verse 17. Blind. Not knowing what course to take. Deuteronomy 28:29. Isaiah 59:10. Calmet.—Such will be the horror preceding judgment. Bible.
Zephaniah
Verse 18. Gold. Ezek. 7:19. Thus the Medes despised riches. Isaiah 13:17. Calmet.—Jealousy. God regarded the synagogue as his spouse. Menochius.—“If he loved not the soul of man, he would not be jealous of it.” Saint Jerome Bible.
Zephaniah
When rendered in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, “LORD” or “GOD” is the translation of God’s Proper Name (Hebrew “יהוה”, usually pronounced Yahweh).
Zephaniah
The word translated “Lord” is “Adonai.”