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The LORD’s word which came to Zephaniah, the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah, the son of Amon, king of Judah.
Verse 1. Lord. Thus the prophets insinuate that they are not the authors but the ministers of God’s word. Worthington.
When rendered in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, “LORD” or “GOD” is the translation of God’s Proper Name (Hebrew “יהוה”, usually pronounced Yahweh).
I will utterly sweep away everything from the surface of the earth, says the LORD.
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.
I will sweep away man and animal. I will sweep away the birds of the sky, the fish of the sea, and the heaps of rubble with the wicked. I will cut off man from the surface of the earth, says the LORD.
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.
I will stretch out my hand against Judah and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place—the name of the idolatrous and pagan priests,
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.
those who worship the army of the sky on the housetops, those who worship and swear by the LORD and also swear by Malcam,
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.
those who have turned back from following the LORD, and those who haven’t sought the LORD nor inquired after him.
Be silent at the presence of the Lord GOD, for the day of the LORD is at hand. For the LORD has prepared a sacrifice. He has consecrated his guests.
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.
The word translated “Lord” is “Adonai.”
It will happen in the day of the LORD’s sacrifice that I will punish the princes, the king’s sons, and all those who are clothed with foreign clothing.
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.
In that day, I will punish all those who leap over the threshold, who fill their master’s house with violence and deceit.
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.
In that day, says the LORD, there will be the noise of a cry from the fish gate, a wailing from the second quarter, and a great crashing from the hills.
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.
Wail, you inhabitants of Maktesh, for all the people of Canaan are undone! All those who were loaded with silver are cut off.
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.
It will happen at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are settled on their dregs, who say in their heart, “The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil.”
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.
Their wealth will become a plunder, and their houses a desolation. Yes, they will build houses, but won’t inhabit them. They will plant vineyards, but won’t drink their wine.
Verse 13. Strength. Children or riches. Bible.
The great day of the LORD is near. It is near and hurries greatly, the voice of the day of the LORD. The mighty man cries there bitterly.
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.
That day is a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness,
Verse 15. Day, is a day. The repetition elegantly describes the great danger. Worthington.
a day of the trumpet and alarm against the fortified cities and against the high battlements.
Verse 16. Trumpet, when Nachao came and deposed Joachas.
I will bring such distress on men that they will walk like blind men because they have sinned against the LORD. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their flesh like dung.
Verse 17. Blind. Not knowing what course to take. Deuteronomy 28:29. Isaiah 59:10. Calmet.—Such will be the horror preceding judgment. Bible.
Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD’s wrath, but the whole land will be devoured by the fire of his jealousy; for he will make an end, yes, a terrible end, of all those who dwell in the land.
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.