INTRODUCTION TO ZEPHANIAH AUTHOR Becuse the prophet Zephnih ws the son of Cushi (1:1) nd uniquely interested in the sin nd future restortion of the Cushites (i.e., blck Africns from ncient Ethiopi, tody modern Sudn, 2:12; 3:9 10), he my hve been blck Jew. Books like Genesis, Deuteronomy, Amos, nd Isih pprently influenced him, nd he my hve been wre of the ministries of his contemporries Nhum, Hbkkuk, nd young Jeremih. Zephnih mens Yhweh hides. Perhps his prents pryed tht God would protect him t his birth during the shdowy reign of Mnsseh (2 Kgs 20:21 21:18), who ws son of King Hezekih (2 Kgs 18 20; Is 36 38), Zephnih s gret-gret-grndfther (Zeph 1:1). As prt of the royl fmily, Zephnih ws prt of the Messinic- Dvidic hope tht still burned in the drkness. His socil sttus my explin how he ws wre of the interntionl climte (2:5 15) nd the ethics of Jeruslem s politicl nd religious ledership (1:4,8 9; 3:3 4). DATE Zephnih prophesied during the reign of King Josih of Judh (641/40 609 BC) (1:1). In bout 628 BC, Josih strted removing ll pgn Cnnite shrines nd emblems (2 Chr 34:3 7), nd round 622 BC he recovered the Book of the Lw nd instituted mss religious reform throughout the lnd (2 Kgs 22:3 23:25; 2 Chr 34:8 35:19). Becuse Zephnih s messge shows signs of Deuteronomy s influence while stressing high need for spiritul growth, he likely ministered erly in 622 BC fter Josih found the Book of the Lw but before the reform movement ws fully underwy. MESSAGE Zephnih provides summons to stisfction cll to persevering trust in God in order to experience personl nd divine plesure in the future. In light of the impending dy of Yhweh s wrth, the prophet urges his listeners to join the remnnt in ptiently pursuing Yhweh (i.e., seek [2:3] nd wit [3:8]); this lone will preserve them through judgment nd secure consummte joy in God (3:14) nd the experience of God s delight in sved sinners (3:17). Three min messges re evident. Bsic Trining for Stisfction Becuse Yhweh s dy of fury is coming, Judh must repent nd wit upon God. The prophet clls the people bck to the bsics s the only mens for experiencing slvtion through judgment (2:1,3; 3:8). Two judgments re certin: (1) ner judgment ginst Judh through Bb ylon (1:4 13; 2:2; 3:7), nd (2) future judgment ginst the entire world due to pervsive sin ginst the God of ll the erth (1:1 3,14 18; 3:8; cf. Deut 30:7; Is 24:5 6). These wrnings provide the context for the book s min purpose: to exhort Judh to trust God to fithfully preserve nd ultimtely stisfy them even through judgment. Wht we hope for or fer tomorrow chnges who we re 9780310438335_int_04b_ezek_ml_NIV_ZSB_PG CORR.indd 1839
PG CORR 1840 INTRODUCTION TO ZEPHANIAH e d n e n rr e it Se Se of Glilee Jo rd n R. M LOCATIONS IN ZEPHANIAH E G Y P T IL D PH A S I J H T IA AMMON Ashdod Ekron Jeruslem Ashkelon Gz De d Se MOAB U 0 0 40 km. 40 mi. tody. Zephnih motivtes his udience with hope nd dred s bsic trining for finding stisfction in the Lord (2:1,3; 3:8,14 15). Yhweh s Wr Equted With Scrifice The fires of Yhweh s retributive wr will destroy the entire old cretion order, including unbelieving humnity (1:3,18; 3:8), yet Yhweh will protect those who hve humbled themselves nd clled on his nme (2:3; 3:9,11). How cn righteous God who does no injustice (3:5) prdon, preserve, nd bring plesure to former sinful rebels (3:9 20)? Zephnih sys little explicitly bout the sving work of the Messih, probbly to portry tht the Judhites were deep in drkness nd lmost fully seprted from hope. But he hints tht the mens for understnding slvtion through judgment nd the inugurtion of new cretion is penl substitutionry tonement. He ssocites the fires of God s judgment with scrifice (1:7; cf. 1:18; 3:8), which ppeses God s righteous wrth. He lso urges his udience to drw ner to Yhweh (3:2), the exct lnguge for pproching God by fith through substitute scrifice (Lev 9:1 10:3), which points to Christ (Heb 9:11 14,27 28; 10:11 14). Jesus took upon himself the scrificil fires of God s judgment on behlf of ll who believe (1:7,18; 3:8; cf. Is 53:5,7,11); thus God is both just nd the justifier (Rom 3:24 26). See Scrifice, p. 2656, nd Wrth, p. 2681. Globl Slvtion While Zephnih focuses on righteous remnnt from Judh, he lso highlights tht God will sve other peoples of the world (3:9 10; cf. 2:11). He thus nticiptes the church ge nd the fulfillment of the Abrhmic covennt in blessing Jews nd Gentiles like in Christ (Gl 3:8,14,29; Eph 2:14 16). Together they will worship the King, the Mighty Wrrior who sves (3:17; cf. 3:14 15). All these fetures hve been inugurted lredy in Christ nd his church, nd they now wit complete consummtion t Christ s second coming. See People of God, p. 2672. 9780310438335_int_04b_ezek_ml_NIV_ZSB_PG CORR.indd 1840
INTRODUCTION TO ZEPHANIAH 1841 OUTLINE I. Superscription (1:1) II. Judgment on the Whole Erth in the Dy of the Lord: A Cll to Dredful Silence Before God (1:2 18) A. The Reson for the Cll to Silence (1:2 6) B. The Nture of the Cll to Silence (1:7 18) III. Judh nd Jeruslem Judged Along With the Ntions: Clls to Repent nd to Wit for God (2:1 3:8) A. Judh Summoned to Repent Before the Lord to Avoid Judgment (2:1 3) B. Resons for the Summons to Repent nd Wit (2:4 3:7) 1. The Lmentble Stte nd Fte of the Rebels From the Foreign Ntions (2:4 15) 2. The Lmentble Stte nd Fte of the Rebels From Jeruslem (3:1 7) C. Judh Summoned to Wit for the Lord, Ultimtely to Enjoy Stisfction (3:8) IV. Restortion of Isrel s Remnnt: Lsting Joy s Motivtion for Witing on God (3:9 20) A. The Motivtion: Globl Slvtion (3:9 10) B. The Impct of Globl Slvtion for the Remnnt of Judh: Lsting Joy (3:11 20) 9780310438335_int_04b_ezek_ml_NIV_ZSB_PG CORR.indd 1841
ZEPHANIAH 1:1 2Ki 22:1; 2Ch 34:1-35:25 1:2 b Ge 6:7 1:3 c Jer 4:25 d Hos 4:3 1:4 e Jer 6:12 f Mic 5:13 g Hos 10:5 1:5 h Jer 5:7 1:6 i Is 1:4; Jer 2:13 j Is 9:13 k Hos 7:7 1 The word of the LORD tht cme to Zeph nih son of Cu shi, the son of Ged lih, the son of Am - rih, the son of Hez e kih, dur ing the reign of Jo sih son of Amon king of Ju dh: Judgment on the Whole Erth in the Dy of the LORD 2 I will sweep wy everything from the fce of the erth, b 3 I will sweep wy both mn nd best; I will sweep wy the birds in the sky c nd the fish in the se nd the idols tht cuse the wicked to stumble. When I destroy ll mnkind on the fce of the erth, d 4 I will stretch out my hnd e ginst Judh nd ginst ll who live in Jeruslem. I will destroy every remnnt of Bl worship in this plce, f the very nmes of the idoltrous priests g 5 those who bow down on the roofs to worship the strry host, those who bow down nd swer by the LORD nd who lso swer by Molek, b h 6 those who turn bck from following i the LORD nd neither seek j the LORD nor inquire k of him. 3 The mening of the Hebrew for this line is uncertin. b 5 Hebrew Mlkm declres the LORD. declres the LORD, 1:1 Superscription. See Introduction: Author; Dte. 1:2 18 Judgment on the Whole Erth in the Dy of the Lord: A Cll to Dredful Silence Before God. This sets context for the book s min exhorttions in chs. 2 3. Zephnih s listeners must puse in silence since Yhweh s impending judgment is ner. 1:2 6 The Reson for the Cll to Silence. Yhweh will judge the world in generl (vv. 2 3) nd Judh in prticulr (vv. 4 6) becuse of their idoltrous rebellion. 1:2 sweep wy everything. Echoes the flood judgment (Gen 6:7). Yhweh will destroy the proud rebel mjority by fire (3:8b; cf. 1:18) but preserve nd bless the penitent few (3:9 10,20). 1:3 mn... best... birds... fish. Specifies everything (v. 2) in the reverse order tht God creted them (Gen 1:20 28), suggesting tht the impending judgment will be de-cretion, prllel to the flood but now with fire (see note on v. 2). 1:4 remnnt of Bl worship. Remining pgn postsy. idoltrous priests. Priests were supposed to preserve holiness nd tech God s lw (Lev 10:10 11). The Hebrew rises the possibility of two corrupt groups of priests: foreign nd Isrelite. 1:5 worship the strry host. A sin tht corrupted the northern kingdom (2 Kgs 17:16) nd chrcterized the reigns of Mnsseh nd Amon (2 Kgs 21:3,5 6,21; cf. 2 Kgs 23:4 5,24). swer by the LORD nd... by Molek. Mke promises to Yhweh by Molek (cf. Deut 6:13; 10:20; Josh 23:7; 2 Kgs 23:10). God strongly condemned syncretism (2 Kgs 17:7 18; 21:2 9; 23:4 25). 1:6 those who turn bck. Covennt disloylty (Pss 44:18; 78:56 57; Is 59:13). Following God is the only mens to life (Mtt 7:13 14; John 14:6). 9780310438335_int_04b_ezek_ml_NIV_ZSB_PG CORR.indd 1842
ZEPHANIAH 1:14 1843 7 Be silent l before the Sovereign LORD, for the dy of the LORD m is ner. The LORD hs prepred scrifice; n he hs consecrted those he hs invited. 8 On the dy of the LORD s scrifice I will punish o the officils nd the king s sons p nd ll those cld in foreign clothes. 9 On tht dy I will punish ll who void stepping on the threshold, who fill the temple of their gods with violence nd deceit. q 10 On tht dy, declres the LORD, cry will go up from the Fish Gte, r wiling from the New Qurter, nd loud crsh from the hills. 11 Wil, s you who live in the mrket district b ; ll your merchnts will be wiped out, ll who trde with c silver will be destroyed. t 12 At tht time I will serch Jeruslem with lmps nd punish those who re complcent, u who re like wine left on its dregs, v who think, The LORD will do nothing, w either good or bd. 13 Their welth will be plundered, x their houses demolished. Though they build houses, they will not live in them; though they plnt vineyrds, they will not drink the wine. y 14 The gret dy of the LORD z is ner ner nd coming quickly. 9 See 1 Smuel 5:5. b 11 Or the Mortr c 11 Or in 1:7 l Hb 2:20; Zec 2:13 m ver 14; Is 13:6 n Is 34:6; Jer 46:10 1:8 o Is 24:21 p Jer 39:6 1:9 q Am 3:10 1:10 r 2Ch 33:14 1:11 s Js 5:1 t Hos 9:6 1:12 u Am 6:1 v Jer 48:11 w Eze 8:12 1:13 x Jer 15:13 y Dt 28:30, 39; Am 5:11; Mic 6:15 1:14 z ver 7; Joel 1:15 Eze 7:7 1:7 18 The Nture of the Cll to Silence. Like herld redying n udience for n ngry king s rrivl, Zephnih chrges his udience to become quiet (v. 7) becuse Yhweh will imminently judge Judh (vv. 7b 13) nd the whole world (vv. 14 18). 1:7 silent. A reverent hush demnded of courtiers in n erthly king s presence (cf. Judg 3:19) or of humns before Yhweh (Hb 2:20; Zech 2:13 [ be still ]). dy of the LORD. See note on Amos 2:16. prepred scrifice. To ppese Yhweh s just wrth ginst sin. For the dy of the Lord s scrifice, see Jer 46:10; Ezek 39:17,20 21. Christ s deth combines Yhweh s dy of judgment imgery with substitutionry scrifice (see Scrifice, p. 2656). those he hs invited. Either (1) the enemy invders (i.e., Bb ylon) whom Yhweh consecrted s gents in Judh s destruction (Is 13:3) or (2) the scrificil victims devoted to slughter (Jer 12:3), first from Judh (vv. 8 13) nd then from the rest of the erth (vv. 14 18). 1:8 officils... king s sons. Judh s public leders nd royl court. Their rebellion cused the ntion s destruction (cf. 3:3 4). foreign clothes. Signify pgn influence. 1:9 void stepping on the threshold. Probbly ssocited with pgn superstitious ctivity (see 1 Sm 5:3 5 nd note on 5:5). 1:10 Fish Gte... New Qurter. A min gte (2 Chr 33:14; Neh 3:3) nd importnt district (2 Kgs 22:14; 2 Chr 34:22) on the north side of Jeruslem, implying enemies would invde from the north. 1:11 mrket district. Where violence nd deceit flourished (v. 9; cf. 3:1) s the rich exploited the poor (cf. vv. 13,18). 1:12 serch... with lmps. Yhweh will find his enemies in the drk when lest expected. complcent. Cf. Amos 6:1; Mic 3:11; Ml 2:17. Rther thn diminishing fer of punishment or desire for blessing, God s delyed judgment should cuse people to be humble nd in we of his longsuffering mercy (see Exod 34:6 7). 1:13 welth... houses... vineyrds. God s judgment trgets flse securities (cf. vv. 11,18), likely gined by oppressing the wek (v. 9; cf. 3:1 4). not live in... not drink. Covennt curses (Deut 28:30 31,39), reversing the originl blessings (Deut 6:10 11). 1:14 gret dy. Not merely the dy s in vv. 7 10. This moves from Yhweh s impending punishment of Jeruslem to his finl judgment of the 9780310438335_int_04b_ezek_ml_NIV_ZSB_PG CORR.indd 1843
1844 ZEPHANIAH 1:15 1:15 b Is 22:5; Joel 2:2 1:16 c Jer 4:19 d Is 2:15 1:17 e Is 59:10 f Ps 79:3 g Jer 9:22 1:18 h Eze 7:19 i ver 2-3; Zep 3:8 j Ge 6:7 2:1 k 2Ch 20:4; Joel 1:14 l Jer 3:3; 6:15 2:2 m Is 17:13; Hos 13:3 n L 4:11 2:3 o Am 5:6 The cry on the dy of the LORD is bitter; the Mighty Wrrior shouts his bttle cry. 15 Tht dy will be dy of wrth dy of distress nd nguish, dy of trouble nd ruin, dy of drkness nd gloom, dy of clouds nd blckness b 16 dy of trumpet nd bttle cry c ginst the fortified cities nd ginst the corner towers. d 17 I will bring such distress on ll people tht they will grope bout like those who re blind, e becuse they hve sinned ginst the LORD. Their blood will be poured out f like dust nd their entrils like dung. g 18 Neither their silver nor their gold will be ble to sve them on the dy of the LORD s wrth. h In the fire of his jelousy the whole erth will be consumed, i for he will mke sudden end of ll who live on the erth. j Judh nd Jeruslem Judged Along With the Ntions Judh Summoned to Repent 2 Gther together, k gther yourselves together, you shmeful l ntion, 2 before the decree tkes effect nd tht dy psses like windblown chff, m before the LORD s fierce nger n comes upon you, before the dy of the LORD s wrth comes upon you. 3 Seek o the LORD, ll you humble of the lnd, you who do wht he commnds. world (cf. Joel 2:11,31; Ml 4:5; Acts 2:20; Rev 6:17; 16:14). Its inugurtion is Christ s deth nd resurrection (Acts 2:19 20), nd its consummtion will come t his second coming (cf. Rom 2:5; 2 Pet 3:7,10,12). ner. With respect to eternity nd God s timeline. Mighty Wrrior. Likely Yhweh (cf. 3:17) but possibly vlint soldier crying in defet. 1:15 drkness nd gloom... clouds nd blckness. Common ctclysmic imges (likely figurtive) ssocited with the dy of the Lord tht express God s fierce presence nd the reversl of cretion for those he judges (i.e., move bck to the stte of Gen 1:2). Cf. Joel 2:2,30 31; 3:15; Acts 2:20. 1:16 trumpet nd bttle cry. Alrms tht redy people for wr, often ssocited with Yhweh s judgment (Joel 2:1; Zech 9:14; cf. 1 Thess 4:16). 1:17 blind. A covennt curse (Deut 28:28 29) tht my point to spiritul disbility nd suggest tht sin not only deserves judgment but is judgment (cf. Rom 1:24,26,28). 1:18 silver... gold. Either money (vv. 8,11,13) or idols shped from it (vv. 3,5). sve. Cf. 1 Pet 1:18 19. fire of his jelousy. Cf. 3:8. Yhweh s pssion for highest llegince (Deut 5:7 10) is often ssocited with his inflmed zel for worship (Deut 4:24; 6:15; Ps 79:5), which would soon burst forth in unquenchble fires of wrth ginst the ungodly of the erth (Deut 32:21 22; Heb 10:27; 2 Pet 3:10 13; Rev 20:14 15), prlleling the flood judgment by wter (see notes on 1:2 3; 2 Pet 3:5 7). 2:1 3:8 Judh nd Jeruslem Judged Along With the Ntions: Clls to Repent nd to Wit for God. The book s min section clls the remnnt of Judh to repent (2:1 3) nd wit for God (3:8). These two chrges frme 2:4 3:7, which highlights the lmentble stte nd fte of the rebels from the foreign ntions (2:4 15) nd from Jeruslem (3:1 7) in order to clrify why Judh should turn to Yhweh. 2:1 3 Judh Summoned to Repent Before the Lord to Avoid Judgment. Repentnce entils gthering together (vv. 1 2) nd seeking Yhweh (v. 3). 2:1 Gther. Like desirble strw or grin is collected fter being seprted from the chff (cf. v. 2), the remnnt of the fithful must join in unity (cf. Heb 3:13; 10:24 25). shmeful. Since the word for silver (cf. 1:18) is bsed on the sme three Hebrew letters s shmeful, the prophet cknowledges tht prt of their shme is tht they were relying on silver insted of on God. 2:2 There is still opportunity to repent, but it is fleeting. 2:3 Seek the LORD. Pursue God (cf. 1:6; 3:2; Pss 27:8; 105:3). humble. Ernestly nd dependently trusting Yhweh (3:12). righteousness. Cor- 9780310438335_int_04b_ezek_ml_NIV_ZSB_PG CORR.indd 1844
ZEPHANIAH 2:9 1845 Philisti Seek righteousness, seek humility; p perhps you will be sheltered q on the dy of the LORD s nger. 4 Gz r will be bndoned nd Ashkelon left in ruins. At middy Ashdod will be emptied nd Ekron uprooted. 5 Woe to you who live by the se, you Kerethite s people; the word of the LORD is ginst you, t Cnn, lnd of the Philistines. He sys, I will destroy you, nd none will be left. u 6 The lnd by the se will become pstures hving wells for shepherds nd pens for flocks. v 7 Tht lnd will belong to the remnnt of the people of Judh; there they will find psture. In the evening they will lie down in the houses of Ashkelon. The LORD their God will cre for them; he will restore their fortunes. w 2:3 p Ps 45:4; Am 5:14-15 q Ps 57:1 2:4 r Am 1:6, 7-8; Zec 9:5-7 2:5 s Eze 25:16 t Am 3:1 u Is 14:30 2:6 v Is 5:17 2:7 w Ps 126:4; Jer 32:44 2:8 x Jer 48:27 y Eze 25:3 Mob nd Ammon 8 I hve herd the insults x of Mob nd the tunts of the Ammonites, who insulted y my people nd mde threts ginst their lnd. 9 Therefore, s surely s I live, declres the LORD Almighty, the God of Isrel, 7 Or will bring bck their cptives rect order in the cosmos (Ps 89:14) nd community (Deut 16:20), thus commonly ssocited with cts of justice, especilly for the mrginlized (cf. 1:9; 3:1 5). See Mtt 6:33. 2:4 3:7 Resons for the Summons to Repent nd Wit. Beginning with sttement of judgment in 2:4, this two-prt unit provides the logicl bsis for the chrges to seek Yhweh (2:3) nd wit for him (3:8) tht frme it. Judh should repent nd ptiently trust Yhweh for two resons: he will judge his enemies from the foreign ntions where Judh might seek protection (2:4 15) nd the rebels from Jeruslem itself (3:1 7). After the initil punishment declred in 2:4, ech reson begins with woe (2:5; 3:1). 2:4 15 The Lmentble Stte nd Fte of the Rebels From the Foreign Ntions. God will punish those surrounding Judh: the Philistines to the west (vv. 4 7), the Mobites nd Ammonites to the est (vv. 8 11), nd the Cushites nd Assyrins to the south nd north (vv. 12 15). God s judgment encircles Judh, so they cnnot escpe; therefore, their only hope is to repent. 2:4 Judh must repent becuse Yhweh s judgment will fll very close to home, including on the foreign rebels from nerby Philisti. (In Hebrew, v. 4 begins with Becuse. ) Gz... Ashkelon... Ashdod... Ekron. Four of the five min Philistine cities, listed from south to north. 2:5 Woe. Prllels the woe of 3:1; used to express disgust over covennt rebellion (e.g., Hb 2:12,19) or dismy over impending doom (e.g., Jer 30:7). Kerethite people. The Philistines (Ezek 25:16). 2:6 pstures. Depicts fertility nd pece, which God s people will enjoy (v. 7), ultimtely through the one gret shepherd in the line of Judh (Ezek 34:23; Mic 5:4; John 10:14 16; Rev 7:16 17). 2:7 remnnt. Humble, fithful, God-trusting Judhites (v. 9; 3:12 13, 17 20; cf. 2 Kgs 19:31). Yhweh will preserve them through the destruction nd stisfy them. lie down in the houses of Ashkelon. Restores originl covennt blessings (Deut 6:10 11; see note on 1:13) but outside the originl promised lnd. This suggests tht God s erthly sovereignty, mnifest first in the Grden of Eden nd then in Zion nd the promised lnd (Exod 15:17; Ps 78:54), is now beginning to expnd to include the whole erth, which ws the gol from the beginning (Gen 1:28; cf. Jer 3:16 17; Mtt 5:5; Rom 4:13; Rev 21:2,10 27). See Temple, p. 2652, nd The City of God, p. 2666. restore their fortunes. Bless them irreversibly in the future ge of new cretion nd new covennt (see 3:20; cf. Deut 30:3; Jer 30:18; Joel 3:1). 2:8 Cf. Jer 48:27 30. Mob... Ammonites. Judh s cousins (see Gen 19:36 38). They were proud (see note on v. 10). 2:9 like Sodom... like Gomorrh. See Gen 19 nd notes. This 9780310438335_int_04b_ezek_ml_NIV_ZSB_PG CORR.indd 1845
1846 ZEPHANIAH 2:10 2:9 z Is 15:1-16:14; Jer 48:1-47 Dt 29:23 b Jer 49:1-6; Eze 25:1-7 c Is 11:14 d Am 2:1-3 2:10 e Is 16:6 f Jer 48:27 2:11 g Joel 2:11 h Zep 1:4 i Zep 3:9 2:12 j Is 18:1; 20:4 k Jer 46:10 2:13 l N 1:1 m Mic 5:6 2:14 n Is 14:23 2:15 o Is 32:9 p Is 47:8 q Eze 28:2 r N 3:19 surely Mob z will become like Sodom, the Ammonites b like Gomorrh plce of weeds nd slt pits, wstelnd forever. The remnnt of my people will plunder c them; the survivors of my ntion will inherit their lnd. d 10 This is wht they will get in return for their pride, e for insulting f nd mocking the people of the LORD Almighty. 11 The LORD will be wesome g to them when he destroys ll the gods h of the erth. Distnt ntions will bow down to him, i ll of them in their own lnds. Cush 12 You Cushites, j too, will be slin by my sword. k Assyri 13 He will stretch out his hnd ginst the north nd destroy Assyri, leving Nineveh l utterly desolte nd dry s the desert. m 14 Flocks nd herds will lie down there, cretures of every kind. The desert owl n nd the screech owl will roost on her columns. Their hooting will echo through the windows, rubble will fill the doorwys, the bems of cedr will be exposed. 15 This is the city of revelry o tht lived in sfety. p She sid to herself, I m the one! And there is none besides me. q Wht ruin she hs become, lir for wild bests! All who pss by her scoff r nd shke their fists. 12 Tht is, people from the upper Nile region comprison stresses the ominous severity of Yhweh s judgment ginst the Mobites nd Ammonites by ironiclly linking it with the very cities he destroyed in the dys of Lot (Gen 19:24 25), the progenitor of these people groups (see note on 2:8). Agin Zephnih portrys the dy of the Lord s reversing the creted order (see note on 1:3). Biblicl uthors mke similr comprisons elsewhere when ddressing God s judgment ginst the ungodly (2 Pet 2:6; Rev 11:8) be they from Isrel (Deut 29:23; 32:32; Lm 4:6; Amos 4:11; Mtt 10:15; 11:24; cf. Is 1:9 10; 3:9; Jer 23:14; Ezek 16:46 56) or the ntions (Is 13:19; Jer 49:18; 50:40). inherit their lnd. See note on v. 7. 2:10 pride. Self-relince or self-exlttion, regulr problem for Isrel s neighbors to the est (see v. 8; Is 16:6). See Prov 16:18; Js 4:6; 1 Pet 5:5. 2:11 ll the gods. Cf. Pss 95:3; 96:4 5; 97:7,9. Distnt ntions will bow down. Foreigners will py homge to Yhweh, whether s defeted rebels (Is 45:14) or the worshiping remnnt (3:9 10). Cf. Phil 2:10 11. 2:12 Cushites. Blck Africns from ncient Ethiopi in the region of modern Sudn, the southernmost empire of the known world t tht time (see NIV text note). They controlled Egypt c. 715 663 BC. 2:13 Assyri... Nineveh. See Introduction to Nhum. 2:14 15 Such will be the devsttion of the city tht fils to surrender to Yhweh. Animls will replce humns s the inhbitnts of wht ws the center of humn power. 2:15 Speks s if God hs lredy destroyed Assyri. sfety. Flse security (see Ps 118:8 9; Jer 17:5; cf. 1:18). none besides me. Cf. Is 45:5 6,18,21 22; 46:9. 9780310438335_int_04b_ezek_ml_NIV_ZSB_PG CORR.indd 1846
ZEPHANIAH 3:8 1847 Jeruslem 3 Woe to the city of oppressors, s rebellious nd defiled! t 2 She obeys u no one, she ccepts no correction. v She does not trust in the LORD, she does not drw ner w to her God. 3 Her officils within her re roring lions; her rulers re evening wolves, x who leve nothing for the morning. 4 Her prophets re unprincipled; they re trecherous people. y Her priests profne the snctury nd do violence to the lw. z 5 The LORD within her is righteous; he does no wrong. Morning by morning he dispenses his justice, nd every new dy he does not fil, yet the unrighteous know no shme. 3:1 s Jer 6:6 t Eze 23:30 3:2 u Jer 22:21 v Jer 7:28 w Ps 73:28; Jer 5:3 3:3 x Eze 22:27 3:4 y Jer 9:4 z Eze 22:26 3:5 Dt 32:4 3:6 b Lev 26:31 3:7 c Hos 9:9 3:8 d Ps 27:14 Jeruslem Remins Unrepentnt 6 I hve destroyed ntions; their strongholds re demolished. I hve left their streets deserted, with no one pssing through. Their cities re lid wste; b they re deserted nd empty. 7 Of Jeruslem I thought, Surely you will fer me nd ccept correction! Then her plce of refuge would not be destroyed, nor ll my punishments come upon b her. But they were still eger to ct corruptly c in ll they did. 8 Therefore wit d for me, declres the LORD, for the dy I will stnd up to testify. c 7 Or her snctury b 7 Or ll those I ppointed over c 8 Septugint nd Syric; Hebrew will rise up to plunder 3:1 7 The Lmentble Stte nd Fte of the Rebels From Jeruslem. God will judge not only those surrounding Isrel (2:4 15) but Jeruslem itself. 3:1 Woe. See 2:5. city of oppressors. Cf. vv. 3 5; 1:9; Ezek 22:6 7,29. Cf. lso Js 1:27. rebellious nd defiled! Though God clled Isrel to be holy (see Holiness, p. 2676). 3:2 obeys no one. Cf. Jer 7:28; 22:21. ccepts no correction. Stubborn nd unlerning (v. 7). does not trust. Cf. Pss 62:8; 115:9 11; cf. lso Jer 17:5 8. drw ner. Probbly shorthnd (when pired with trusting God nd linked to the imgery of scrifice in 1:7 8) for pproching Yhweh through his provision of scrificil tonement. As the supreme svior, sovereign, nd stisfier of the world, God promises to meet ll who drw ner to him (Js 4:8). In the new covennt, we drw ner to God only through Jesus blood nd righteousness (Eph 2:13; Heb 7:19). 3:3 Rther thn gurding the people like shepherds protect sheep, the rulers bused them like wild bests devour prey (Ezek 22:25,27; Mic 3:1 3). 3:4 Rther thn representing Yhweh ccurtely, s his mouthpiece or his mbssdor, the (flse) prophets spred lies (cf. Ezek 13) nd the priests filed to preserve holiness nd tech God s lw (Lev 10:10 11). 3:5 righteous. Preserves nd displys right order (see note on 2:3). See Deut 32:4. 3:6 destroyed ntions. Cf. 2:4 15. This destruction should motivte Judh to fer Yhweh (v. 7). 3:7 fer. Respect or worship (see note on Prov 1:7; cf. Eccl 12:13; Mtt 10:28). my punishments. The covennt curses, which remove ll provision nd protection (Lev 26:14 33; Deut 28:15 68). ct corruptly. Prllels wht brought bout the flood (Gen 6:11 12). See notes on 1:2,18. 3:8 Judh Summoned to Wit for the Lord, Ultimtely to Enjoy 9780310438335_int_04b_ezek_ml_NIV_ZSB_PG CORR.indd 1847
1848 ZEPHANIAH 3:9 3:8 e Joel 3:2 f Zep 1:18 3:9 g Zep 2:11 h Is 19:18 3:10 i Ps 68:31 j Is 60:7 3:11 k Joel 2:26-27 3:12 l Is 14:32 m N 1:7 I hve decided to ssemble the ntions, e to gther the kingdoms nd to pour out my wrth on them ll my fierce nger. The whole world will be consumed f by the fire of my jelous nger. Restortion of Isrel s Remnnt 9 Then I will purify the lips of the peoples, tht ll of them my cll g on the nme of the LORD nd serve h him shoulder to shoulder. 10 From beyond the rivers of Cush i my worshipers, my scttered people, will bring me offerings. j 11 On tht dy you, Jeruslem, will not be put to shme k for ll the wrongs you hve done to me, becuse I will remove from you your rrognt bosters. Never gin will you be hughty on my holy hill. 12 But I will leve within you the meek l nd humble. The remnnt of Isrel will trust m in the nme of the LORD. 10 Tht is, the upper Nile region Stisfction. The therefore signls tht Zephnih is now drwing n inference from the bilterl ground of 2:4 3:7 nd returning to the primry line of commnd begun t 2:1 3 (see note t 2:4 3:7). The chrge to wit for Yhweh in 3:8 stnds s counterprt to the ple to repent in 2:1 3, nd those who obey the cll will experience lsting joy on the other side of judgment (vv. 9 20). 3:8 Therefore. Likely introduces necessry, pproprite logicl inference from the ground in 2:4 3:7 (see note there). wit. Possibly dred of future punishment but probbly ptient, persistent hoping for slvtion through judgment (e.g., Ps 33:20). Judh must continue to wit for Yhweh becuse his judgment on the rebel ntions is coming but delyed. (In Hebrew, becuse precedes I hve decided. ) testify. As both righteous ccuser nd judge. fire of my jelous nger. See note on 1:18. 3:9 20 Restortion of Isrel s Remnnt: Lsting Joy s Motivtion for Witing on God. The ultimte motivtion for witing for God (v. 8) is eternl joy. The vision of redeemed community of worshipers mde up of ethnic Isrelites nd others from the ntions points to the recretion of unified humnity fulfilling its purpose, now eternlly relized in the church (Mtt 28:18 20; Rom 11; Eph 2:11 22; Rev 5:9 10; 7:9 10). 3:9 10 The Motivtion: Globl Slvtion. Judh must continue to wit for Yhweh (v. 8) becuse, when he judges s covennt witness, he will trnsform peoples from ll over the world into true worshipers. (In Hebrew, becuse or for precedes then in v. 9.) 3:9 Then. Corresponds to on tht dy in vv. 11,16. purify the lips. Clense speech (cf. Is 6:5 7). This likely lludes to reversl of the tower of Bbel episode, where Yhweh confused the world s lnguges becuse of the people s pride (Gen 11:7 9). the peoples. Those from Judh nd the ntions whom Yhweh preserved through judgment. cll on. Depend on Yhweh s the svior, sovereign, nd stisfier (Ps 116:4,13,17; Joel 2:32; Acts 2:21; Rom 10:13; cf. Zeph 3:12). 3:10 rivers. Likely the White Nile nd Blue Nile, the two min tributries of the Nile River in northest Afric, the region of modern Sudn (cf. Is 18:1 2). Cush my worshipers. Even the most distnt lnds will hve remnnt of worshipers (see NIV text note), s if following the rivers of life bck up to the Grden of Eden for fellowship with the gret King (Gen 2:13). The Ethiopin eunuch (from the re of modern Sudn) in Acts 8:26 39 gives evidence of the initil fulfillment of this prophecy. my scttered. Yhweh reverses Isrel s exile (Deut 30:3; Ezek 11:17) nd the tower of Bbel episode (Gen 11:8 9; see note on v. 9). Cf. John 11:51 52. offerings. Tngible gifts of prise. Those who were once enemies of God now gther to py homge to their King (Is 18:7; 60:4 7; 66:20; Zech 14:16), with some even serving s priests (Is 66:21; cf. Is 56:6; 60:7). The NT trets ll Christins s priests who, in light of the completed nd sufficient scrificil nd priestly work of Christ (Heb 2:17; 9:7,11 14), now offer God spiritul scrifices of prise expressed in doing good, shring, nd using their spiritul gifts (Rom 12:1; Heb 13:15 16; 1 Pet 2:5; cf. 1 Pet 2:9; Rev 5:10). 3:11 20 The Impct of Globl Slvtion for the Remnnt of Judh: Lsting Joy. This is wht the globl trnsformtion in vv. 8 10 implies: God will remove the proud nd preserve the God-dependent (vv. 11 13), who will joyfully sing in the wke of his irreversible victory (vv. 14 15), nd he will deliver nd delight in them (vv. 16 20). So the cll to ptiently pursue Yhweh tht shpes the book s body (2:1 3; 3:8) is nothing less thn summons to stisfction (see Introduction: Messge). 3:11 On tht dy. When Yhweh crries out his judicil decision (v. 8; lso v. 16). put to shme. Humilited, dishonored (v. 19). becuse. Introduces two resons tht Yhweh s judgment will not disgrce Jeruslem: he will remove the proud (v. 11b) nd preserve the humble (v. 12). 3:12 remnnt. See note on 2:7. trust. See note on v. 9. 9780310438335_int_04b_ezek_ml_NIV_ZSB_PG CORR.indd 1848
ZEPHANIAH 3:19 1849 13 They n will do no wrong; o they will tell no lies. p A deceitful tongue will not be found in their mouths. They will et nd lie down q nd no one will mke them frid. r 14 Sing, Dughter Zion; s shout loud, t Isrel! Be gld nd rejoice with ll your hert, Dughter Jeruslem! 15 The LORD hs tken wy your punishment, he hs turned bck your enemy. The LORD, the King of Isrel, is with you; u never gin will you fer v ny hrm. 16 On tht dy they will sy to Jeruslem, Do not fer, Zion; do not let your hnds hng limp. w 17 The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Wrrior who sves. x He will tke gret delight y in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing. 18 I will remove from you ll who mourn over the loss of your ppointed festivls, which is burden nd reproch for you. 19 At tht time I will del with ll who oppressed you. I will rescue the lme; I will gther the exiles. z I will give them prise nd honor in every lnd where they hve suffered shme. 3:13 n Is 10:21; Mic 4:7 o Ps 119:3 p Rev 14:5 q Eze 34:15; Zep 2:7 r Eze 34:25-28 3:14 s Zec 2:10 t Is 12:6 3:15 u Eze 37:26-28 v Is 54:14 3:16 w Job 4:3; Is 35:3-4; Heb 12:12 3:17 x Is 63:1 y Is 62:4 3:19 z Eze 34:16; Mic 4:6 Is 60:18 3:13 no lies. Becuse of Yhweh s speech-purifying work (v. 9; see Rev 14:5). et nd lie down nd no one will mke them frid. Like sheep under the cre of good shepherd (Ps 23). 3:14 15 An ode to joy expressing wholeherted delight in ll God hs won (cf. Is 65:18). 3:14 Dughter Zion... Dughter Jeruslem. No longer the city of oppressors (v. 1); now the object of Yhweh s sving love. 3:15 Jeruslem should celebrte (v. 14) becuse judgment dy is over (stted s if it is lredy ccomplished). hs tken wy your punishment. God ultimtely removes his wrth nd curse through Christ (Rom 5:9; 8:1; Gl 3:13 14). King of Isrel. See Introduction to Pslms: Theology of the Pslms. Highlights Yhweh s reign over restored, unified people. The rulers of Isrel nd Judh were lwys to represent, rther thn replce, Yhweh s kingship (cf. Num 23:21; Deut 33:5; 1 Sm 8:7; Ezek 20:33). While the OT never refers to the Messinic royl deliverer with the title King of Isrel, it clerly declres tht Yhweh s reign will be relized through his royl son (e.g., Gen 49:8; Num 24:17 19; 1 Sm 2:10; Ps 2:8,12; Is 9:5 7; 11:1 4; Jer 23:5 6; Ezek 34:23 24). Furthermore, the NT pplies the title to Jesus the Messih (Mtt 27:42; Mrk 15:32; John 1:49; 12:13; cf. Mtt 2:2; 28:18; Luke 1:32 33; Heb 1:8), nd when speking of Jesus Triumphl Entry into Jeruslem in John 12:13, John ppers to pply to Jesus the mention of Yhweh s reign in Zeph 3:15 16. with you. The eschtologicl promise of God s enduring Spirit-presence in the midst of his people tht enbles holiness nd brings security (Ezek 36:27; 37:26 28; Zech 2:10). Jesus hs inugurted the fulfillment of these promises, for he is God with us (Mtt 1:23; John 1:14) nd indwells the church through his Spirit (Mtt 28:20; John 14:16 20; Rom 8:9 10; cf. Rev 21:3). 3:16 hnds hng limp. Symbolizes discourgement. 3:17 Mighty Wrrior. Cf. 1:14. Yhweh is the supreme soldier (Ps 24:8). tke gret delight. Rejoice like bridegroom delights in his bride (Is 62:4 5). with singing. Cf. 3:14. Yhweh delights in his beloved (cf. Is 65:18 19). 3:18 The suffering rebels tht Yhweh removed from his remnnt were reproch to Jeruslem (cf. v. 11). ppointed festivls. Possibly refers to festivl (e.g., Is 33:20) but could lso be time of judgment like the dy of the Lord (Hb 2:3). An lterntive rendering of this verse is: Those mourning/suffering from the ppointed time [i.e., the dy of judgment] I removed from you; they were burden on her [i.e., Jeruslem], reproch (cf. v. 11). 3:19 rescue the lme. The wek nd humble tht the rebel mjority bused (1:9; 3:1 2; cf. Ezek 34:21) re the very ones upon whom Yhweh s justice would shine (3:5; cf. 2:3; 3:12; Deut 10:17 18). God would deliver the broken (Mic 4:6 7; cf. Is 35:6; Jer 31:8; Ezek 34:16), for to them belong the kingdom nd its comfort (Mtt 5:3 4). Christ s own ministry of mercy proved tht he ws inugurting this eschtologicl 9780310438335_int_04b_ezek_ml_NIV_ZSB_PG CORR.indd 1849
1850 ZEPHANIAH 3:20 3:20 b Jer 29:14; Eze 37:12 c Is 56:5; 66:22 d Joel 3:1 20 At tht time I will gther you; t tht time I will bring b you home. I will give you honor c nd prise mong ll the peoples of the erth when I restore your fortunes d before your very eyes, 20 Or I bring bck your cptives sys the LORD. ge of rescue (Mtt 11:5; Luke 7:22; cf. Is 42:3; 61:1 3; Mtt 15:30 31; 21:14; Luke 14:21), nd through his church comprble cts of heling nd restortion re to continue until the consummtion (Acts 3:1 10; 8:5 8; 14:8 10; 20:35; 1 Thess 5:14; Heb 12:13; Js 1:27). prise nd honor. The Hebrew cn lso be trnslted for prise nd for honor, which suggests tht dmirtion nd cclim would be given not to the remnnt of Judh but to God (Jer 33:9; cf. Ezek 36:23). 3:20 restore your fortunes. See note on 2:7. sys the LORD. The book ends where it begn (1:1): these words re from God nd re therefore utterly trustworthy. 9780310438335_int_04b_ezek_ml_NIV_ZSB_PG CORR.indd 1850