8 And it shall come to pass in the day H3117 of the LORD'S H3068 sacrifice, H2077 that I will punish H6485 the princes, H8269 and the king's H4428 children, H1121 and all such as are clothed H3847 with strange H5237 apparel. H4403
And his servants H5650 carried him in a chariot H7392 dead H4191 from Megiddo, H4023 and brought H935 him to Jerusalem, H3389 and buried H6912 him in his own sepulchre. H6900 And the people H5971 of the land H776 took H3947 Jehoahaz H3059 the son H1121 of Josiah, H2977 and anointed H4886 him, and made him king H4427 in his father's H1 stead. Jehoahaz H3059 was twenty H6242 and three H7969 years H8141 old H1121 when he began to reign; H4427 and he reigned H4427 three H7969 months H2320 in Jerusalem. H3389 And his mother's H517 name H8034 was Hamutal, H2537 the daughter H1323 of Jeremiah H3414 of Libnah. H3841 And he did H6213 that which was evil H7451 in the sight H5869 of the LORD, H3068 according to all that his fathers H1 had done. H6213 And Pharaohnechoh H6549 put him in bands H631 at Riblah H7247 in the land H776 of Hamath, H2574 that he might not reign H4427 in Jerusalem; H3389 and put H5414 the land H776 to a tribute H6066 of an hundred H3967 talents H3603 of silver, H3701 and a talent H3603 of gold. H2091 And Pharaohnechoh H6549 made Eliakim H471 the son H1121 of Josiah H2977 king H4427 in the room of Josiah H2977 his father, H1 and turned H5437 his name H8034 to Jehoiakim, H3079 and took H3947 Jehoahaz H3059 away: H3947 and he came H935 to Egypt, H4714 and died H4191 there.
And Jehoiachin H3078 the king H4428 of Judah H3063 went out H3318 to the king H4428 of Babylon, H894 he, and his mother, H517 and his servants, H5650 and his princes, H8269 and his officers: H5631 and the king H4428 of Babylon H894 took H3947 him in the eighth H8083 year H8141 of his reign. H4427 And he carried out H3318 thence all the treasures H214 of the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 and the treasures H214 of the king's H4428 house, H1004 and cut in pieces H7112 all the vessels H3627 of gold H2091 which Solomon H8010 king H4428 of Israel H3478 had made H6213 in the temple H1964 of the LORD, H3068 as the LORD H3068 had said. H1696
So they took H8610 the king, H4428 and brought him up H5927 to the king H4428 of Babylon H894 to Riblah; H7247 and they gave H1696 judgment H4941 upon him. And they slew H7819 the sons H1121 of Zedekiah H6667 before his eyes, H5869 and put out H5786 the eyes H5869 of Zedekiah, H6667 and bound H631 him with fetters H5178 of brass, H5178 and carried H935 him to Babylon. H894
And out of the city H5892 he took H3947 an H259 officer H5631 that was set H6496 over the men H582 of war, H4421 and five H2568 men H582 of them that were H7200 in the king's H4428 presence, H6440 which were found H4672 in the city, H5892 and the principal H8269 scribe H5608 of the host, H6635 which mustered H6633 the people H5971 of the land, H776 and threescore H8346 men H376 of the people H5971 of the land H776 that were found H4672 in the city: H5892 And Nebuzaradan H5018 captain H7227 of the guard H2876 took H3947 these, and brought H3212 them to the king H4428 of Babylon H894 to Riblah: H7247 And the king H4428 of Babylon H894 smote H5221 them, and slew H4191 them at Riblah H7247 in the land H776 of Hamath. H2574 So Judah H3063 was carried away H1540 out of their land. H127
In that day H3117 the Lord H136 will take away H5493 the bravery H8597 of their tinkling ornaments H5914 about their feet, and their cauls, H7636 and their round tires like the moon, H7720 The chains, H5188 and the bracelets, H8285 and the mufflers, H7479 The bonnets, H6287 and the ornaments of the legs, H6807 and the headbands, H7196 and the tablets, H5315 H1004 and the earrings, H3908 The rings, H2885 and nose H639 jewels, H5141 The changeable suits of apparel, H4254 and the mantles, H4595 and the wimples, H4304 and the crisping pins, H2754 The glasses, H1549 and the fine linen, H5466 and the hoods, H6797 and the vails. H7289 And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell H1314 there shall be stink; H4716 and instead of a girdle H2290 a rent; H5364 and instead of well set H4639 hair H4748 baldness; H7144 and instead of a stomacher H6614 a girding H4228 of sackcloth; H8242 and burning H3587 instead of beauty. H3308
For thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 touching H413 Shallum H7967 the son H1121 of Josiah H2977 king H4428 of Judah, H3063 which reigned H4427 instead of Josiah H2977 his father, H1 which went forth H3318 out of this place; H4725 He shall not return H7725 thither any more: But he shall die H4191 in the place H4725 whither they have led him captive, H1540 and shall see H7200 this land H776 no more. Woe H1945 unto him that buildeth H1129 his house H1004 by H3808 unrighteousness, H6664 and his chambers H5944 by wrong; H4941 that useth his neighbour's H7453 service H5647 without wages, H2600 and giveth H5414 him not for his work; H6467 That saith, H559 I will build H1129 me a wide H4060 house H1004 and large H7304 chambers, H5944 and cutteth him out H7167 windows; H2474 and it is cieled H5603 with cedar, H730 and painted H4886 with vermilion. H8350 Shalt thou reign, H4427 because thou closest H8474 thyself in cedar? H730 did not thy father H1 eat H398 and drink, H8354 and do H6213 judgment H4941 and justice, H6666 and then it was well H2896 with him? He judged H1777 the cause H1779 of the poor H6041 and needy; H34 then it was well H2896 with him: was not this to know H1847 me? saith H5002 the LORD. H3068 But thine eyes H5869 and thine heart H3820 are not but for thy covetousness, H1215 and for to shed H8210 innocent H5355 blood, H1818 and for oppression, H6233 and for violence, H4835 to do H6213 it. Therefore thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 concerning Jehoiakim H3079 the son H1121 of Josiah H2977 king H4428 of Judah; H3063 They shall not lament H5594 for him, saying, Ah H1945 my brother! H251 or, Ah H1945 sister! H269 they shall not lament H5594 for him, saying, Ah H1945 lord! H113 or, Ah H1945 his glory! H1935 He shall be buried H6912 with the burial H6900 of an ass, H2543 drawn H5498 and cast forth H7993 beyond H1973 the gates H8179 of Jerusalem. H3389
As I live, H2416 saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 though Coniah H3659 the son H1121 of Jehoiakim H3079 king H4428 of Judah H3063 were the signet H2368 upon my right H3225 hand, H3027 yet would I pluck H5423 thee thence; And I will give H5414 thee into the hand H3027 of them that seek H1245 thy life, H5315 and into the hand H3027 of them whose face H6440 thou fearest, H3016 even into the hand H3027 of Nebuchadrezzar H5019 king H4428 of Babylon, H894 and into the hand H3027 of the Chaldeans. H3778 And I will cast thee out, H2904 and thy mother H517 that bare H3205 thee, into another H312 country, H776 where ye were not born; H3205 and there shall ye die. H4191 But to the land H776 whereunto they desire H5375 H5315 to return, H7725 thither shall they not return. H7725 Is this man H376 Coniah H3659 a despised H959 broken H5310 idol? H6089 is he a vessel H3627 wherein is no pleasure? H2656 wherefore are they cast out, H7993 he and his seed, H2233 and are cast H2904 into a land H776 which they know H3045 not? O earth, H776 earth, H776 earth, H776 hear H8085 the word H1697 of the LORD. H3068 Thus saith H559 the LORD, H3068 Write H3789 ye this man H376 childless, H6185 a man H1397 that shall not prosper H6743 in his days: H3117 for no man H376 of his seed H2233 shall prosper, H6743 sitting H3427 upon the throne H3678 of David, H1732 and ruling H4910 any more in Judah. H3063
Then the king H4428 of Babylon H894 slew H7819 the sons H1121 of Zedekiah H6667 in Riblah H7247 before his eyes: H5869 also the king H4428 of Babylon H894 slew H7819 all the nobles H2715 of Judah. H3063 Moreover he put out H5786 Zedekiah's H6667 eyes, H5869 and bound H631 him with chains, H5178 to carry H935 him to Babylon. H894
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Zephaniah 1
Commentary on Zephaniah 1 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 1
Zep 1:1-18. God's Severe Judgment on Judah for Its Idolatry and Neglect of Him: The Rapid Approach of the Judgment, and the Impossibility of Escape.
1. days of Josiah—Had their idolatries been under former kings, they might have said, Our kings have forced us to this and that. But under Josiah, who did all in his power to reform them, they have no such excuse.
son of Amon—the idolater, whose bad practices the Jews clung to, rather than the good example of Josiah, his son; so incorrigible were they in sin.
Judah—Israel's ten tribes had gone into captivity before this.
2. utterly consume—from a root to "sweep away," or "scrape off utterly." See Jer 8:13, Margin, and here.
from off the land—of Judah.
3. Enumeration in detail of the "all things" (Zep 1:2; compare Jer 9:10; Ho 4:3).
the stumbling-blocks—idols which cause Judah to offend or stumble (Eze 14:3, 4, 7).
with the wicked—The idols and their worshippers shall be involved in a common destruction.
4. stretch out mine hand—indicating some remarkable and unusual work of vengeance (Isa 5:25; 9:12, 17, 21).
Judah—including Benjamin. These two tribes are to suffer, which thought themselves perpetually secure, because they escaped the captivity in which the ten tribes were involved.
Jerusalem—the fountainhead of the evil. God begins with His sanctuary (Eze 9:6), and those who are nigh Him (Le 10:3).
the remnant of Baal—the remains of Baal worship, which as yet Josiah was unable utterly to eradicate in remote places. Baal was the Phœnician tutelary god. From the time of the Judges (Jud 2:13), Israel had fallen into this idolatry; and Manasseh lately had set up this idol within Jehovah's temple itself (2Ki 21:3, 5, 7). Josiah began his reformation in the twelfth year of his reign (2Ch 34:4, 8), and in the eighteenth had as far as possible completed it.
Chemarims—idol priests, who had not reached the age of puberty; meaning "ministers of the gods" [Servius on Æneid, 11], the same name as the Tyrian Camilli, r and l being interchangeable (compare Ho 10:5, Margin). Josiah is expressly said (2Ki 23:5, Margin) to have "put down the Chemarim." The Hebrew root means "black" (from the black garments which they wore or the marks which they branded on their foreheads); or "zealous," from their idolatrous fanaticism. The very "name," as well as themselves, shall be forgotten.
the priests—of Jehovah, of Aaronic descent, who ought to have used all their power to eradicate, but who secretly abetted, idolatry (compare Zep 3:4; Eze 8:1-18; 22:26; 44:10). From the priests Zephaniah passes to the people.
5. worship the host of heaven—Saba: whence, in contrast to Sabeanism, Jehovah is called Lord of Sabaoth.
upon the housetops—which were flat (2Ki 23:5, 6, 12; Jer 19:13; 32:29).
swear by the Lord—rather, "swear to Jehovah" (2Ch 15:14); solemnly dedicating themselves to Him (compare Isa 48:1; Ho 4:15).
and—"and yet (with strange inconsistency, 1Ki 18:21; Eze 20:39; Mt 6:24) swear by Malcham," that is, "their king" [Maurer]: the same as Molech (see on Am 5:25), and "Milcom the god of … Ammon" (1Ki 11:33). If Satan have half the heart, he will have all; if the Lord have but half offered to Him, He will have none.
6. This verse describes more comprehensively those guilty of defection from Jehovah in any way (Jer 2:13, 17).
7. Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord—(Hab 2:20). Let the earth be silent at His approach [Maurer]. Or, "Thou whosoever hast been wont to speak against God, as if He had no care about earthly affairs, cease thy murmurs and self-justifications; submit thyself to God, and repent in time" [Calvin].
Lord … prepared a sacrifice—namely, a slaughter of the guilty Jews, the victims due to His justice (Isa 34:6; Jer 46:10; Eze 39:17).
bid his guests—literally, "sanctified His called ones" (compare Isa 13:3). It enhances the bitterness of the judgment that the heathen Chaldeans should be sanctified, or consecrated as it were, by God as His priests, and be called to eat the flesh of the elect people; as on feast days the priests used to feast among themselves on the remains of the sacrifices [Calvin]. English Version takes it not of the priests, but the guests bidden, who also had to "sanctify" or purify themselves before coming to the sacrificial feast (1Sa 9:13, 22; 16:5). Nebuchadnezzar was bidden to come to take vengeance on guilty Jerusalem (Jer 25:9).
8. the princes—who ought to have been an example of good to others, but were ringleaders in all evil.
the king's children—fulfilled on Zedekiah's children (Jer 39:6); and previously, on Jehoahaz and Eliakim, the sons of Josiah (2Ki 23:31, 36; 2Ch 36:6; compare also 2Ki 20:18; 21:13). Huldah the prophetess (2Ki 22:20) intimated that which Zephaniah now more expressly foretells.
all such as are clothed with strange apparel—the princes or courtiers who attired themselves in costly garments, imported from abroad; partly for the sake of luxury, and partly to ingratiate themselves with foreign great nations whose costume as well as their idolatries they imitated, [Calvin]; whereas in costume, as in other respects, God would have them to be separate from the nations. Grotius refers the "strange apparel" to garments forbidden by the law, for example, men's garments worn by women, and vice versa, a heathen usage in the worship of Mars and Venus (De 22:5).
9. those that leap on the threshold—the servants of the princes, who, after having gotten prey (like hounds) for their masters, leap exultingly on their masters' thresholds; or, on the thresholds of the houses which they break into [Calvin]. Jerome explains it of those who walk up the steps into the sanctuary with haughtiness. Rosenmuller translates, "Leap over the threshold"; namely, in imitation of the Philistine custom of not treading on the threshold, which arose from the head and hands of Dragon being broken off on the threshold before the ark (1Sa 5:5). Compare Isa 2:6, "thy people … are soothsayers like the Philistines." Calvin's view agrees best with the latter clause of the verse.
fill … masters' houses with violence, &c.—that is, with goods obtained with violence, &c.
10. fish gate—(2Ch 33:14; Ne 3:3; 12:39). Situated on the east of the lower city, north of the sheep gate [Maurer]: near the stronghold of David in Milo, between Zion and the lower city, towards the west [Jerome]. This verse describes the state of the city when it was besieged by Nebuchadnezzar. It was through the fish gate that he entered the city. It received its name from the fish market which was near it. Through it passed those who used to bring fish from the lake of Tiberias and Jordan. It answers to what is now called the Damascus gate [Henderson].
the second—namely, the gate which was second in dignity [Calvin]. Or, the second or lower part of the city. Appropriately, the fish gate, or extreme end of the lower part of the city, first resounds with the cries of the citizens as the foe approaches; then, as he advances further, that part of the city itself, namely, its inner part; lastly, when the foe is actually come and has burst in, the hills, the higher ones, especially Zion and Moriah, on which the upper city and temple were founded [Maurer]. The second, or lower city, answers to Akra, north of Zion, and separated from it by the valley of Tyropœon running down to the pool of Siloam [Henderson]. The Hebrew is translated "college," 2Ki 22:14; so Vatablus would translate here.
hills—not here those outside, but those within the walls: Zion, Moriah, and Ophel.
11. Maktesh—rather, "the mortar," a name applied to the valley of Siloam from its hollow shape [Jerome]. The valley between Zion and Mount Olivet, at the eastern extremity of Mount Moriah, where the merchants dwelt. Zec 14:21, "The Canaanite," namely, merchant [Chaldee Version]. The Tyropœon (that is, cheese-makers') valley below Mount Akra [Rosenmuller]. Better Jerusalem itself, so called as lying in the midst of hills (Isa 22:1; Jer 21:13) and as doomed to be the scene of its people being destroyed as corn or drugs are pounded in a mortar (Pr 27:22) [Maurer]. Compare the similar image of a "pot" (Eze 24:3, 6). The reason for the destruction is subjoined, namely, its merchant people's greediness of gain.
all the merchant people—literally, the "Canaanite people": irony: all the merchant people of Jerusalem are very Canaanites in greed for gain and in idolatries (see on Ho 12:7).
all … that bear silver—loading themselves with that which will prove but a burden (Hab 2:6).
12. search … with candles—or lamps; so as to leave no dark corner in it wherein sin can escape the punishment, of which the Chaldeans are My instruments (compare Zep 1:13; Lu 15:8).
settled on their lees—"hardened" or crusted; image from the crust formed at the bottom of wines long left undisturbed (Jer 48:11). The effect of wealthy undisturbed ease ("lees") on the ungodly is hardening: they become stupidly secure (compare Ps 55:19; Am 6:1).
Lord will not do good … evil—They deny that God regards human affairs, or renders good to the good; or evil to the evil, but that all things go haphazard (Ps 10:4; Mal 2:17).
13. Therefore their goods shall become a booty, &c.—Fulfilling the prophecy in De 28:30, 39 (compare Am 5:11).
14. voice of … day of … Lord—that is, Jehovah ushering in that day with a roar of vengeance against the guilty (Jer 25:30; Am 1:2). They who will not now heed (Zep 1:12) His voice by His prophets, must heed it when uttered by the avenging foe.
mighty … shall cry … bitterly—in hopeless despair; the might on which Jerusalem now prides itself, shall then fail utterly.
15. wasteness … desolation—The Hebrew terms by their similarity of sounds, Shoah, Umeshoah, express the dreary monotony of desolation (see on Na 2:10).
16. the trumpet—namely, of the besieging enemy (Am 2:2).
alarm—the war shout [Maurer].
towers—literally, "angles"; for city walls used not to be built in a direct line, but with sinuous curves and angles, so that besiegers advancing might be assailed not only in front, but on both sides, caught as it were in a cul-de-sac; towers were built especially at the angles. So Tacitus describes the walls of Jerusalem [Histories, 5.11.7].
17. like blind men—unable to see whither to turn themselves so as to find an escape from existing evils.
flesh—Hebrew, "bread"; so the Arabic term for "bread" is used for "flesh" (Mt 26:26).
18. Neither … silver nor … gold shall … deliver them, &c.—(Pr 11:4).
fire of his jealousy—(Eze 38:19); His wrath jealous for His honor consuming the guilty like fire.
make even a speedy riddance of all—rather, a "consummation" (complete destruction: "full end," Jer 46:28; Eze 11:13) "altogether sudden" [Maurer]. "A consumption, and that a sudden one" [Calvin].