Zephaniah 1

Zephaniah 1:1

ZEphaniah the son] Tzephaniah prophecieth, what Tzephan Jah: stored hath God (as Moses told, Deuteronomy 32:43.) for his peoples sinne. All Judah shall be utterly destroyed: namely, the Kings sonnes shall be visited: as in Jeremie God teacheth Solomons house shall end, Jeremiah 22:30.

Zephaniah 1:2

I will utterly consume] Heb. By taking away I will make an end. A threatning of the countries desolation by the Chaldeans.

the land] Heb. the face of the land.

Zephaniah 1:3

the fowles of the heaven] A kind of amplification, very frequent amongst the Prophets. See Jeremiah 4:25. & Jeremiah 12:4. Hosea 4:3. Not that God was angry with these dumb creatures, but because man was so wicked for whose cause they were created, God maketh them to take part of the punishment with him.

stumbling-blocks] Or, idols. The idols, and all the objects and instruments of idolatry, by which men were induced to sinne, even to their own ruine. See Deuteronomy 7:25. Ezekiel 14:3. 7 Habakkuk 2:18.

Zephaniah 1:4

the remnant of Baal] That which remained since Josiahs reformation. 2 King. 23. 3, 4, 5.

the chemarims] Which were an order of superstitious Priests appointed to minister in the service of Baal, and were as his peculiar Chaplaines; read 2 Kings 23:5. Hosea 10:5.

priests] Namely, of Idols: Or Leviticall Priests, but corrupted by idolatry, 2 King. 23. 8, 9. or by a wicked life, Zephaniah 3:4.

Zephaniah 1:5

And them that] 2 Kings 23:12. Jeremiah 19:13.

that worship and that swear] By an outward profession, gainsaid by their life and conversation, Isaiah 48:1. Others translate it: which worshipping the Lord, and swearing by him, sweare also by Malcham: that is to say; which mix the service of the true God with the service of idols. See Hosea 4:15. 2 Kings 17:41.

by the LORD] Or, to the LORD.

that swear] Which comprehendeth the whole profession of true Religion, Psalms 63:11. Isaiah 19:8. and Isaiah 45:23. Others, that sweare to the Lord: so it may be he hath relation to the renewing the covenant by Josiah, 2 Kings 23:3.

Malcham] An idol of the Ammonites, erected in Tophet, neare to Jerusalem, 2 Kings 23:10. Jeremiah 49:3. Amos 1:15. See on 1 Kings 11:5.

Zephaniah 1:7

Hold thy peace] Hab. 2. 20. Zac 2:13. Let every one in humilitie adore Gods judgements, without any murmuring or contradiction, Psalms 39:9.

a sacrifice] A great slaughter, as it were to prepare a banquet, which he intends to make for the Chaldeans, who are as it were guests: Or for the fowles of the ayre, and for his ravening beasts, as Isaiah 34:6. Jeremiah 46:10. Ezekiel 39:17. Revelation 19:17.

bid his guests] Heb. sanctified, or prepared.

Zephaniah 1:8

punish] Heb. visit upon.

the princs] Jeremiah 39:6.

with strange apparel] Meaning the Courtiers, and other which did imitate the strange apparel of other nations, to winne their favour thereby, and to appeare glorious in the eyes of all others: Read Ezekiel 23:14.

Zephaniah 1:9

that leap on the threshold] This was indeed a very frequent superstition amongst the heathen, upon many occasions; as 1 Samuel 5:5. 1 Kings 18:26. but because that agreeth not with this place, it seemeth to be a proverbiall kind of speech, to signifie great mens officers, who by an absolute power went into other mens houses, against whom no doores were shut. See Hosea 5:10.

Zephaniah 1:10

there shall be the noise] Heb. voyce. Signifying that all the corners of the citie of Jerusalem should be full of trouble by the Chaldeans, who came in at these two gates, Jeremiah 39:3. See concerning this fish-gate, 2 Chron. 33. 14. Nehem. 3. 3. which is also called the first gate, Zac 14:10. to make a difference between it, and this second gate.

hills] As the hills of Jareb and Goath, Jeremiah 31:39. on the west side of Jerusalem, where it did seeme the Chaldeans did also endevour to force the Citie.

Zephaniah 1:11

Maktesh] Or the low place: This is meant of the street of the Merchants, which was lower then the rest of the place about it.

all they that hear silver are cut off] Hereby is signified the rich trading, which was in that place; to which money was carried in great burdens.

Zephaniah 1:12

I will search Jerusalem] I will cause the Chaldeans to seek out the most hidden things that be in Jerusalem, and that most exactly: As Luke 15:8.

sttled on their lees] Heb. curded, or thickened. A phrase taken from such liquors, as grow thick when being powred out of one vessel into an other they stand long, Jeremiah 48:11. to signifie, either the gathering together of riches in Jerusalem, which for many years before had not been taken, nor pillaged. Or the stupidity and carnall securitie of the inhabitants, to which seems to be referred the following words of the profane men, who denied Gods providence, or took no notice of it. See Psalms 119:70.

Zephaniah 1:13

not inhabit them] Deut. 28. 30, 39. Amos 5:11.

Zephaniah 1:14

the voyce of the day] The Chaldeans shall come so suddenly, that the first news that shall be heard of it, shall be the terrible cries of the tumult of the Captains and Souldiers, being already at the gate.

Zephaniah 1:15

day of wrath] Jeremiah 30:7. Joel 2. 11. Amos 5:18.

Zephaniah 1:16

the high towers] Which are the places of the citie most fortified.

Zephaniah 1:17

they shall walk like blind men] They shall be amazed and unprovided of counsell and advice, no more knowing what they do then blind men: as Genesis 19:11.

Zephaniah 1:18

Neither their silver] Proverbs 11:4. Ezekiel 7:19.

devoured by the fire] Chap. 3. 8.