Zephaniah 2

Zephaniah 2:1

GAther your selves together] All your assemblies, whereby you shall endevour to defend your selves, shall be but like great bundles of stalkes and flax, to be consumed all together by the fire of Gods wrath, Chap. 1. 18. for preventing whereof he exhorteth them to humiliation and reance, Joel 1. 14. & 2. 15.

not desired] Or, not desirous.

Zephaniah 2:2

Before the decree] This verse must be joyned with the next. The meaning is, before Gods decree against his people be put in execution, you beleevers shall flie to his grace by prayer and conversion.

the day of the LORDS anger] That is, the time of this execution.

Zephaniah 2:3

meek of the earth] A title which is ordinarily given to good men, Psalms 25:9. and Psalms 37:11. Matthew 5:5.

which have wrought] Which have lived uprightly and godly, according as he prescribeth by his word.

it may be] Joe 2:14. Amos 5:15. Jonah 3:9.

be hid in the day] Saved and defended.

Zephaniah 2:4

For Gaza shall be forsaken] Jer. 47. 4, 5. Ezekiel 25:15. Amos 1:6. The Philistims, and all other enemies of the Church shall be utterly destroyed, without hope of being restored: But I will preserve some seed and remainder of my people, to reestablish them in the appointed time: Wherefore let every one of you endevour to be of that blessed number.

Ashdod] The inhabitants thereof shall be led into captivitie.

at the noon-day] The citie being forced and taken by assault.

Zephaniah 2:5

sea-coasts] Where the Philistims land was, 1 Samuel 30:14. 16. Ezekiel 25:16.

Cherethites] 1 Kings 8:38.

Canaan] Of which the Philistims were a part, Joshua 13:3.

Zephaniah 2:7

remnant of the house of Judah] He sheweth why God would destroy their enemies, because their countrey might be a resting place for his Church, at their return from Babylon.

for the LORD their God shall visit them] Or, when, &c.

Zephaniah 2:8

I have heard the reproch] Jeremiah 48:27.

and magnified themselves] Jeremiah 49:1. These nations presumed to take from the Jews that countrey which the Lord had given them.

Zephaniah 2:9

Moab shall be as Sodome] Isa. 15. Jer. 48. Ezekiel 25:8. Amos 2:1.

the children of Ammon as Gomorrah] Jeremiah 49:1. Ezekiel 25:2. Amos 1:13.

Zephaniah 2:10

for their pride] Isaiah 16:6. Jeremiah 48:29.

Zephaniah 2:11

for he will famish] Heb. make lean. The chief end of all these terrible judgements shall be to root out those peoples idolatries, and to cause the true God alone to be worshipped which hath been accomplished under Christ Jesus.

the isles of the heathen] Farre countries, especially beyond the Sea.

Zephaniah 2:12

Ye Ethiopians also] Isaiah 18:1. & Isaiah 20:4. Ezekiel 30:9.

Zephaniah 2:13

he will stretch out his hand] Because the destruction of Nineveh, and the Assyrian Empire, happened, as is thought, in the time of Jehoiachim, after Zephaniahs prophecies. See Nahums Prophecie.

and destroy Assyria] Isaiah 10:5. 12. Ezekiel 31:3. Nahum 1. 8. and 2. 10. & 3. 15.

Zephaniah 2:14

cormorant] Or, pelicane. Isaiah 34:11.

upper lintels] Or, knops, or chapiters. See upon Amos 9:1.

for he shall uncover] Or, when he hath uncovered. Her roof and all her timber-work being burnt down, there shall remain nothing but the walls of ruined houses.

Zephaniah 2:15

the rejoycing citie] Meaning Nineveh, which rejoycing so much of her strength and prosperitie, should be thus made waste, and Gods people delivered.

I am, and there is none] Isaiah 47:8.

shall hisse and wagge his hand] In horrour and disdain.