Zephaniah 1

The LORD foretells the ruine of Jerusalem and devastation of all the tribe of Juda by the Babylonians, because of their idolatrie and other sins, exhorting them to repentance, the transportation to Babylon being neer at hand.

1. The word of the LORD which came to Zephania, [commonly also called Sophantas] the son of Cuscht the son of Gedalia, the son of Amaria; the son of Hizkia, [who this Cushi and the rest of this prophets Progenitors were is now uncertain to us, but doubtful in those dayes they were famous and well known men: And it should seem, that this genealogie of Zephania’s progenitors is therefore set down here, to distinguish him from Zephania the son of Mehaseia, who likewise lived in Josia’s time: our Zephania here, was also contemporarie with Jeremie and the prophetesse Hulda. Compare 2 Kings 22:4. and 2 Chro. 34.22 and chap 35.25 and Jeremiah 1:2.] in the days of Josia, [to wit, after that Josia had reformed the worship of God and true religion, as may be gathered from verse 4.] the son of Amon, the King of Juda.

2. I will utterly take away all [Heb. raking away raje-away: viz by the king of Chaldeans. See of the word here used, Psalms 26:9.] out of this land, [Heb. from on the face of this land, to wit the land of Juda] saith the LORD.

3. I will rake-away men and beasts, [Here the very beasts also are made liable to the punishments, which men deserved by their sins, to make it appear, how heinous a thing sin is before God. Compare Hosea 4:3 Jeremiah 4:23,25,26,27 and chapter 9.20.] I will take away the fowls of the air, and the fishes of the sea, and the scandals [oth. Offences; to wit, the remainders of Baal, verse 4 such as were the idols, the chapels, and all manner of furniture belonging to idolatry; for by such things the godly were offended and made sad and many seduced from the true worship of God. See Ezek. 14.37.] with the wicked; yet I will destroy the men [hominess mankinde] out of this land, saith the LORD.

4. And I will stretch out my hand [viz. for to strike or smite. Oth. Instead of the copulative and, read that is, in which sense the letter Van is off-times taken] against Juda and against all the inhabitants of Jeruslaem, and I will destroy out of this place [i.e. out of Juda and Jerusalem] the remains of Baal, [that is all the furniture serving for the idolatrous worship of Baal, which the pidus King Josia was not able to root out at once. Yet some do understand this of the remnant of idolatry, which after the carrying away of the ten tribes into Assyria, remaind yet among God’s people, in Juda it self.] (and) the name of the Chemarim, [see the annotate. 2 Kings 23. on verse 5. what is to be understood by these] with the priests: [understand those priests, that had defiled themselves and unhallowed themselves with idolatrie, in the common apostle. See 2 Kings 23 on verse 9. and Zephaniah 3:4.]

5. And [to wit, I will destroy] those that bow down themselves upon the roofs [which in Juda and other countries of those parts, were flat. See the annotate. Duet. 22. on verse 8 and whereon they much used to practice their idolatry. See Jeremiah 19:13 and on verse 12.] before the hoste of heaven [that is before the stars, sun and moon. See annotate Deuteronomy 4:19 and Jer.7.18. and 10.2.] and that bowing down themselves do swear by the LORD [or, to the LORD, as 2 Kings 15:14. which implieth promise of obedience and keeping of his commandments, with a consecrating of, and yielding up ones felt to God] and swear by Malcham [see Jer. 49 on verse 1. Oth. Molech or, Molech the idol of the children of Ammon; though under the name of this idol there may be understood likewise all other idols, whom the idolaters were wont to call their king, Moloch signifieth a king in the Heb. Here then in this verse God threateneth to destroy, not onely those that were open, possessed idolaters, but such also, as had a mixt religion and would serve the true God, besides or together with their idols; which God expressly forbidden 1 Kings 18:21 and 2 Kings 17:33. Ezekiel 20:30.]

6. And those that turn back from after the LORD: and those that do not seek the LORD, and care not for him.

7. Be silent [i.e. do not murmure against the LORD, but acknowledge, that he doth judge uptightly: or, be but quiet a while, and ye shall soon see the execution of his threatening] before the face of the Lord [i.e. by reason of the presence of the LORD] for the day of the LORD [i.e. the day of God’s vengeance, wherein he will punish the wicked idolatrous Jews. So verse 4.] Is neer [from the death of King Josiah under whom Zephania prophesied, the Jews fell out of one calamitie into the other, until their Kings and they together with them came to be destroyed, according to this prophecie] fo the LORD hath prepared a slay-offering; [or, a slaughter for which cattel must be slaughtered. The Hebrew word doth also signifie a beast slain for sacrifice: but here is understood a slaughter of the Jews. See the like phrase, Isaiah 34:6 and Jeremiah 46:10. And Revelation 19:17.] He hath hallowed [i.e. prepared separated. See Jer 12 on verse 3.] his guests [or, invited ones; by them he understands the Chaldeans, and other enemies of the Jew, which were to come to Jerusalem out of their own countrie, for to kill and slay and plunder all they met with. Yet there may also b understood the fowls of the air, and the wilde beasts of the field, which should eat up the dead bodies of the slain: as Ezekiel 39:17. And Deuteronomy 28:26]

8. And it shall come to passé in the day of the slay-offering of the LORD that I [for, that he; to wit, the LORD, and so also below verse 9.] will make visitation upon the princess, and upon the children of the king [see the fulfilling hereof Jeremiah 39:6.] and upon all that clothe themselves with strange clothing. [Heb. that clothe themselves with the clothes of a strange (people) for to please the heathen: others understand it of vain wantom people, that knew not for wantomnesse how to clothe, dresse and fashion themselves, being never satisfied with the usual wear and habit received and kept in their country, but must still have some new stuffe, guize, size and new sangle or other to be in mode and fashion.]

9. Also on the day will I made visitation [i.e. punish] upon everyone, that leapeth over the threshold: [i.e that violently enters into another man’s house, to rob his neighbour: or, that transgresse the bounds or pales, and trespasse on their neighbour’s land. Hosea 5:10 or such as being well aden with prey and booty from abroad, are coming home, and for joy leap into their houses] that fill his house of their masters [Or, Lord, i.e help to commit the like soul practices, as great men’s servants used to do, who are seldom backward to assist their masters, in committing their villanies and violences] with violence and deceit. [i.e. with riches and treasure got and raked together by violence and deceit.]

10. And they shall be on that day [viz. when the chaldeans shall come and take the city] saith the LORD, a voice crying, [to wit among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, caused by surprizal or forcible entrance of the chaldeans] from the fish-gate, [of this gate mention is made likewise. Nehemiah 3:3 it was the nearest of all the rest, toward the sea-side, on the side of the city, which led toward Diospolis and Joppan.] and howling from the second partition, [otherwise called the middle city. See the annotat. 2 Kings 2 on verse 4 and 2 Kings 22 on verse 14. oth. The second (gate) and a great breach [i.e. an excessive clamour, roaring and outcry; crying with that force and violence, that even tears and rents both the throat and the air] from the hills. [i.e. from that side of the city, that was mostly hilly, near the dung-gate. See Jeremiah 31:39. and the annotate. There; on which side also the mount of Olives lay; in a word, the prophets set out in this verse, that the city would be in a sad and woful condition then, in all quarters, whereof three are named and the rest understood.]

11. Howl ye inhabitants of the plain: [some keep the Hebrew word machters in the text: other render it in mercer street: or the Apothecaries or, Drugsters. The Heb. word doth properly signifie a mortar: and it seems to have been the name of a certain street in Jerusalem, called the Mortar-street the sound thereof being daily much heard therein, as is usual with Apothecaries, drugsters, grocers, to keep a continual stamping, or beating and preparing in them their simples, drugs, spices, &c. Oth. In the hallowness or hallow-street implaying that it abounded with vaults and cellarage: wherein the merchants laid up their wares. In this street the goldsmiths also dwelt, as may be gathered by Nehemiah 3:8, 31, 32] for all the people of Traffick [or, mercerize, trade, merchandize, oth. The people of Canaan which is taken for merchants, the Canaanites having been much given to, and practiced in traffick] is destroyed, [or, exscinded i.e they shall be destroyed and undone. Oth. Shall hold their peace, or be silent: understanding it that either their trade or themselves shall be quiet dead and gone] all the many bearers [or all those that are laden with mony i.e the merchants, their factories, cash-keepers, exchangers, those that carrie monies up and down to buy or pay for wares and commodities] are rooted out.

12. And it shall come to passé at that time, I [viz. the LORD] will search Jerusalem with laterns: [i.e. with great diligence and exactness. I will cause the Chaldeans and the ret of the foreign souldiers to seek and search out all the wealth and treasure in it, and to carry it away, or, it amplies, that God would most narrowly and strictly enquire and search out the sins of all the people, to punish them accordingly] and I will make the visitation upon the men [or, people] that are grown sliffe upon their lees [or, that lie upon their lees, barm, or mother i.e that live at the ease and careless; in canal security. Oth. That are mingled with their lees. i.e. cast up all manner of filth and vileness of sin and vice, which foams and works forth in their life and conversation. Like new wine. See Jeremiah 48:11.] that say in their hearts; the LORD doth no good, neither doth be any evil. [as if they said, God doth nor mind the government of this world; he neither punisheth nor rewardeth any according to his demerits.]

13. Therefore shall their substance [i.e. their wealth and riches] become a prey and their houses a desolation: [concerning these threatenings. See Leviticus 26:32. Deuteronomy 28:30.] they build houses indeed, [see Amos 5:11. Mich. 2.2,4 and 3.10,12.] but they shall not inhabit them: [i.e. they shall not dwell long in them. See Deuteronomy 28:30, 39.] and they plant vineyards, but they not drink the wine thereof.

14. The great day of the LORD. [i.e. The time wherein God shall execute his heavy judgement. See above verse 7.] is near, and hasting much; the voice of the LORD: [Compare Psalms 29:3.4,5. Jeremiah 4:19, c.] the valiant man, [how much more the weak man, and faint hearted, not to speak of women and children] shall bitterly cry there. [i.e. then, at the time, as Psalms 13:5 or, there, that is, at Jerusalem]

15. That day shall be a day of indignation: [To wit, an indignation of the LORD, as below verse 18. that is, at that time shall the LORD pour out many calamities and judgements in his anger. This is expressed by severall terms in the verse. Compare Jeremiah 30:5, 6, 7. Amos 5:18, 19, 20. Joel 2 verse 1, 2, 3, to 11.] A day of distress, and of anguis a day of wast and desolation; a day of darkness and obscurity, a day of the cloud, and of thick darkness.

16. A day of the trumpet and of the sounding [i.e. a day wherein the trumpers and corners shall sound alarm, because of the enemies approach] against the fenced cities and against the highest corners. [or towers, which usually stand at the corners of castles or cities; or of the points. Yet by towers there are sometimes understood the heads and principal men among the people, Judges 20:2.]

17. And I will distress the people, that they shall go as the blind ones, [which know not whither they go or tend, what they shall do first or last] for they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be shed as dust [i.e abundantly, in great quantity, as a matter of no value at all. Thus dust is taken Matthew 10:14. Acts 13:51. and 18.6.] and their flesh, [or body, properly meat. So the body is called, because it becomes at length worms-meat] shall become like dung. [The meaning is; their dead bodies shall be cast upon the fields and grounds, even as dung is cast forth there, to fatten the soil.]

18. Neither their silver, nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the indignation of the LORD; but by the fire of his jealousie, [i.e. by his jealousie burning like fire. See Ezekiel 38:19..] shall this whole land be consumed: [Heb. be eaten up, as below chapter 3.8.] for he shall make an accomplishment [see Jeremiah 4:27.] certainly, an hasty one, with all the inhabitants of this land. [viz. the land of Juda.]