Zephaniah 1

Then follow predictions of doom upon other nations, such as the Philistines (ii. 4-6), predictions which, as Dr. Keith has shown in his Evidences of Prophecy, have been fulfilled in remarkable detail. The same is true of the judgements on Nineveh (ii. 13-15).

But Zephaniah, like the other prophets, closes with a message of exultant hope. Israel shall be restored (iii. 20). “Sing, O daughter of Zion . . . be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem” (iii. 14).

1. Hizkiah. That is, Hezekiah.

3 the stumblingblocks with the wicked. That is, the idols with their worshippers: cp. Ezek. xiv. 3.

4 the Chemarim with the priests. See notes on 2 Kings xxiii. 5 and Hosea x. 5. The “priests” were probably corrupt members of the house of Aaron.

5 upon the housetops. From the housetops the objects of their worship were clearly seen. The worship of the heavenly bodies had become very prevalent among the Jews, imitating the Assyrians: see 2 Kings xxiii. 5; Jer. vii. 17, 18; xliv. 17-19, 25.

Malcham. i.e., “their king,” or “Molech”: see Amos v. 26. These persons seek to combine the worship of Jehovah with idolatry.

7 the day of the Lord. See on Joel i. 15.

He hath bid His guests. Rather, “He hath consecrated His called ones”; i.e., the Chaldean invaders: cp. Isa. xiii. 3; xxxiv. 6, or “prepared those whom He has invited.”

8 the king’s children. The various members of the royal family, who indulged in foreign fashions and luxuries.

9 those that leap on (over) the threshold. This may refer to the violence and fraud of the retainers of the nobles, who invaded other men’s houses to seize their property. But some think that a superstitious practice is indicated.

10 from the second (quarter). See note on 2 Kings xxii. 14.

11. Maktesh. “Maktesh” signifies a hollow place (Judges xv. 19), a mortar (Prov. xxvii. 22); and here it probably means the Tyropœon valley: cp. Jer. xxi. 13.

the merchant people. Heb. (and R.V.), “the people of Canaan” (see Hos. xii. 7); the Jews being so called, because they were like the heathen in their eagerness for wealth and luxury.

12 candles. Or, “lamps.” With the closest scrutiny.

The Lord will not do good, etc. He will take no notice of men’s conduct.

15. That day. The famous Latin hymn of the 13th century, Dies irae, dies illa, which is entitled De noviesimo iudicio, took its first words from the Vulgate version of this verse.

16. A day of the trumpet. To the gloom and distress portrayed in ver. 15 the terrors of war are superadded.