Zephaniah 3

n.s it, * c ’. -• - Jerusalem is severely reproved and threatened for her sins: yet the righteous are comforted with the hopes of ia general conversion and restoration of the nation in God’s due time.- •...»> religious acknowledgments there. The expression, From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, may be translated, From the borders of the rivers of Ethiopia, both here and Isa. xviii. 1. where the same phrase occurs; the word in the Hebrew signifying indifferently tho hither, or farther side of a river. Ethiopia is described in both places as lying among the rivers, which may probably be understood of the several sluices and channels which the inhabitants are forced to keep open, thereby to prevent the Nile from overflowing their own country, or Egypt. (See Dr. Hcylin’s Geography, in Ethiopia.) Tlie daughter of my dispersed, is the same with my dispersed, as tho daughter ofZion is equivalent to Zion. (See the note upon Jer. iv. 31.) The phrase of bringing an offering, is taken from the sacrifices and oblations brought to the temple; and is in other places of the prophets applied to those that come into the Christian church. (See Isa. xviii. 7. Ix.G,7.9. Mai. i. 11.)

Zephaniah 3:1

WOE unto her that is filthy [or glutinous. and polluted, to the oppressing city!] The city Jerusalem; which is defiled with the sins of luxury and cruelty. (See ver. 3, 4.)

Zephaniah 3:2

She obeyed not the voice. Of God’s messengers, the prophets.:.

Zephaniah 3:3

Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves. Like so many beasts of prey, they devour the people by oppression and injustice. (Compare Ezek. xxii. 27. Micah iii. 9-^11. Habak. i. 8. Zech. x. 13.) They gnaw not the bones until the morrotv.] They devour all presently, and leave not so much as the bone£ till the next day, as the most voracious creatures commonly do.

Zephaniah 3:4

Her prophets are light and treacherous persons. This is to be understood of the false prophets, who seduced the people by lying pretences to inspiration.. (See Jer. xxiii. 11. 32. Hos. ix. 7. Micah iii. 11.) The LXX. often render the Hebrew nabi, prophet, by ^vloirgo^rng, false prophet, in Jeremiah, and Zech. xiii. 2. Her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.] They have presumed to attend upon my service in the temple after they had polluted themselves with idolatry, and thereby have profaned my holy place; (see i. 4.) and have broken the ordinances of my law, by not observing the differences that it prescribes between what is clean and unclean. (See Ezek. xxii. 26.)

Zephaniah 3:5

Tltejust Lord is in the midst thereof, he will not do iniquity. The inhabitants of Jerusalem presume upon God’s protection, having placed his name in their temple: so they say, Micah iii. 11. Is not the Lord among us? or in the midst of us, as the word is here translated; but they Should withal’ consider, that he is just and holy, who will neither do iniquity, nor suffer it, without calling the offender to account. Every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.] He doth not fail to give us every day fresh evidences of his justice, though the wicked continue hardened in their sins, and arc grown past shame. (See Jer. vi. 13. Micah ii. G.) The expression, every morning, alludes to the custom of administering justice in the morning. (See Psal. ci.8. Jer/xxi.12.) Ver. Q.I have cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; I have made their streets waste, &c] I have executed my vengeance upon that great city Nineveh, (H.13.)and have brought my judgments nearer to you, by giving up your brethren of the ten tribes into the hands of Shalmaneser, who hath put an end to that kingdom, and hath carried its inhabitants captives into a strange land. (See 2 Kings xvii. G.)

Zephaniah 3:7

1 said, Surely tjiou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction. God is introduced as speaking after the manner of men, and expecting what effect such proceedings might in reason have produced. (Compare Isa. v. 4. Jer. viii. 6.)’ In*;this Sense we may most probably understand that expression of Isaiah, (Ixiii. 8;) He said, Surely they Ure my people, children that will not lie: $0 he was their Saviour: i. e. God might justly conclude, that after. such experience of his goodness, they would not prove false or treacherous to him. >,, So their dwelling should not be cut off, hotvsoever’ I punished them.] Or> Whereinsoever I punished them. (See Noldius, p. 175.) I might reasonably expect, that lesser corrections might reform them; and I need not be forced to proceed to such an utter, excision, as I executed upon the tentribes. (See ver. G.) •.. But they rose early; and corrupted all their doings.] They still increased their corruptions, notwithstanding all the advances king Josiah made to a general reformation. (See the notes upon i. 4, 5.) The phrase, rising early, denotes diligence and assiduity. (See Jer. vii. 13. xxv. 3. xxxv. 15.) >i. f

Zephaniah 3:8

Tlierefore wait upon me, saith the Lord, until the day that I arise to the prey, &c. The connexion of this verse with what went before would better appear, if we translate the particle taken, nevertheless; as it plainly signifies Jer. v. 2. Micah v. 3. and in other places. Notwithstanding these provocations, saith God, I exhort the godly among you to expect the fulfilling the promises I have made of restoring. the Jewish nation to my wonted favour, in the latter ages of the world; in order to which great crisis, I will execute remarkable judgments upon the unbelievers and disobedient. (See the note upon Micah v. 5.) For my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms to pour out upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger.] This may perhaps be meant of the same general summons which Joel speaks of, when the nations shall be gathered into the valley ofJehoshaphat. (See Joel iii. 2. 12. and the notes there.) For all the earth shall be devoured by the fire of my jealousy.] The tender regard I have for my honour, which hath particularly been injured by that idolatry which is spread over the world, will provoke me to execute my vengeance upon the whole earth. (See i. 18.)

Zephaniah 3:9

For then Ixvill turn to the people a pure language, &c. Or, Ixvill restore to the people a pure language; i. e. I will turn them from their idolatry and other wickedness, (see ver. 13.) to glorify me with one mind and one mouth. The same thing is expressed by speaking the language of Canaan, Isa. xix. 18. This is a blessing reserved for the latter ages; after, the conversion, of the Jews, and the coming in of the fulness of the gentiles, when there shall be one Lord, and his name one, Zech. xiv. i). To serve him with one consent.] The Hehrcw reads, With one shoulder. The metaphor is taken from beasts drawing together under one yoke; or men’s setting their shoulders together to carry the same burden.

Zephaniah 3:10

For from beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering. The Jews who are dispersed into the most distant countries, such as was Ethiopia, which lay beyond Egypt, shall come into the Christian church, and make their 2E

Zephaniah 3:11

In that day thou shalt not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me. Or, TIioii shalt not be put to shame for all thy doings. (Compare ver. 19.) Thou shalt not be made a public example by such remarkable judgments, (see ver. 15.) which have formerly made thee a reproach among the heathen. (See Amos iii. 2. Micah vi. 1G. and the notes there.) For I take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride; and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain.’] I will purge out of thee those hypocrites who continued in their sins, and relied upon their outward privileges, such as being of the stock of Abraham, or having the temple of the Lord placed among them, as if these would secure them from guilt or punishment; and thereupon despised the gentiles as not worthy of the same favours with themselves. (See the notes upon Micah iii.ll.)

Zephaniah 3:12

I will also leave in thee an afflicted and poor people. Or ■, A meek and poor people: the blessings of the gospel are peculiarly promised to the poor. (See Isa. xi.4. xiv. 32. Ixi. 1. Zech.xi.ll.) Christ and his apostles apply these promises to those that were converted by their preaching, Matt. v. 3. xi. 5. ICor. i. 2C, 27. James ii. 5. which texts are meant of such as are endued with a true spirit of poverty, such as consists in a lowliness of mind, contempt of the world, and a resigned will. Afflictions are very useful to produce such a temper of mind, and therefore are often the lot of true disciples. (See Acts xiv. 22. Heb. xii. 7. 1 Pet. i. 7.) By the afflicted may be meant those that come out of great tribulation. (See Ezek. xxxviii. 8. and the note upon Isa. iv.2.)

Zephaniah 3:13

The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies, &c. The remnant of Israel is explained in the note upon Micah iv. 7. These shall be holy; the rebels bei?ig2)urgedoutofthem,(Ezck.xx. 38.) as Jerusalem itself shall then be holy. (Compare Isa. xxxv. 8. Ix. 21. Joel iii. 17. 21. Zech. xiv. 21. and see the notes there.) For [or, therefore] they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.] The great Shepherd the Mcssias shall both feed and protect them. (Compare Ezek. xxxiv. 28. Micah iv. 4. v. 4. vii. 14.)

Zephaniah 3:14

Sing, O daughter of Zion, &c. These hymns of joy properly belong to the times of the. gospel, and especially to the triumphant state of the church. (Compare Isa. xii. G. liv. 1. Zech. ii. 10. xi. 9.)

Zephaniah 3:15

The Lord hath taken away thy judgments, lie hath cast out thine enemy. God hath removed thine enemies, who were the instruments of his vengeance. The King of Israel, even the Lord, is in themidst of thee.] He gives manifest tokens of his presence in thee, and protection over thee. (Compare ver. 5. 17. Isa. iv. 5, G. Itev. vii. 15. xxi. 3.) TIiou shalt not see evil any more.] For all thine enemies shall be subdued. (See the former part of the verse, and compare Isa. xxxv. 10. Ii. 22. Joel iii. 17. Rev. xxi. 4.) Ver. 1G. Let not thine hands be slack.] Or weak, as the word is rendered in the parallel text, Isa. xxxv. 3. The prophet comforts the feeble-minded, those whose spirits were sunk under their former afflictions; and exhorts them to perform their duty with cheerfulness and diligence, as being assured of God’s assistance and protection. (Compare Heb. xii. 12.)

Zephaniah 3:17

He will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love. He will take pleasure in doing thee good. (Compare Deut. xxx. 9. Isa. Ixii. 5. lxv.19. Jer. xxxii. 41.) lie will rest, or take satisfaction in continuing his favour towards thee. (Compare Hos. xiv. 4.)

Zephaniah 3:18

I will gather them that were sorrowfidfbr the solemn assembly, who are of thee, &c. . I will assemble those Israelites who are dispersed in their several captivities, both that of Babylon and those of following times, who mourn for the loss of the public assemblies, (compare Lam. ii. G.) and w r ere grieved at the reproaches wherewith their enemies upbraided them, as if they were utterly forsaken of God. (Compare Psal. xlii. 3.)

Zephaniah 3:19

I will save her that halteth, and gather her that is driven out. See Micah iv. G, 7. And I will get them praise and fame in every land ivhere they have been put to shame.] God will give visible tokens of his care over them, in gathering them from their several dispersions over the. world, and bringing them back into their own country. (See Ezek. xxxviii. 8. 12. and the following verse.)

Zephaniah 3:20

At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you. I will gather you from your several dispersions, in order to bring you back into your ow r n land. (Compare Isa. xi. 12. xxvii. 12. lvi. 8. Ezek. xxviii. 25. xxxiv. 13. Amos ix. 14.) For I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earthy when I turn back your captivity before your eyes.] I will make you the subject of men’s praise and admiration, who shall be induced to glorify God, when they shall see the wonderful works he hath wrought for you, in restoring you from your several dispersions, and giving you a joyful meeting together..