The pedigree of this prophet is given with more than usual care; his ancestry for four generations is named, as also the period of his prophecy—the reign of the godly reformer, Josiah (Zeph. 1:11The word of the Lord which came unto Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hizkiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah. (Zephaniah 1:1)). It is important to note that Zephaniah, Jeremiah, and Habakkuk, who predicted the Chaldean destruction of Jerusalem, and who prophesied during and after the reign of Josiah, omit all reference to the reformation effected by that pious king; for important as that work undoubtedly was, yet its results were neither permanent nor deep. Upon the death of the king both the succeeding prince and people lapsed into the wickedness of their fathers, and the nation became tributary to Egypt. Hence God, who knoweth the end from the beginning, passes over in silence the work of Josiah in clearing the kingdom of wickedness and idolatry.
It has been frequently remarked, and indeed it is self evident, that the book of Jeremiah is both moral and historical in treating of Judah's coming doom, and further, that our prophet, while occupied with the same event, does so historically; while Habakkuk, also writing of the same Judean epoch does so more as the moralist. Thus Zephaniah takes up the historical side of Jeremiah, and Habakkuk the moral side.
The references to preceding written prophecies as Isaiah, Amos, and Joel, are pretty numerous in so short a prophecy. The harmony and entire agreement in the prophetic books of the Old Testament are well worth a while's consideration, as evidencing that one Divine mind and purpose characterize all Scripture. The great themes of all the prophets are iniquity, judgment and glory, and Zephaniah descants on these subjects, especially the latter. In the main the burden of his prophecy is the "great day of the Lord," the day of Jehovah's anger—an expression common to all the prophets, and signifying the future period of judgment which will succeed the translation of the church to heaven. It is therefore pre-eminently a book of judgment, but glory triumphs in the end.
The judgments predicted by this prophet are not only general and universal in their range and extent, but are also minute and particular—none escape. All creation trembles when Jehovah awakes for judgment, but glory triumphs in the end; and perhaps there is not a finer expression of Jehovah's delight and joy in Zion within the blessed compass of revelation, than is furnished by our prophet:-"In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, let not thine hands be slack. The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing" (Zeph. 3:16, 1716In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack. 17The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. (Zephaniah 3:16‑17)).
Thy land and people, O Immanuel, will yet be the object of Thy joy and the rest of Thy love.
GENERAL DIVISIONS.
1.-The whole land of Judah is doomed to utter wasting and destruction; Jerusalem, the center of iniquity, will be thoroughly searched by judgment—none shall escape. Zeph. 1
2.-A remnant are exhorted to seek the Lord, so that they may be hid in the day of Jehovah's anger, for all the near and distant nations will endure the wrath of the Lord. Zeph. 2
3.-Judah's awful corrupt condition, but her latter-day blessing most glorious. Zeph. 3
NOTES.
TABLE OF REFERENCES.
"Chemarims" (Zeph. 1: 4), elsewhere translated "Idolatrous priests"