God's Coming Judgment on the Earth
Study note
Zephaniah introduces himself and traces his family line back to King Hezekiah, one of Judah's greatest kings. God begins with a sweeping announcement of worldwide destruction. This universal judgment sets the stage for the more specific charges against Judah that follow.
1 This message from the LORD came to Zephaniah during the time Josiah son of Amon was ruling as king of Judah. Zephaniah's family line goes back through Cushi, Gedaliah, Amariah, all the way to Hezekiah. The 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.
2 "I will wipe out everything from the face of the earth," the LORD declares. I will utterly consume all things from off the land, saith the LORD.
3 "I will wipe out people and animals, birds from the sky and fish from the sea. I will bring down the wicked along with everything that causes them to sin. I will erase the human race from the earth," the LORD declares. I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumblingblocks with the wicked; and I will cut off man from off the land, saith the LORD.
Judgment Against Idol Worship in Judah
Study note
Under the wicked kings Manasseh and Amon, Judah had fallen deep into idol worship. The people worshiped Baal, the Canaanite fertility god, and the Assyrian star gods on their rooftops. The 'Chemarims' were pagan idol-priests. Some people tried to worship both the Lord and the false god Malcham (Molech), while others had simply turned away from God entirely.
4 "I will reach out my hand against Judah and against everyone living in Jerusalem. I will get rid of every last trace of Baal worship from this place. I will destroy every pagan priest." I will also stretch out mine hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with the priests;
5 "I will wipe out those who climb to their rooftops to worship the stars. I will destroy those who claim to follow the LORD but also swear oaths to the false god Malcham." And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham;
6 "I will destroy those who walked away from following the LORD. I will also destroy those who have never bothered to seek the LORD or ask for his direction." And them that are turned back from the LORD; and those that have not sought the LORD, nor inquired for him.
The Day of the Lord's Sacrifice
Study note
God describes the Day of the Lord as a sacrifice He has prepared. In this shocking reversal, Judah is not offering the sacrifice — Judah is the sacrifice, and the enemy nations are the invited guests. The 'strange apparel' refers to foreign clothing that showed the people had adopted pagan customs. Those who 'leap on the threshold' may refer to a Philistine religious practice or to violent servants of powerful masters.
7 Stand in silence before the Lord GOD! The Day of the LORD is just around the corner. The LORD has prepared a sacrifice, and he has already sent out his invitations. Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests.
8 "On the day of that offering, I will punish the leaders and princes. I will punish all who dress like people from other nations." And it shall come to pass in the day of the LORD's sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king's children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel.
9 "That same day, I will punish everyone who follows pagan ways. I will punish those who fill their masters' houses with things taken by force and lies." In the same day also will I punish all those that leap on the threshold, which fill their masters' houses with violence and deceit.
Cries of Distress Throughout Jerusalem
Study note
Zephaniah describes the coming destruction moving through specific areas of Jerusalem. The Fish Gate was on the north side, the 'second quarter' was a newer part of the city, and 'Maktesh' was a market district in a low area of the city. The image of searching with candles means God will find every person, even those hiding. People 'settled on their lees' refers to wine left too long on its sediment — a picture of people who have become lazy and complacent about God.
10 "On that day," the LORD says, "screams of alarm will echo from the Fish Gate. Loud wailing will pour from the newer part of the city. A thundering crash of destruction will roll down from the surrounding hills." And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD, that there shall be the noise of a cry from the fish gate, and an howling from the second, and a great crashing from the hills.
11 "Wail in grief, you people of the market district! Every one of your merchants has been destroyed. Everyone who deals in silver has been wiped out." Howl, ye inhabitants of Maktesh, for all the merchant people are cut down; all they that bear silver are cut off.
12 "I will search through Jerusalem with lanterns. I will track down and punish those who are sitting around doing nothing, thick and comfortable like wine that has settled too long in the jar. They say to themselves, 'The LORD is not going to do anything — good or bad.'" And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil.
13 "Everything they own will be looted, and their houses will be left as empty shells. They will build homes but never step inside them. They will plant vineyards but never pour a glass of wine." Therefore their goods shall become a booty, and their houses a desolation: they shall also build houses, but not inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, but not drink the wine thereof.
The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord
Study note
This is one of the most vivid descriptions of the Day of the Lord in all of Scripture. Zephaniah piles up images of darkness, distress, and destruction. The trumpet blast was used to warn of approaching armies. This passage inspired the famous medieval hymn 'Dies Irae' (Day of Wrath). The message is clear: when God's judgment comes, no amount of wealth can buy safety.
14 The great Day of the LORD is close — so close and getting closer fast! The sound of that day will be harsh and bitter. Even the fiercest soldiers will scream in anguish. The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.
15 That day will be a day of fury and trouble. It will be a day of ruin and pain. It will be a day of pitch-black darkness, storm clouds, and thick gloom. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,
16 It will be a day of loud war horns and battle cries. They will sound against every walled city and tall tower. A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.
17 "I will bring so much distress on the people that they will stumble around like they are blind, because of their sins against the LORD. Their blood will be poured out like water, and their bodies will be thrown aside like garbage." And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung.
18 Their silver and gold will be completely useless on the day of the LORD's fury. The fire of his jealous anger will swallow the entire land. He will make a sudden, total end of everyone living in it. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD's wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.