Judgment on Judah's Enemies

Judgment on Judah's Enemies

Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired; Zeph. 2:1

Gather yourselves together... The 2nd prophecy in Zephaniah (Zeph. 2:1-15, unfulfilled). Next, Zeph. 3:8.

Twenty-six Predictions—Unfulfilled:

1. Gaza shall be forsaken (Zeph. 2:4).

2. Ashkelon shall be a desolation.

3. They will drive out Ashdod at noon

4. Ekron shall be rooted up.

5. Woe to the Cherethites that dwell on the Mediterranean (Zeph. 2:5).

6. I will destroy the Philistines so that there will be none left.

7. The sea coast will be for dwellings of shepherds and folds for sheep (Zeph. 2:6).

8. The coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah (Zeph. 2:7).

9. Judah will feed thereupon.

10. They will lie down in the houses of Ashkelon in the evening.

11. The Lord their God shall visit them, and turn their captivity.

12. Moab shall be as Sodom (Zeph. 2:9).

13. The children of Ammon shall be as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, saltpits, and a perpetual desolation.

14. The residue of My people shall spoil them, and the remnant of My people shall possess them.

15. The Lord will be terrible unto them, for all the gods of the earth shall waste away (Zeph. 2:11).

16. Men shall worship Jehovah, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen.

17. The Ethiopians shall be slain by the sword (Zeph. 2:12).

18. He will stretch His hand toward the north and destroy Assyria, and will make Nineveh a desolation and dry like the wilderness (Zeph. 2:13).

19. Flocks shall lie down in the midst of her (Zeph. 2:14).

20. All the beasts of the nations will lie down in her.

21. The cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it.

22. Their voice shall sing in the windows.

23. Desolation shall be in the threshold.

24. He shall uncover the cedar work.

25. This is the proud city that shall become desolate, a place for beasts to lie down in (Zeph. 2:15).

26. Everyone passing by her shall hiss and wag his hand.

gather together... Five-fold Admonition of Judah

1. Gather yourselves together (Zeph. 2:1).

2. Gather together, O nation not desired; before the Lord’s anger comes upon you (Zeph. 2:1-2).

3. Seek the Lord (Zeph. 2:3).

4. Seek righteousness.

5. Seek meekness: It may be that you shall be hidden in the day of the Lord’s anger.

Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD'S anger come upon you. Zeph. 2:2

before... Note the four be-fore's in this verse.

the decree... The urgency of the prophet’s summons is seen in this verse. The three phrases introduced by the word before emphasize the point. If the nation did not repent, it would soon be too late. The nation could prevent the impending judgment if their repentance, like that of Nineveh’s, were immediate. The words and that day sweeps on like chaff function as a parenthesis to strengthen the first of the three clauses. Imminent repentance was imperative because the day of God’s wrath was rapidly approaching, like light chaff driven forcefully by the wind. The words anger and wrath translate the same Hebrew word ’ap̱ (lit., “nostril,” thus anger evident in hard breathing). Fierce (ḥărôn) means “burning,” from ḥārâh, “to burn, to kindle” (cf. “fierce anger” in Zeph. 3:8).

Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger. Zeph. 2:3

Seek ye... The prophet urged those who already know the Lord (as evidenced by their humble obedience to Him) to continue steadfast in their walk with Him. They were commanded to strive for three things: the Lord… righteousness, and humility (cf. Zeph. 3:12). The last two result from following the Lord.

it may be... If the remnant would seek the Lord, then they would be sheltered (lit., “hidden, concealed,” from sāṯar, a synonym of ṣāp̱an, from which comes the name “Zephaniah”) from the impending doom of God’s anger (’ap̱; cf. Zeph. 2:2). Though many will die in the Assyrian invasions, others will be spared. God sheltered or protected His remnant. Israel will be hidden from the Antichrist and protected through the great tribulation (Isa. 16:1-5; 26:20-21; Psm. 60:8; Mat. 24:15-22; Rev. 12:6, 12:14).

For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up. Zeph. 2:4

For Gaza shall... Zephaniah turned from warning Judah to prophesy similar wrath on her equally idolatrous neighbors. God is the God of all the nations, and those nations that led Judah to stumble would not escape the fury of His wrath. Since He would punish Judah, He surely would not overlook the sins of others. Zephaniah began with the nation to Judah’s west, Philistia (Zeph. 2:4-7), then moved east to Moab and Ammon (Zeph. 2:8-11), then south to Ethiopia (Zeph. 2:12), and north to Assyria (Zeph. 2:13-15).

and Ashkelon... The prophet predicted the destruction of four of Philistia’s five major cities — Gaza… Ashkelon… Ashdod, and Ekron, mentioned in order from south to north (see the map “Israel and Surrounding Nations in the Days of the Prophets” before Isa.). The reason for Gath’s being omitted is uncertain, but most scholars feel that the city had not recovered from Uzziah’s devastation of it (2Ch. 26:6). Or it may be that four rather than five are mentioned in order to maintain the literary symmetry of the verse’s structure. (Amos 1:6-8 omits Gath also.) Fittingly the Hebrew words for “Gaza” (‛azzâh) and abandoned (‛ăzûḇâh) are similar in sound, as are the words for “Ekron” (‛eqrôn) and uprooted (tē‛āqēr).

they shall... Ashdod would be destroyed at midday, when many people would be eating or resting, not alert for an invasion.

Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the LORD is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant. Zeph. 2:5

The identity of the Cherethite people (cf. “Cherethites” in Zeph. 2:6) is uncertain. The words are literally “nation of the Cretans,” thus referring to some Cretans who migrated eastward and settled on the Mediterranean coastal plains, by the sea. (Cherethites are also mentioned in 1Sa. 30:14; 2Sa. 8:18; 20:23; 1Ch. 18:17; Eze. 25:16.) “Caphtor” in Jer. 47:4 and Amos 9:7 is another name for Crete. The name Canaan in the same verse also refers to the coastal plains. The Lord’s pronouncement is as horrifying as it is clear — complete destruction was coming! None of the inhabitants on Israel's coastal plain would be left.

And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks. Zeph. 2:6

And the sea... Zephaniah wrote that Philistia, the land by the sea, where the Cherethites dwell, would be so depopulated that it would become pastures for the herding of sheep. The explanation for this gracious provision for God’s remnant is given in the last sentence of Zeph. 2:7.

And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the LORD their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity. Zeph. 2:7

the coast shall... In fact it would be acquired by the remnant of… Judah, those whom God would rescue from the judgment (Zeph. 2:3). The survivors of the day of wrath would become sheepherders, would occupy the land of their once-hated enemy, and would derive sustenance from it.

God shall visit... The remnant is the object of the love and providential concern of the Lord their God who cares for and restores His people. (Restore their fortunes; cf. Zeph. 3:20, renders the lit. “bring back their captives”; cf. NIV marg.) Judah’s future occupancy of this territory is guaranteed by the Abrahamic Covenant (Gen. 15:18-20).

I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border. Zeph. 2:8

have heard the... Zephaniah turned from the Philistines in the west to the two tribes to the east, Moab and Ammon, that were descended from Lot’s daughters (Gen. 19:30-38) and therefore were blood relatives of Judah. The sin of these tribes was their verbal hostility (insults… taunts… threats) toward God’s Chosen People (cf. Zeph. 2:10). These tribes had consistently been Israel’s enemies. The Moabite king Balak tried to destroy the nation with Balaam’s curses (Num. 22:1-41), for which God pronounced extermination (Num. 24:17). In the era of the Judges both Moab and Ammon repeatedly attempted to subjugate Israel (Jdg. 3:12-14; 10:7-9; 11:4-6). Both Saul and David defeated the Ammonites (1Sa. 11:1-11; 2Sa. 10:1-14), and Joram and Jehoshaphat routed the rebelling Moabites (2Ki. 3:1-27). Other prophets noted that Moab and Ammon haughtily violated Judah’s borders and ridiculed their distant Jewish relatives (cf. Isa. 16:6; 25:10-11; Jer. 48:29-30; Eze. 25:1-3, 25:6; Amos 1:13).

Therefore as I live, saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them. Zeph. 2:9

as I live... Surely Moab and Ammon were to perish like Sodom and Gomorrah, and be a perpetual desolation. Israel would possess their land and spoil them because of their sins (Zeph. 2:8-11). Following God’s indictment (Zeph. 2:8) His punishment was pronounced (Zeph. 2:9), intensified by the twice-repeated word surely. The Almighty God made a solemn oath (as surely as I live) that those arrogant oppressors would become like Sodom and Gomorrah, key cities destroyed in the day of their ancestor Lot (Gen. 19:23-29). This analogy meant that those nations would be reduced to complete ruin. The land would be taken from them and would become so barren that it would grow only weeds (prickly plants) and be covered with salt pits (cf. Jer. 48:9). As a sterile wasteland it would no longer be fruitful. Being near the Dead Sea, much of Moab and Ammon is salty, barren land, though the final fulfillment of the prophecies in Zeph. 2:8-10 is yet future in view of the words in Zeph. 2:11.

This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the LORD of hosts. Zeph. 2:10

shall they have... Zephaniah repeated the reasons for the judgments described in Zeph. 2:9. The sin of Moab and Ammon was their pride (cf. Isa. 16:6; Jer. 48:29), evidenced by their insulting and mocking of God’s people (cf. Zeph. 2:8; Eze. 25:5-6, 25:8). Again after the indictment God spelled out the penalty (cf. the similar pattern in Zeph. 2:8 followed by Zeph. 2:9). The Lord will judge them with His power and will destroy all their idols.

Magnified themselves against... In this section (Zeph. 2:8-11) the prophet repeated his message in a threefold argument: reasons for judgment (Zeph. 2:8, Zeph. 2:10), nature of the judgment (Zeph. 2:9, Zeph. 2:11), and the ultimate provision of blessing (Zeph. 2:9, Zeph. 2:11).

The LORD will be terrible unto them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen. Zeph. 2:11

He will famish... Famish, waste away; be no more.

and men shall... All men on earth will eventually worship Jehovah (Mal. 1:11). In the Millennium people in all nations… will worship the true God (cf. Mal. 1:11), everyone in his own land. The removal of all idolatry will pave the way for worldwide worship when Christ rules as King on the earth.

Ye Ethiopians also, ye shall be slain by my sword. Zeph. 2:12

The Cushites or Ethiopians are descendants of Cush, a son of Ham (Gen. 10:6; 1Ch. 1:8). These people, residing in the upper Nile region (today’s southern Egypt, Sudan, and northern Ethiopia), were the southernmost people known to Judah. Zephaniah’s words concerning them were few and one wonders if his choice of them, rather than, say, the troublesome Edomites, was simply to stretch the points of the compass to the known extremes. The Lord’s judgment on Cushites is that they, like all Israel’s enemies, would be killed in battle (slain) following the Antichrist.

And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a desolation, and dry like a wilderness. Zeph. 2:13

His hand against... Assyria was to be destroyed when God judged the nations of the north who came against Judah; and the place where Nineveh used to be would be a desolation, like a dry wilderness, with flocks, animals, and birds occupying the place (Zeph. 2:13-14).

and will make... Nineveh a desolation, and dry like a wilderness] This refers to Nineveh, which prided herself as the only worthwhile city on earth. She was to be so utterly destroyed that everyone passing by would hiss at her and wag the hand in derision (Zeph. 2:15).

And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it; their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds: for he shall uncover the cedar work. Zeph 2:14

And flocks shall... Having stated the fact of Assyria’s destruction (Zeph. 2:13), Zephaniah then elaborated on the nature of that nation’s utter demise (Zeph. 2:14). Flocks and herds may refer to hordes of wild animals (cf. Zeph. 2:15), not domesticated ones, that require extensive vegetation. Animals, the prophet said, would find their abode (lie down) in the city, and the noise of a busy city would be replaced by the sounds of the beasts and birds. Eerily, owls would occupy the columns and call through the windows of deserted buildings. (The exact identification of the birds desert owl and screech owl is uncertain, as noted in the NIV marg. to Isa. 34:11.) desolation shall be... Doorways of homes would be deserted; only rubble would lie there (cf. “rubble” in Zeph. 1:3).

for He shall... The beams of cedar, lying under more elaborate wall and ceiling coverings, would be exposed because of the soldiers’ ransacking of homes. The image that emerges is one of depopulation, destruction, and ruin.

This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand. Zeph. 2:15

she became a... The picture of Nineveh’s destruction is completed as the prophet reiterated that the city, though apparently quite secure, would be shamed. Nineveh’s claim (there is none besides me) was no idle boast! For many years she was superior in strength to any other city of her time.

a place for... God reduced the city miraculously and gave it to the wild beasts!

every one that... To scoff and to shake their fists were signs of contempt.