3 Seek H1245 ye the LORD, H3068 all ye meek H6035 of the earth, H776 which have wrought H6466 his judgment; H4941 seek H1245 righteousness, H6664 seek H1245 meekness: H6038 it may be H194 ye shall be hid H5641 in the day H3117 of the LORD'S H3068 anger. H639
Seek H1875 good, H2896 and not evil, H7451 that ye may live: H2421 and so the LORD, H3068 the God H430 of hosts, H6635 shall be with you, as ye have spoken. H559 Hate H8130 the evil, H7451 and love H157 the good, H2896 and establish H3322 judgment H4941 in the gate: H8179 it may be that the LORD H3068 God H430 of hosts H6635 will be gracious H2603 unto the remnant H7611 of Joseph. H3130
[[To the chief Musician, H5329 Altaschith, H516 Michtam H4387 of David, H1732 when he fled H1272 from H6440 Saul H7586 in the cave.]] H4631 Be merciful H2603 unto me, O God, H430 be merciful H2603 unto me: for my soul H5315 trusteth H2620 in thee: yea, in the shadow H6738 of thy wings H3671 will I make my refuge, H2620 until these calamities H1942 be overpast. H5674
Blessed G3107 are the meek: G4239 for G3754 they G846 shall inherit G2816 the earth. G1093
Come, H3212 my people, H5971 enter H935 thou into thy chambers, H2315 and shut H5462 thy doors H1817 about thee: hide H2247 thyself as it were for a little H4592 moment, H7281 until the indignation H2195 be overpast. H5674 For, behold, the LORD H3068 cometh out H3318 of his place H4725 to punish H6485 the inhabitants H3427 of the earth H776 for their iniquity: H5771 the earth H776 also shall disclose H1540 her blood, H1818 and shall no more cover H3680 her slain. H2026
When God H430 arose H6965 to judgment, H4941 to save H3467 all the meek H6035 of the earth. H776 Selah. H5542
The meek H6035 shall eat H398 and be satisfied: H7646 they shall praise H1984 the LORD H3068 that seek H1875 him: your heart H3824 shall live H2421 for ever. H5703
And rend H7167 your heart, H3824 and not your garments, H899 and turn H7725 unto the LORD H3068 your God: H430 for he is gracious H2587 and merciful, H7349 slow H750 to anger, H639 and of great H7227 kindness, H2617 and repenteth H5162 him of the evil. H7451 Who knoweth H3045 if he will return H7725 and repent, H5162 and leave H7604 a blessing H1293 behind H310 him; even a meat offering H4503 and a drink offering H5262 unto the LORD H3068 your God? H430
Sow H2232 to yourselves in righteousness, H6666 reap H7114 in H6310 mercy; H2617 break up H5214 your fallow ground: H5215 for it is time H6256 to seek H1875 the LORD, H3068 till he come H935 and rain H3384 righteousness H6664 upon you.
For thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 unto the house H1004 of Israel, H3478 Seek H1875 ye me, and ye shall live: H2421 But seek H1875 not Bethel, H1008 nor enter H935 into Gilgal, H1537 and pass H5674 not to Beersheba: H884 for Gilgal H1537 shall surely H1540 go into captivity, H1540 and Bethel H1008 shall come to nought. H205 Seek H1875 the LORD, H3068 and ye shall live; H2421 lest he break out H6743 like fire H784 in the house H1004 of Joseph, H3130 and devour H398 it, and there be none to quench H3518 it in Bethel. H1008
Thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts; H6635 The fast H6685 of the fourth H7243 month, and the fast H6685 of the fifth, H2549 and the fast H6685 of the seventh, H7637 and the fast H6685 of the tenth, H6224 shall be to the house H1004 of Judah H3063 joy H8342 and gladness, H8057 and cheerful H2896 feasts; H4150 therefore love H157 the truth H571 and peace. H7965
Ask, G154 and G2532 it shall be given G1325 you; G5213 seek, G2212 and G2532 ye shall find; G2147 knock, G2925 and G2532 it shall be opened G455 unto you: G5213 For G1063 every one G3956 that asketh G154 receiveth; G2983 and G2532 he that seeketh G2212 findeth; G2147 and G2532 to him that knocketh G2925 it shall be opened. G455
Brethren, G80 I G1473 count G3049 not G3756 myself G1683 to have apprehended: G2638 but G1161 this one thing G1520 I do, forgetting G1950 those things G3303 which are behind, G3694 and G1161 reaching forth unto G1901 those things which are before, G1715 I press G1377 toward G2596 the mark G4649 for G1909 the prize G1017 of the high G507 calling G2821 of God G2316 in G1722 Christ G5547 Jesus. G2424
Set your affection G5426 on things above, G507 not G3361 on things on G1909 the earth. G1093 For G1063 ye are dead, G599 and G2532 your G5216 life G2222 is hid G2928 with G4862 Christ G5547 in G1722 God. G2316 When G3752 Christ, G5547 who is our G2257 life, G2222 shall appear, G5319 then G5119 shall G5319 ye G5210 also G2532 appear G5319 with G4862 him G846 in G1722 glory. G1391
Furthermore G3063 then G3767 we beseech G2065 you, G5209 brethren, G80 and G2532 exhort G3870 you by G1722 the Lord G2962 Jesus, G2424 that as G2531 ye have received G3880 of G3844 us G2257 how G4459 ye G5209 ought G1163 to walk G4043 and G2532 to please G700 God, G2316 so G2443 ye would abound G4052 more and more. G3123
Wherefore G1352 lay apart G659 all G3956 filthiness G4507 and G2532 superfluity G4050 of naughtiness, G2549 and receive G1209 with G1722 meekness G4240 the engrafted G1721 word, G3056 which G3588 is able G1410 to save G4982 your G5216 souls. G5590 But G1161 be ye G1096 doers G4163 of the word, G3056 and G2532 not G3361 hearers G202 only, G3440 deceiving G3884 your own selves. G1438
But with righteousness H6664 shall he judge H8199 the poor, H1800 and reprove H3198 with equity H4334 for the meek H6035 of the earth: H776 and he shall smite H5221 the earth H776 with the rod H7626 of his mouth, H6310 and with the breath H7307 of his lips H8193 shall he slay H4191 the wicked. H7563
That ye shall say, H559 It is the sacrifice H2077 of the LORD'S H3068 passover, H6453 who passed H6452 over the houses H1004 of the children H1121 of Israel H3478 in Egypt, H4714 when he smote H5062 the Egyptians, H4714 and delivered H5337 our houses. H1004 And the people H5971 bowed the head H6915 and worshipped. H7812
Because thine heart H3824 was tender, H7401 and thou didst humble H3665 thyself before H6440 God, H430 when thou heardest H8085 his words H1697 against this place, H4725 and against the inhabitants H3427 thereof, and humbledst H3665 thyself before H6440 me, and didst rend H7167 thy clothes, H899 and weep H1058 before H6440 me; I have even heard H8085 thee also, saith H5002 the LORD. H3068 Behold, I will gather H622 thee to thy fathers, H1 and thou shalt be gathered H622 to thy grave H6913 in peace, H7965 neither shall thine eyes H5869 see H7200 all the evil H7451 that I will bring H935 upon this place, H4725 and upon the inhabitants H3427 of the same. So they brought H7725 the king H4428 word H1697 again. H7725
For this shall every one that is godly H2623 pray H6419 unto thee in a time H6256 when thou mayest be found: H4672 surely in the floods H7858 of great H7227 waters H4325 they shall not come nigh H5060 unto him. Thou art my hiding place; H5643 thou shalt preserve H5341 me from trouble; H6862 thou shalt compass H5437 me about with songs H7438 of deliverance. H6405 Selah. H5542
The name H8034 of the LORD H3068 is a strong H5797 tower: H4026 the righteous H6662 runneth H7323 into it, and is safe. H7682
And they went in H935 unto Noah H5146 into the ark, H8392 two H8147 and two H8147 of all flesh, H1320 wherein H834 is the breath H7307 of life. H2416 And they that went in, H935 went in H935 male H2145 and female H5347 of all flesh, H1320 as God H430 had commanded H6680 him: and the LORD H3068 shut him in. H5462
Seek H1875 ye the LORD H3068 while he may be found, H4672 call H7121 ye upon him while he is near: H7138 Let the wicked H7563 forsake H5800 his way, H1870 and the unrighteous H205 man H376 his thoughts: H4284 and let him return H7725 unto the LORD, H3068 and he will have mercy H7355 upon him; and to our God, H430 for he will abundantly H7235 pardon. H5545
The Spirit H7307 of the Lord H136 GOD H3069 is upon me; because the LORD H3068 hath anointed H4886 me to preach good tidings H1319 unto the meek; H6035 he hath sent H7971 me to bind up H2280 the brokenhearted, H7665 H3820 to proclaim H7121 liberty H1865 to the captives, H7617 and the opening of the prison H6495 to them that are bound; H631
Only acknowledge H3045 thine iniquity, H5771 that thou hast transgressed H6586 against the LORD H3068 thy God, H430 and hast scattered H6340 thy ways H1870 to the strangers H2114 under every green H7488 tree, H6086 and ye have not obeyed H8085 my voice, H6963 saith H5002 the LORD. H3068 Turn, H7725 O backsliding H7726 children, H1121 saith H5002 the LORD; H3068 for I am married H1166 unto you: and I will take H3947 you one H259 of a city, H5892 and two H8147 of a family, H4940 and I will bring H935 you to Zion: H6726
If thou wilt return, H7725 O Israel, H3478 saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 return H7725 unto me: and if thou wilt put away H5493 thine abominations H8251 out of my sight, H6440 then shalt thou not remove. H5110 And thou shalt swear, H7650 The LORD H3068 liveth, H2416 in truth, H571 in judgment, H4941 and in righteousness; H6666 and the nations H1471 shall bless H1288 themselves in him, and in him shall they glory. H1984
Shalt thou reign, H4427 because thou closest H8474 thyself in cedar? H730 did not thy father H1 eat H398 and drink, H8354 and do H6213 judgment H4941 and justice, H6666 and then it was well H2896 with him? He judged H1777 the cause H1779 of the poor H6041 and needy; H34 then it was well H2896 with him: was not this to know H1847 me? saith H5002 the LORD. H3068
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Zephaniah 2
Commentary on Zephaniah 2 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 2
Zep 2:1-15. Exhortation to Repent before the Chaldean Invaders Come. Doom of Judah's Foes, the Philistines, Moab, Ammon, with Their Idols, and Ethiopia and Assyria.
1. Gather yourselves—to a religious assembly, to avert the judgment by prayers (Joe 2:16) [Grotius]. Or, so as not to be dissipated "as chaff" (Zep 2:2). The Hebrew is akin to a root meaning "chaff." Self-confidence and corrupt desires are the dissipation from which they are exhorted to gather themselves [Calvin]. The foe otherwise, like the wind, will scatter you "as the chaff." Repentance is the gathering of themselves meant.
nation not desired—(Compare 2Ch 21:20), that is, not desirable; unworthy of the grace or favor of God; and yet God so magnifies that grace as to be still solicitous for their safety, though they had destroyed themselves and forfeited all claims on His grace [Calvin]. The Margin from Chaldee Version has, "not desirous," namely of returning to God. Maurer and Gesenius translate, "Not waxing pale," that is, dead to shame. English Version is best.
2. Before the decree bring forth—that is, Before God's decree against you announced by me (Zep 1:1-18) have its fulfilment. As the embryo lies hid in the womb, and then emerges to light in its own due time, so though God for a time hides His vengeance, yet He brings it forth at the proper season.
before the day pass as the chaff—that is, before the day for repentance pass, and with it you, the ungodly, pass away as the chaff (Job 21:18; Ps 1:4). Maurer puts it parenthetically, "the day (that is, time) passes as the chaff (that is, most quickly)." Calvin, "before the decree bring forth" (the predicted vengeance), (then) the chaff (the Jews) shall pass in a day, that is, in a moment, though they thought that it would be long before they could be overthrown. English Version is best; the latter clause being explanatory of the former, and so the before being understood, not expressed.
3. As in Zep 2:1 (compare Note, see on Zep 1:12) he had warned the hardened among the people to humble themselves, so now he admonishes "the meek" to proceed in their right course, that so they may escape the general calamity (Ps 76:9). The meek bow themselves under God's chastisements to God's will, whereas the ungodly become only the more hardened by them.
Seek ye the Lord—in contrast to those that "sought not the Lord" (Zep 1:6). The meek are not to regard what the multitudes do, but seek God at once.
his judgment—that is, law. The true way of "seeking the Lord" is to "work judgment," not merely to be zealous about outward ordinances.
seek meekness—not perversely murmuring against God's dealings, but patiently submitting to them, and composedly waiting for deliverance.
it may be ye shall be hid—(Isa 26:20; Am 5:6). This phrase does not imply doubt of the deliverance of the godly, but expresses the difficulty of it, as well that the ungodly may see the certainty of their doom, as also that the faithful may value the more the grace of God in their case (1Pe 4:17-19) [Calvin]. Compare 2Ki 25:12.
4. For—He makes the punishment awaiting the neighboring states an argument why the ungodly should repent (Zep 2:1) and the godly persevere, namely, that so they may escape from the general calamity.
Gaza shall be forsaken—In the Hebrew there is a play of similar sounds, Gaza Gazubah; Gaza shall be forsaken, as its name implies. So the Hebrew of the next clause, Ekron teeakeer.
at the noonday—when on account of the heat Orientals usually sleep, and military operations are suspended (2Sa 4:5). Hence an attack at noon implies one sudden and unexpected (Jer 6:4, 5; 15:8).
Ekron—Four cities of the Philistines are mentioned, whereas five was the normal number of their leading cities. Gath is omitted, being at this time under the Jews' dominion. David had subjugated it (1Ch 18:1). Under Joram the Philistines almost regained it (2Ch 21:16), but Uzziah (2Ch 26:6) and Hezekiah (2Ki 18:8) having conquered them, it remained under the Jews. Am 1:6; Zec 9:5, 6; Jer 25:20, similarly mention only four cities of the Philistines.
5. inhabitants of the seacoast—the Philistines dwelling on the strip of seacoast southwest of Canaan. Literally, the "cord" or "line" of sea (compare Jer 47:7; Eze 25:16).
the Cherethites—the Cretans, a name applied to the Philistines as sprung from Crete (De 2:23; Jer 47:4; Am 9:7). Philistine means "an emigrant."
Canaan … land of the Philistines—They occupied the southwest of Canaan (Jos 13:2, 3); a name which hints that they are doomed to the same destruction as the early occupants of the land.
6. dwellings and cottages for shepherds—rather, "dwellings with cisterns" (that is, water-tanks dug in the earth) for shepherds. Instead of a thick population and tillage, the region shall become a pasturage for nomad shepherds' flocks. The Hebrew for "dug cisterns," Ceroth, seems a play on sounds, alluding to their name Cherethites (Zep 2:5): Their land shall become what their national name implies, a land of cisterns. Maurer translates, "Feasts for shepherds' (flocks)," that is, one wide pasturage.
7. remnant of … Judah—those of the Jews who shall be left after the coming calamity, and who shall return from exile.
feed thereupon—namely, in the pastures of that seacoast region (Zep 2:6).
visit—in mercy (Ex 4:31).
8. I have heard—A seasonable consolation to Judah when wantonly assailed by Moab and Ammon with impunity: God saith, "I have heard it all, though I might seem to men not to have observed it because I did not immediately inflict punishment."
magnified themselves—acted haughtily, invading the territory of Judah (Jer 48:29; 49:1; compare Zep 2:10; Ps 35:26; Ob 12).
9. the breeding of nettles—or, the overspreading of nettles, that is, a place overrun with them.
salt pits—found at the south of the Dead Sea. The water overflows in the spring, and salt is left by the evaporation. Salt land is barren (Jud 9:45; Ps 107:34, Margin).
possess them—that is, their land; in retribution for their having occupied Judah's land.
10. (Compare Zep 2:8).
their pride—in antithesis to the meek (Zep 2:3).
11. famish—bring low by taking from the idols their former fame; as beasts are famished by their food being withheld. Also by destroying the kingdoms under the tutelage of idols (Ps 96:4; Isa 46:1).
gods of the earth—who have their existence only on earth, not in heaven as the true God.
every one from his place—each in his own Gentile home, taught by the Jews in the true religion: not in Jerusalem alone shall men worship God, but everywhere (Ps 68:29, 30; Mal 1:11; Joh 4:21; 1Co 1:2; 1Ti 2:8). It does not mean, as in Isa 2:2; Mic 4:1, 2; Zec 8:22; 14:16 that they shall come from their several places to Jerusalem to worship [Maurer].
all … isles of … heathen—that is, all the maritime regions, especially the west, now being fulfilled in the gathering in of the Gentiles to Messiah.
12. Fulfilled when Nebuchadnezzar (God's sword, Isa 10:5) conquered Egypt, with which Ethiopia was closely connected as its ally (Jer 46:2-9; Eze 30:5-9).
Ye—literally, "They." The third person expresses estrangement; while doomed before God's tribunal in the second person, they are spoken of in the third as aliens from God.
13. Here he passes suddenly to the north. Nineveh was destroyed by Cyaxares and Nabopolassar, 625 B.C. The Scythian hordes, by an inroad into Media and thence in the southwest of Asia (thought by many to be the forces described by Zephaniah, as the invaders of Judea, rather than the Chaldeans), for a while interrupted Cyaxares' operations; but he finally succeeded. Arbaces and Belesis previously subverted the Assyrian empire under Sardanapalus (that is, Pul?), 877 B.C.
14. flocks—of sheep; answering to "beasts" in the parallel clause. Wide pastures for sheep and haunts for wild beasts shall be where once there was a teeming population (compare Zep 2:6). Maurer, needlessly for the parallelism, makes it "flocks of savage animals."
beasts of the nations—that is, beasts of the earth (Ge 1:24). Not as Rosenmuller, "all kinds of beasts that form a nation," that is, gregarious beasts (Pr 30:25, 26).
cormorant—rather, the "pelican" (so Ps 102:6; Isa 34:11, Margin).
bittern—(Isa 14:23). Maurer translates, "the hedgehog"; Henderson, "the porcupine."
upper lintels—rather, "the capitals of her columns," namely, in her temples and palaces [Maurer]. Or, "on the pomegranate-like knops at the tops of the houses" [Grotius].
their voice shall sing in the windows—The desert-frequenting birds' "voice in the windows" implies desolation reigning in the upper parts of the palaces, answering to "desolation … in the thresholds," that is, in the lower.
he shall uncover the cedar work—laying the cedar wainscoting on the walls, and beams of the ceiling, bare to wind and rain, the roof being torn off, and the windows and doors broken through. All this is designed as a consolation to the Jews that they may bear their calamities patiently, knowing that God will avenge them.
15. Nothing then seemed more improbable than that the capital of so vast an empire, a city sixty miles in compass, with walls one hundred feet high, and so thick that three chariots could go abreast on them, and with fifteen hundred towers, should be so totally destroyed that its site is with difficulty discovered. Yet so it is, as the prophet foretold.
there is none beside me—This peculiar phrase, expressing self-gratulation as if peerless, is plainly adopted from Isa 47:8. The later prophets, when the spirit of prophecy was on the verge of departing, leaned more on the predictions of their predecessors.
hiss—in astonishment at a desolation so great and sudden (1Ki 9:8); also in derision (Job 27:23; La 2:15; Eze 27:36).