Zephaniah Images and
NotesThe Book of Zephaniah
Zephaniah 1:4-8 - 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; 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; And them that are
turned back from the LORD; and [those] that have not sought the
LORD, nor enquired for him. 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. 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.
Zephaniah 1:14-18 - 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. 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, A day of the trumpet and alarm
against the fenced cities, and against the high towers. 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.
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.
The Old Testament - A Brief Overview
Bible Survey - Zephaniah
Hebrew Name - Tsephaniyah
"Yahweh Hides"
Greek Name - Sophonias (Greek form of the Hebrew)
Author - Zephaniah (According to Tradition)
Date - 630 BC Approximately
Theme - The Day of the Lord is Approaching
Types and Shadows - In Zephaniah The Day of Jesus is Coming
Summary of The Book of Zephaniah
Zephaniah lived
during one of the worst times in the history of Judah, under the evil reign of
King Manasseh. Fortunately for Judah it would not be long before Josiah would
begin his glorious reign, and it was during the revival that took place during
this period that Zephaniah began to prophesy. He was quick to to condemn
the idolatrous worship of the Canaanite and Assyrian deities, and he predicted
doom for the heathen nations that surrounded Judah: the Philistines, the
Moabites, the Ammonites, the Ethiopians, and the Assyrians. Zephaniah also
foretold of the destruction of Jerusalem, and also her glorious restoration.
- The above text is © Rusty
Russell - Bible History Online and must be sourced for use on a
website.
The opening verses of the book of Zephaniah revealed the prophet Zephaniah's lineage
that traced back to King Hezekiah, which made him of royal blood. Zephaniah
probably lived in Judah, and possibly Jerusalem, since he clearly knew the city
so well. According to Zephaniah 1:1 the prophecy took place during the early
portion of the reign of Josiah (642-611 BC), and revival didn't come under the
reign of Josiah until 18 years after he took the throne. Zephaniah brings up the
lack of justice in the land, oppression of the poor, and wealth that was gained
by violence and fraudulent practices (Zephaniah 1:8-9). The people had forsaken
the Lord under the evil reign of King Manasseh, and they were still worshiping Baal
(Zephaniah 1:4). Many were worshiping and swearing oaths by the name of heathen
deities like Malcham, who was associated with the god Moloch, the god who
required worship by human sacrifice (Zephaniah 1:5). Many had completely
"turned back from the Lord" (Zephaniah 1:6). The Lord said that he will search
out and punish those who have "settled on their lees" (Zephaniah 1:12), thinking
in their heart that God will not do anything.
The prophet Zephaniah's main message was concerning the "Day
of the Lord" which he mentions continually throughout the book.
On that day the Lord will personally deal with those who had
forsaken him and become corrupt. The day of the Lord is a day of
destruction, a terrible day, a day in which very few will
escape. Zephaniah 3 reveals the blessings of the day of the
Lord, they will be a pure language "that everyone may call upon
the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent" (Zephaniah
3:9). He gives a beautiful imagery of the fortunes of the
"Daughter of Zion": God will do away with their sins, there
lies, their deceitful tongues, and "they shall feed and
lie down, and none shall make them afraid." (Zephaniah 3:13).
"The LORD your God in your midst, the Mighty One,
will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will quiet
you with His love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah
3:17
The book of Zephaniah may be outlined as follows:
Outline of the Book of Zephaniah
Zephaniah 1:1-3 God's Judgment upon the World
Zephaniah 1:4-13 God's Judgment upon Judah and Jerusalem
Zephaniah 1:14-18 The Day of the Lord
Zephaniah 2:1-3 God's Call for Repentance
Zephaniah 2:4-7 God's Judgment upon the Philistines
Zephaniah 2:8-10 God's Judgment upon the Moabites and the
Ammonites
Zephaniah 2:11-15 God's Judgment upon Other Nations like
Ethiopia and Assyria
Zephaniah 3:1-8 God's Judgment upon Jerusalem
Zephaniah 3:9-13 Salvation and Blessings in the Kingdom
Zephaniah 3:14-20 God Is Praised in the Kingdom
Zephaniah Resources
The Divided Kingdom
The
Northern Kingdom of Israel
The
Southern Kingdom of Judah
The Assyrian Captivity
The Babylonian Captivity
The Return From Babylon
The Prophets
The Messiah
The Book of Zephaniah
More About the Book of
Zephaniah
Zephaniah in the Picture
Study Bible
Chart
of the Prophets of Israel and Judah
Timeline of the Ancient
World
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