Zephaniah 1 Background Information with Maps and Images (Picture Study Bible - Zephaniah) Free Bible Online

Zephaniah 1

The 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

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
Back to the Old Testament
Back to Bible History Online