- Introductory Matters
- The prophet
- Why is Hezekiah mentioned in his genealogy?
- May be intended to link Zephaniah to royalty as a descendant of King
Hezekiah - Zephaniah does seem quite familiar with Jerusalem and the court, never
denounces the king personally, and never mentions the poor people in Judah - perhaps he is
of royal blood
- May be to show that Zephaniah was a full-blooded Jew - with a father
whose name was Cushi, some may have thought Zephaniah was at least partially descended
from the people of Cush
- His name means "the Lord has treasured"
- Date
- In the days of Josiah (1:1) but clearly before Josiah's reform
because Zephaniah condemns corrupt and perverse religious practices (1:4-6,8,9,12)
- Probably during the decade 640-630 B.C.E.
- Literary structure
- Preaching against Judah (1:2-18)
- Preaching against foreign nations (2:1-15)
- Preaching of salvation to come (3:1-20)
- Message of the Book
- Preaching against Judah (1:2-18)
- Zephaniah described a syncretistic
religion - the worship of God had been mixed with Canaanite, Ammonite, and Assyrian
religions as well as others - Zephaniah condemned this hybrid, "cover all your
bases" religion
- Some of the inhabitants of Judah believed God was either powerless or
uninvolved (1:12) - God would not or could not reward the faithful and punish the wicked -
why bother to serve Him?
- Zephaniah picked up Amos' teaching about the Day of the Lord - this
day would be a day of destruction for Judah as punishment for Judah's sin
- Preaching against foreign nations (2:1-15)
- Zephaniah stated that God would severely deal with Judah's enemies;
the Philistines, Moab, Ammon, and Assyria - Ethiopia is also briefly mentioned
- These nations are guilty of two sins
- They scoffed at Israel, God's people (2:10) - this probably implied
the conquest of and attacks against Israel and Judah
- They were proud - "I am and there is none else" (2:15) -
they had made themselves their own gods
- Preaching of salvation to come (3:1-20)
- God will work with all people - His purposes are universal (3:9-10)
- Jerusalem's punishment will end, her exiles will be brought home, and
her fortunes will be restored