Zephaniah 2

Call to repentance (vs. 1-3)—Following the strong, dramatic words of denunciation in chapter one, Zephaniah follows up with a call to repentance. Gather together and listen, “O undesirable nation,” or, in the ASV’s words, “O nation that hath no shame” (v. 1). Before it’s too later, “before the day of the LORD'S anger comes upon you” (v. 2), “seek the LORD, all you meek of the earth…seek righteousness, seek humility” (v. 3), and “it may be that you will be hidden in the day of the LORD'S anger.” The Lord always promises goodness upon repentance. Zephaniah’s words here indicate that there was still some hope; at least, the “meek of the earth” might escape the worst of God’s judgments. Certainly humbling ourselves before God is a must if we wish to forego His wrath.

Judgment upon the nations (vs. 4-15)—In the rest of this chapter, Zephaniah has some words of condemnation for several nations around Judah, who had plagued God’s people through the years. In verses 4-7, he prophesies against Israel’s ancient enemies, the Philistines. Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, and Ekron (v. 4) were all famous Philistine cities. The Cherethites (v. 5) were perhaps foreign mercenaries. King David apparently used them at times (cf. II Sam. 8:18; 15:18), but so did the Philistines. Clarke says they were Cretans (from the isle of Crete), and may have been a colony of Philistia. Regardless, the Lord’s message was “I will destroy you; so there shall be no inhabitant" (v. 5). “The seacoast (where Philistia was) shall be pastures…and a remnant for the house of Judah” (vs. 6-7). When the Israelites returned from Babylonian captivity, that land would be theirs. No more Philistines, who had before the time of Abraham (Genesis 21:32). In verses 8-11, Zephaniah writes of the coming doom of Moab and Ammon, who were the sons of Lot by his daughters (read this disgusting tale in Genesis 19). They were to be punished for having “reproached my people and made arrogant threats against their borders” (v. 8). Thus, “surely Moab shall be like Sodom, and the people of Ammon like Gomorrah” (v. 9). Pride was also a noteworthy sin of these peoples (v. 10). No more Philistines around today, nor are there any Moabites or Ammonites. Zephaniah’s prophesies have proven true. Verse 12 has a brief prophecy against Ethiopia: “You Ethiopians also, you shall be slain by My sword.” This is largely the same geographical region as Ethiopia occupies today, but it was larger in ancient times. Nebuchadnezzar pretty well took care of these people, about the time he sacked Jerusalem; but notice, no permanent annihilation was prophesied as with Philistia, Moab, and Ammon. The last few verses are a prediction about Nineveh and the Assyrians (vs. 13-15). It appears that this prophecy of Zephaniah may have been in the 630s before the final destruction of that city and empire, because in the prophet’s words, that event is yet future. The arrogance of this wicked city is eloquently described in verse 15: “This is the rejoicing city that dwelt securely, that said in her heart, ‘I am, and there is none else besides me.’" But Nineveh would “become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down” (v. 15). Verses 13 and 14 speak of Assyria’s destruction as yet future; verse 15 speaks as if it had already come. It probably hadn’t happened yet by the time of Zechariah’s work, but it was so sure to happen that he speaks as if it already had.