These twin convictions, shared by all of the contributors to the new international commentary on the old testament, define the goal of this. Zephaniah and the judgment of god professor of old. In this book, zephaniah announces gods purifying judgment on israel. Zephaniah spoke of the last days the future around his. Is not this a passage from an epistle of plato like what is said by sophonias the prophet. Introduction 286 the book of zephaniah is probably best known for being the least known book of the entire bible. What does it mean to worship the starry host or the host of the heavens zephaniah 1. But, the truly important aspect of this is the parents motive behind the punishment. It began as a historical matter during the time of moses. Book of zephaniah, the ninth of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, collected in one book, the twelve, in the jewish canon. In this case, it refers primarily to gods impending time of judgment on the nation of judah.
Although this hezekiah is not specifically designated as the famous king by that name, there can be little question that this is the reason for the length of the genealogy. The book is concerned throughout with the day of the lord. Indeed, his main message was regarding the day of the lord. The word of the lord which came unto zephaniah the son of cushi, the son of gedaliah, the son of amariah, the son of hizkiah, in the days of josiah the son of amon, king of judah. There came a time when it was necessary to be punished. Zephaniah was a prophet of doom in the true sense of the word. It could either mean to hide or to watch, and has been variously rendered, yahweh has hidden, or watchman for. Wo to her that is filthy bishop newcome reads, rebellious, and the vulgate, provoking, and polluted that is, defiled with various crimes. Book of zephaniah overview insight for living ministries. Zephaniah 3 commentary bensons commentary on the old. Zephaniah, book of definition and meaning bible dictionary.
I will utterly consume all things from off the land, saith the lord. This important series contains modern works written by noted authors as well as classic volumes of scholarship. Nahum, habakkuk, zephaniah tyndale old testament commentaries book 27 david w. Zephaniah is book number 36 in the old testament of the bible. Clicking on a chapter will show you the text of that chapter of zephaniah in the bible king james version. Not much is known about the prophet zephaniah except that which is mentioned in his book. Palmer robertson the books of nahum, habakkuk, and zephaniah new international commentary on the old testament, 1990. We learn from the first verse of zephaniahs book that he was the greatgreat grandson of good king hezekiah of judah. Zephaniah s ministry, then, was directed to judah just before these major changes came about. Zephaniahs ministry occurred during the reign of josiah, king of judah. The old and new testament library series offers authoritative commentary on many old and new testament books and provides additional theological works that closely examine major aspects of both testaments. Commentary on the book of zephaniah by matthew henry old. The book consists of a series of independent sayings, many of which are rightly attributed to zephaniah, written probably about 640630 bc.
It will remove evil and open up a new future where all people can. Zephaniah overview bensons commentary on the old and new. Zephaniah and the judgment of god professor of old testament. Zephaniah points to a day when all the nations will turn to the lord 3. Commentaries in this series provide fresh translations based on the best.
When did moab and ammon eventually worship the lord zephaniah 2. His word came in visions, oracles, dreams, parables, and the like. All that is known of zephaniah comes from the text the name cushi, zephaniahs father, means cushite or ethiopian, and the text of zephaniah mentions the sin and restoration of. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible, who published his works in 1706, sixvolume exposition of the old and new testaments 17081710 or complete commentary, provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the bible, covering the whole of the old testament, and the gospels and acts in the new testament. Aug 23, 2010 i have been professor of old testament at northern baptist seminary since 1988. It was a day that would come against judah for all her sins, but he also acknowledged that some had remained faithful and they would be spared.
We learn in the same verse that zephaniah prophesied during the reign of good king josiah of judah 640608 b. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the books of nahum, habakkuk, and zephaniah new international commentary on the old testament. Zephaniah s message of judgment and encouragement contains three major doctrines. A world judgment seek the lord, all you meek of the earth, who have upheld his justice. Nahum, habakkuk, and zephaniah otl the old testament library j. Zephaniah 3 commentary bensons commentary on the old and. Summary of the old testament summary of the new testament key points of the old testament key points of the new testament bible timeframe biblenotes pdf answered questions leave a comment. When god had a message for the people, he spoke through the prophets. Edward miller, journal for the study of the new testament 26 2003 21736 in 1995, new testament studies published a provocative piece by philip payne entitled, fuldensis, sigla for variants in vaticanus, and 1 cor. A day of darkness at noon the great judgment day of god is almost here.
The books superscription attributes its authorship to zephaniah son of cushi son of gedaliah son of amariah son of hezekiah, in the days of king josiah son of amon of judah 1. The book of zephaniah was written during the reign of king josiah, likely in the early part of his reign, between 635 and 625 bc. And the spirit took me up and carried me into the fifth heaven, and i beheld angels that. Zephaniah was the grandson of hezekiah, but we cannot be sure that this hezekiah was the same hezekiah who ruled jerusalem during the time of isaiah. Thus the period from 640 to 622 is the likely time for the giving of the prophecy.
Zephaniahs message of judgment and encouragement contains three major. In the first place we have a definite title, apocalypse of sophonias, and a stichometry600 lines. Jonah, nahum, habakkuk, zephaniah the niv application commentary book james bruckner. I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the. Despite the fact that each of the 12 books of the minor prophets were written at different times and places, sometime in the development of the hebrew canon, these twelve books. Zephaniah 1 niv bible the word of the lord that came to. The prophet zephaniah speaks much of the destruction that will come about on the day of the lord. In the old testament we read gods word as it was spoken to his people israel. The books of nahum, habakkuk, and zephaniah new international commentary on the old testament robertson, o. Zephaniah spoke of the last days the future around his time or even possibly yet to come now. The books of nahum, habakkuk, and zephaniah new international commentary on the old testament, 1990. He prophesies that a righteous remnant will be left in the land of israel and will joyfully share in the lords victory.
Zephaniah bible book with full chapters king james version. Josiah led judah to religious and social reform, but zephaniah declared that these spiritual changes would not last. Short summary of zephaniah the kjv bible scriptures the content of zephaniah according to the kjv bible scriptures contains a short overview of the main subjects, people, events and ancient topics in the following summary of the kjv bible scriptures. Zephaniah 1 background information with maps and images. Zephaniah overview bensons commentary on the old and. The book of zechariah, attributed to the hebrew prophet zechariah, is included in the twelve minor prophets in the hebrew bible. The book tells us that zephaniah prophesied during the reign of josiah, the king of judah from 640 to 609 bc zephaniah 1. On the day of the lords sacrifice i will punish the princes and the kings sons and all those clad in foreign clothes. Summary of the book of zephaniah the story of the bible. His ancestry is traced back four generations to a person named hezekiah zeph. These prophets were not only astute observers of their time and authors of literary distinction, they were also spiritually sensitive men who held a high concern for gods person and reputation.
What can ordinary people do about sinful religious leaders zephaniah 3. I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumblingblocks with the wicked. From the beginning of history, god worked through appointed mediators in administering the mediatorial kingdom. Some old testament scholars have argued that there is an overall structure to minor prophets. This book mentions the day of the lord more than does any other book in the old testament, clarifying the picture of judahs fall. Is not this a passage from an epistle of plato like what is said by sophonias the prop. Among the minor prophets, we are certainly much more familiar with jonah and hosea. Nahum, habakkuk, and zephaniah emphasize punishment while haggai, zechariah, and malachi focus on restoration. The holman old testament commentary has two volumes on the minor prophets that came to be so called because of their size but not their importance. Book of zephaniah encyclopedia of the bible bible gateway. We can begin to pinpoint exactly when zephaniah prophesied by accounting for a few details in the text. Nahum, habakkuk, and zephaniah otl the old testament. Zephaniah is the ninth of the minor prophets, the last 12 books of the old testament. There is a wealth of spiritual lessons and teachings in all of the old testament books, including the book of zephaniah.
We can understand these prophecies, as always, by looking to. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Smith, the prophets birth in the killing time of manasseh 2 kings 21. Harrison, introduction to the old testament 1969, 941. I graduated from california baptist college, golden gate baptist seminary, the southern baptist seminary, and have done additional graduate work at the graduate theological union. God will develop a proper relationship with his people zephaniah 3. This volume contains commentary on the last six of the minor prophets. Zephaniah s prophetic revelations and stern warnings occurred during josiahs reign zephaniah 1. Message of zephaniah this book mentions the day of the lord more than does any other book in the old testament, clarifying the picture of judahs fall to abylon and the eventual judgment and restoration of all humanity in the future. We have no additional information about zephaniah, nor are scholars certain about the meaning of his name.
Bitter and noisy cries on my judgment day, even strong men screaming for help. Book of zephaniah, also called sophonias, the ninth of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, collected in one book, the twelve, in the jewish canon. The word zephaniah means yahweh has hidden, or yahweh has treasured. He prophesied in the reign of josiah, as he himself tells us, habakkuk 3. Zephaniah is, however, the first of our old testament writers whose mind is dominated entirely by eschatological ideas, and it is this, which gives him his importance in the history of israels religion. Paul house argues that the first six books, hosea to micah have sin as their theme. According to epiphanius, zephaniah was of the tribe of simeon. There is little consensus of opinion on details cf. This prophetic concept refers to any intervention of god in. Smith, the prophets birth in the killing time of manasseh. Old testament theology can be summarized under the central theme of this mediatorial kingdom. The judgment of the lord will descend on judah and jerusalem as a punishment. Zephaniah 1 niv the word of the lord that came to bible gateway. There are a number of helpful commentaries on the book of zephaniah, and the following are five of the best.
Zephaniah was one of the minor prophets of the old testament. Zephaniah these are all of the chapters of the book of zephaniah. The old testament, in conjunction with the new testament, is a source of inspiration, instruction and sound teachings about how god wants us to live. The books of nahum, habakkuk, and zephaniah new international commentary on the old testament kindle edition by robertson, o.
The name, zephaniah, is found several times in the old testament, but it is generally thought to refer to other persons. What does it mean that god will rejoice over us with singing zephaniah 3. Zephaniah zephaniah is the only prophet introduced with a lineal genealogy of such depth. It may be that you will be hidden in the day of the lords anger. These disciplines of life are not always pleasant for the children or the parents. Zephaniah lived during one of the worst times in the history of judah, under the evil reign of king manasseh. Zephaniah s ministry occurred during the reign of josiah, king of judah. Zephaniah is the thirtysixth book in the christian old testament, falling between habakkuk and haggai.
Old testament hebrewenglish holy name king james version with strongs numbers. I have been professor of old testament at northern baptist seminary since 1988. The books of nahum, habakkuk, and zephaniah are often neglected by pastor and people alike, to the loss of all concerned. Their pronouncements on the greed, materialism, and spiritual and moral decay. I have cut off the nations i have executed vengeance upon that great city nineveh, zephaniah 2. He warns of the terrible fate that awaits those who reject the lord 1.
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