suppliants = worshippers. Hebrew. 'athar. Occurs in this sense nowhere else. From 'ath ar = to burn incense (Ezekiel 8:11 ); hence to pray or worship. the daughter of My dispersed: i.e. My dispersed People [Israel]. read more
"From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering.""From the rivers of Ethiopia ..." "The use of Ethiopia here is to include the most distant nations of all, Ethiopia being considered as far away as they could imagine."[24] The dominion of Messiah is universal, with no racial or national distinctions whatever."Even the daughter of my dispersed ..." "This expression often means the scattered people of Israel; but the parallels to... read more
Zephaniah 3:10. From beyond the rivers, &c.— From the borders of the rivers of Ethiopia, those whom I have hitherto dispersed shall become my suppliants, and shall bring me an offering. Houbigant. The Jews, dispersed in the most distant countries, as the farthest parts of Ethiopia, shall come into the Christian church, and there pay their adorations to the God of their fathers. read more
10. From beyond . . . Ethiopia my suppliants—literally, "burners of incense" (compare Psalms 141:2; Revelation 5:8; Revelation 8:3; Revelation 8:4). The Israelites are meant, called "the daughter of My dispersed," a Hebrew idiom for My dispersed people. "The rivers of Ethiopia" are those which enclose it on the north. In the west of Abyssinia there has long existed a people called Falashas, or "emigrants" (akin to the synonym "Philistine"). These trace their origin to Palestine and profess the... read more
III. THE DAY OF YAHWEH’S BLESSING 3:9-20Having finished the revelation dealing with God’s judgment of the world in a coming day (Zephaniah 1:2 to Zephaniah 3:8), Zephaniah now announced that He would bring great blessing to all humankind after that judgment (Zephaniah 3:9-20). As in the section of the book on judgment, he revealed God’s plans for the Gentile nations briefly first and then spoke extensively about His plans for Israel."Why did the prophets consistently close their books with... read more
The descendants of the Lord’s dispersed ones, the Jews, would bring him offerings of worship from the farthest corners of the earth. The rivers of Ethiopia, probably the Nile and its tributaries, were at the edge of the known world in the prophet’s day (cf. Zephaniah 2:12). The implication is that the Jews will come to Jerusalem, the city the Lord chose as the place where He would dwell among His people (cf. Deuteronomy 30:1-10; Isaiah 66:18; Isaiah 66:20). read more
1. Israel’s purification 3:10-13 read more
B. The transformation of Israel 3:10-20Zephaniah had received from the Lord much more revelation about what He would do for Israel following the period of worldwide punishment. This section is also chiastic in its thought structure.A Israel’s purification Zephaniah 3:10-13B Israel’s and Yahweh’s rejoicing Zephaniah 3:14-17A’ Israel’s regathering Zephaniah 3:18-20 read more
The Judgment upon the Evil Rulers of Jerusalem, and its ultimate Purification and RestorationLike Amos and Micah, the prophet sternly denounces the crimes of the ruling classes in Jerusalem, points out their ingratitude to Jehovah, and announces the doom that is inevitable. The gloom of the opening vv. is dispelled, however, by the hopes of restoration which appear to reflect a later age. Zephaniah 3:9-10, Zephaniah 3:14-20 have the exultant ring of Isaiah 40-55.1. Her that is filthy and... read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Zephaniah 3:9-20
3:9-20 SALVATION FOR THE REPENTANTWhen all the sinners have been destroyed, the humble who have previously turned from their sin (see 2:1-3) will then enjoy a new life of peace and blessing. In the midst of judgment there is mercy for the repentant. Cleansed sinners from all nations will worship and serve God with pure hearts (9-10). No longer will Jerusalem be characterized by the pride, rebellion, dishonesty and deceit of Zephaniah’s day. Wrongdoing will be removed from the community of God’s... read more