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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zephaniah 1:14-18

Nothing could be expressed with more spirit and life, nor in words more proper to startle and awaken a secure and careless people, than the warning here given to Judah and Jerusalem of the approaching destruction by the Chaldeans. That is enough to make the sinners in Zion tremble?that it is the day of the Lord, the day in which he will manifest himself by taking vengeance on them. It is the great day of the Lord, a specimen of the day of judgment, a kind of doom?s-day, as the last destruction... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zephaniah 1:17

And I will bring distress upon men ,.... Not upon men in general, but particularly on the men of Judea, and inhabitants of Jerusalem; and especially those that were in the fenced cities and high towers; and who might think themselves safe and secure; but, being besieged, should be distressed with famine and pestilence, and with the enemy; and more especially when stormed, and a breach made, and the enemy just entering: that they shall walk like blind men ; not knowing which way to go,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zephaniah 1:17

They shall walk like blind men - Be in the most perplexing doubt and uncertainty; and while in this state, have their blood poured out by the sword of their enemies, and their flesh trodden under foot. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zephaniah 1:17

Verse 17 He confirms what I have already stated—that though other enemies, the Assyrians or Chaldeans, attacked the Jews, yet God would be the principal leader of the war. God then claims here for himself what the Jews transferred to their earthly enemies: and the Prophet has already often called it the day of Jehovah; for God would then make known his power, which had been a sport to them. He therefore declares in this place, that he would reduce man to distress, so that the whole nation would... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zephaniah 1:1-18

Part I. THE JUDGMENT UPON ALL THE WORLD , AND UPON JUDAH IN PARTICULAR . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zephaniah 1:1-18

We learn from ver. 1 that Zephaniah received from the Lord his message to Judah in the days of Josiah, the last of the godly and reforming kings, who, after the gross corruption of the preceding reigns of Manasseh and Amon, restored to a large extent the purity of the worship of God, and was the means of bringing about a certain kind and degree of repentance and amendment in the people. Probably, however, the major part of Zephaniah's prophecy belongs to the early part of Josiah's reign,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zephaniah 1:14-18

§ 5. To arouse the self-confident sinners, the prophet here enlarges upon the near approach and terrible nature of this coming judgment. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zephaniah 1:17

In this storming of cities and universal ruin, sinners shall perish without hope. I will bring distress upon men. I will drive them into the utmost straits (comp. Deuteronomy 28:52 , Deuteronomy 28:53 ). They shall walk like blind men. Not knowing where they go in their terror and confusion, seeking a way of escape and finding none (see Deuteronomy 28:29 , on which this passage is founded; comp. Job 5:14 ; Isaiah 59:10 ). Because they have sinned, as shown in vers. 4-12. Their... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Zephaniah 1:17

I will bring distress upon men - I will hem them in, in anguish on all sides. God Himself shall meet them with His terrors, wherever they turn. “I will hem them in, that they may find it so” .That they shall walk like blind men - Utterly bereft of counsel, seeing no more than the blind which way to turn, grasping blindly and franticly at anything, and going on headlong to their own destruction. So God forewarned them in the law; “Thou shalt grope at noon day, as the blind gropeth in darkness”... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Zephaniah 1:17-18

Zephaniah 1:17-18. I will bring distress, &c., that they shall walk as blind men I will bring them into such straits that they shall no more know whither to turn themselves, or which way to go for safety, than if they were blind: compare Deuteronomy 28:29, and Isaiah 59:10; in both which places the image is heightened by the circumstance of groping, or stumbling, like the blind, even at noon-day. And their blood shall be poured out as dust That is, as if it were of no value at all;... read more

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