Zephaniah 2:1-3:20 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zephaniah 2:1-3

Here we see what the prophet meant in that terrible description of the approaching judgments which we had in the foregoing chapter. From first to last his design was, not to drive the people to despair, but to drive them to God and to their duty?not to frighten them out of their wits, but to frighten them out of their sins. In pursuance of that he here calls them to repentance, national repentance, as the only way to prevent national ruin. Observe, I. The summons given them to a national... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zephaniah 2:1

Gather yourselves together ,.... This is said to the people of the Jews in general; that whereas the judgments of God were coming upon them, as predicted in the preceding chapter Zephaniah 1:1 , it was high time for them to get together, and consider what was to be done at such a juncture; it was right to call a solemn assembly, to gather the people, priests, and elders, together, to some one place, as Joel directs, Joel 1:14 the inhabitants of Jerusalem to the temple, and the people of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zephaniah 2:1

Gather yourselves - Others, sift yourselves. Separate the chaff from the wheat, before the judgments of God fall upon you. O nation not desired - unlovely, not delighted in; hated because of your sin. The Israelites are addressed. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zephaniah 2:1

Verse 1 The Prophet, after having spoken of God’s wrath, and shown how terrible it would be, and also how near, now exhorts the Jews to repentance, and thus mitigates the severity of his former doctrine, provided their minds were teachable. We hence learn that God fulminates in his word against men, that he may withhold his hand from them. The more severe, then, God is, when he chastises us and makes known our sins, and sets before us his wrath, the more clearly he testifies how precious and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zephaniah 2:1

Gather yourselves together . So the versions; and this rendering is probably correct. The prophet calls upon his nation to assemble themselves together in order to take mutual counsel or to make general confession and supplication to God. Another rendering, based on some alteration of letters, is, "Set yourselves to be ashamed; yea, be ashamed" (comp. Isaiah 46:8 ). Yea, gather together. The LXX . renders the two words, συνάχθητε καὶ συνδέθητε , "be ye gathered and bound... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zephaniah 2:1-2

Having declared fully and faithfully the Divine judgments, the prophet changed his tone, and, turning, to another aspect of truth and blending compassion with severity, he tenderly entreated those who had become so estranged from God to return to him with all their hearts. This is how he appeals to his godless fellow countrymen. "Gather yourselves," etc. ( Zephaniah 2:1 , Zephaniah 2:2 ). Notice — I. THE HARDENING EFFECT OF SIN . Evil hardens those who indulge in it, even as... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zephaniah 2:1-2

I. THE CONDITION OF THE NATION DESCRIBED . Not its physical or material, but its moral or religious, condition. The former prosperous and fitted to inspire vain thoughts of stability and permanence. Its upper classes devoted to money making and pleasure seeking ( Zephaniah 1:8 , Zephaniah 1:12 ; cf. Jeremiah 4:30 ); its lower orders, here not the victims of oppression ( Zephaniah 1:9 ; Zephaniah 3:1 ; cf. Jeremiah 5:27 , Jeremiah 5:28 ; Jeremiah 6:6 ), well fed... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zephaniah 2:1-3

§ 1. The prophet urges all to examine their ways before the day of the Lord come; and he prays the righteous to seek the Lord more earnestly, in order that they may be safe in the judgment. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zephaniah 2:1-3

"Gather yourselves together," etc. Here is an exhortation to the men of Judah to repent ere the Chaldean invaders approach, and wreak destruction on their land. Two thoughts are suggested. I. SIN EXPOSES MAN TO RUIN . It was sin, in the form of idolatry and gross immorality, that exposed the Jewish people to the terrible doom that was now hanging over them. Sin is evermore the cause of all human suffering. Corporeal sin brings corporeal suffering; moral sin brings moral... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Zephaniah 2:1

Having set forth the terrors of the Judgment Day, the prophet adds an earnest call to repentance; and then declares how judgments, forerunners of that Day, shall fall, one by one, on those nations around, who know not God, and shall rest upon Nineveh, the great beautiful ancient city of the world. Jerome: “See the mercy of God. It had been enough to have set before the wise the vehemence of the coming evil. But because He willeth not to punish, but to alarm only, Himself calleth to repentance,... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zephaniah 2:1-3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zephaniah 2:1

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zephaniah 2:1

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zephaniah 2:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Zephaniah 2:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Zephaniah 2:1-2

The Pulpit Commentary - Zephaniah 2:1-2

The Pulpit Commentary - Zephaniah 2:1-3

The Pulpit Commentary - Zephaniah 2:1-3

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Zephaniah 2:1

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