Zephaniah 1:2-6

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zephaniah 1:1-6

Here is, I. The title-page of this book (Zeph. 1:1), in which we observe, 1. What authority it has, and who gave it that authority; it is from heaven, and not of men: It is the word of the Lord. 2. Who was the instrument of conveying it to the church. His name was Zephaniah, which signifies the servant of the Lord, for God revealed his secrets to his servants the prophets. The pedigree of other prophets, whose extraction we have an account of, goes no further back than their father, except... read more

John Gill

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

I will utterly consume all things from off the land, saith the Lord. That is, from the land of Judah, by means of the Chaldeans or Babylonians: this is a general denunciation of the judgments of God, the particulars follow: or, "in gathering I will gather"; all good things out of the land; all the necessaries of life, and blessings of Providence; all that is for the sustenance and pleasure of man, as well as all creatures, by death or captivity; and so the land should be entirely stripped,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zephaniah 1:3

I will consume man and beast ,.... Wicked men for their sins, and beasts for the sins of men; and, as a punishment for them, the creatures whom they have abused to the gratifying of their lusts: I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea ; so that there shall be none for the use of man, which are both delicate food; the latter were not consumed at the general deluge. Kimchi thinks this is said by way of hyperbole; but it is possible for these to be consumed, as men... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zephaniah 1:4

I will also stretch out mine hand upon Judah ,.... Under whom the tribe of Benjamin is comprehended, which are only designed; the ten tribes having been carried captive in Hezekiah's time many years before this: not "to Judah", as beckoning to come and hearken to him, as calling to repentance and reformation; this he had done, but was rejected, and therefore determines to stretch out his hand "upon" them; nor "over Judah", to protect and defend them; but "upon Judah", exerting his power,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zephaniah 1:5

And upon them that worship the host of heaven upon the house tops ,.... The sun, moon, and stars, which some worshipped upon their house tops; the roofs of their houses being flat, as the roofs of the houses of the Jews generally were; from hence they had a full view of the host of heaven, and worshipped them openly; and fancied, the nearer they were to them, the more acceptable was their service; see Jeremiah 19:13 , and them that worship, and that swear the Lord, and that swear by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zephaniah 1:6

And them that are turned back from the Lord ,.... Who once were worshippers of him, but now become apostates, and had turned their backs on him and his worship. Some think this describes those who renewed their covenant with God in Josiah's time, and after that revolted from him, who must be very abominable to him; and therefore he threatens to stretch out his hand, and pour out his wrath upon them: and those that have not sought the Lord, nor inquired for him ; profane abandoned... read more

Adam Clarke

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

I will utterly consume all things - All being now ripe for destruction, I will shortly bring a universal scourge upon the land. He speaks particularly of the idolaters. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zephaniah 1:3

I will consume man and beast - By war, and by pestilence. Even the waters shall he infected, and the fish destroyed; the air become contaminated, and the fowls die. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zephaniah 1:4

I will cut off the remnant of Baal - I think he refers here, partly at least, to the reformation which Josiah was to bring about. See the account, 2 Kings 23:5 ; (note). The Chemarims - The black-robed priests of different idols. See the note on 2 Kings 23:6 . These were put down by Josiah. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zephaniah 1:5

The host of heaven - Sun, moon, planets, and stars. This worship was one of the most ancient and the most common of all species of idolatry; and it had a greater semblance of reason to recommend it. See 2 Kings 23:6 , 2 Kings 23:12 ; Jeremiah 19:13 ; Jeremiah 32:29 . That swear by the Lord, and that swear by Malcham - Associating the name of an idol with that of the Most High. For Malcham, see on Hosea 4:15 ; (note), and Amos 5:26 ; (note). read more

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