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Matthew Henry

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 1:5

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

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

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zephaniah 1:5

Verse 5 Zephaniah pursues the subject contained in the verse I explained yesterday. For as the majority of the people still adhered to their superstitions, though the pure worship of the law had been restored by Josiah, the Prophet threatens here, that God would punish such ingratitude. As then he had spoken in the last verse of the worshipers of Baal and their sacrifices, so now he proceeds farther—that the Lord would execute vengeance on the whole people, who prayed to the host of heaven, or... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zephaniah 1:1-6

I. MEANING OF HIS NAME . Zephaniah, "One whom Jehovah hides." Hiding in the day of calamity a blessing promised to them that fear Go( Psalms 31:19 , Psalms 31:20 ), who are therefore styled God's hidden ones ( Psalms 83:4 ), and may confidently reckon upon God's extending to them his protecting care in the midst of peril ( Psalms 27:5 ), yea, may even boldly flee unto him to hide them ( Psalms 143:9 ). II. THE DIGNITY OF HIS PERSON . The scion of a kingly... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zephaniah 1:1-6

"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 Amen, King of Judah. I will utterly consume all things from off the land, saith the Lord. I will consume man and beast," etc. Of Zephaniah we have no information but what is contained in his prophecy. His genealogy is given in the first verse of this chapter. He prophesied in the reign of Josiah, probably between the twelfth and... 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 1:4-6

§ 3. The judgment will fall especially upon Judah and Jerusalem for their idolatry. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zephaniah 1:5

That worship the host of heaven upon the house tops. In this verse two classes of fame worshippers are mentioned, viz. star worshippers, and waverers. The worship of the sun, moon, and stars was a very ancient form of error, the heavenly bodies being regarded as the representatives of the powers of nature and the originators of events on earth (see Deuteronomy 4:19 ; Deuteronomy 17:3 ; Job 31:26 , Job 31:27 ; 2 Kings 17:16 ). It was especially prevalent in the time of Manasseh ( 2... read more

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