Zephaniah 2:1

The first three verses of this chapter must be understood in the light of the first chapter. Zephaniah established the theme of the whole prophecy as the judgment of all mankind (Zephaniah 1:1-3), and devoted the rest of the chapter to the judgment of Jerusalem and Judah, using terminology that includes glimpses of both the final judgment of all men, and the more immediate and particular judgment of Jerusalem. "He now exhorts the righteous to seek the Lord and strive after righteousness an humility, that they may be hidden in the day of the Lord"[1] (Zephaniah 2:1-3). "These verses have the utility of distinguishing the remnant from the nation, which is not desired."[2] The stern tone of these verses is criticized by some because there is no mention of God's mercy; but as Carson said, "We are not to understand that Zephaniah thought otherwise than that all our hopes of ultimate salvation begin in the mercy and grace of God."[3] Early nineteenth century critics in support of their subjective attacks upon the integrity of the prophecy usually removed these three verses as an interpolation or insisted that they were addressed to the Philistines;[4] but such attacks upon the prophecy were incapable of being accepted. John D. W. Watts (1975), a highly respected, present-day scholar has this:

"(The passage) is addressed to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. The people of God are usually called "a people" and the word "nation" is used mainly for the heathen so that it became a synonym for heathen. But here Jerusalem is deliberately classed with foreign nations, as in Zephaniah 3:1-7. It had become so foreign in its ways that it seemed to belong more to them than to God."[5]

As for the allegations that these verses (or any other portion of the prophecy) are the work of some post-exilic "editor"; "There is no manuscript evidence for omission."[6] The arrogant subjective imaginations of Biblical critics are no valid substitute for MS authority. The "imaginations" of scholars today are no more trustworthy than were the imaginations of mankind before the flood, when "The imaginations of men were evil, and only evil, continually" (Genesis 6:5).

The balance of the chapter (Zephaniah 2:4-15) pronounces God's judgment upon the heathen nations to the west, east, south, and north of Jerusalem, in such a manner as to present the judgments as a type of the Eternal Judgment, the general theme of the book. This echo of the Great Assize dominates Zephaniah and produces magnificent overtones of the Messianic Age and the kingdom of Jesus Christ.

Zephaniah 2:1

"Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation that hath no shame."

"Gather yourselves together ..." is a call for repentance.

"O nation that hath no shame ..." Many scholars comment on uncertainties in the text here; and Powis Smith has listed a number of possible translations of this place, thus:

"O nation unabashed; O nation undisciplined; O nation unlovable; O nation that does not desire to be converted to the law; O nation that never paled (at the fear of God); O nation not desired; O nation hated; O nation that hath no longing (after God)."[7]

Despite all such possibilities, the general meaning is clear.