Zephaniah 1:15-16

15, 16. “In order to depict more fully the terrible character of this day, Zephaniah crowds together in Zephaniah 1:15-16 all the words supplied by the language to describe the terror of the judgment.”

Day of wrath A day on which the wrath of Jehovah will manifest itself against everything that is impure and sinful (see on Nahum 1:2). The effects of this manifestation are described in the rest of the verse (compare Isaiah 22:5).

1. Trouble and distress Men will not know what to do (Job 15:24).

2. Wasteness and desolation The land will be wasted and thus share in the judgment (Job 38:27).

3. Darkness… gloominess,… clouds… thick darkness If meant to be understood literally, the words express the thought that nature also will be affected by the terrible judgment (see on Joel 2:2; Joel 2:30-31); they might, however, be used figuratively (see on Amos 5:18). Zephaniah 1:16 shows that war will be the means of executing the judgment.

Trumpet Better, horn (see on Hosea 5:8).

Alarm The same word is translated “shouting” in Amos 1:14; Amos 2:2 (see there). The shouting of the attacking soldiers and the sound of the signal horns will be heard everywhere.

Fenced cities Of Judah (compare Isaiah 2:15; Micah 5:11).

High towers R.V., “battlements.” The corners and battlements of the walls surrounding the cities (2 Chronicles 26:15).