CIRCUMSTANCES OF WRITING

AUTHOR: Zephaniah’s lengthy genealogy (1:1, four generations back to Hezekiah) suggests he was of royal lineage. Why list four generations (other prophets, at most, listed two generations; see Zch 1:1) unless this final name was significant? Perhaps because his father’s name was “Cushi,” people tended to suspect that Zephaniah was of mixed ancestry, including Cushite bloodlines. In fact, Zephaniah twice mentions the Cushites/Cush (“Ethiopians”) in his short prophecy (2:12; 3:10), possibly suggesting his Cushite roots.

Internal evidence indicates the book of Zephaniah was written sometime between 640 and 612 BC. Zephaniah 1:1 refers to King Josiah’s reign (ca 640-609 BC), and 2:13-15 prophesies Nineveh’s fall. Since Nineveh fell in 612 BC, Zephaniah’s prophecy would have been given prior to that time. Furthermore, existing idolatrous practices in Judah (1:4-6) imply Zephaniah’s ministry began before Josiah’s reforms in roughly 621 BC (2Kg 23).

BACKGROUND: King Josiah’s father, Amon (1:1), was a wicked man, as was his father before him, King Manasseh (2Kg 21:1-7,11,16,20-22). This heritage of wickedness helps explain the rampant idolatry in the land when Josiah inherited the throne in 640 BC. Josiah struggled to eradicate idolatry in Judah (Zph 1:4-9). Together pagan and “orthodox priests” led worship of the Lord while also bowing before Baal, Molech, and other pagan gods (1:4-6). The public reading of the book of the law (ca 621 BC) helped spawn the reforms of Josiah as people repented and tore down the numerous altars (cp. Jr 11:13) and other idolatrous paraphernalia of Baal and Molech (2Kg 23:1-14; cp. Zph 1:3-4). This included dismissing the false priests (2Kg 23:5).

MESSAGE AND PURPOSE

In view of the impending destruction of the “day of the Lord” (1:7-18; 2:2-3), Zephaniah’s primary purpose was to extend an urgent invitation. He urged the people of Judah to seek the Lord alone in righteousness and humility (2:1-3). The immediate purpose was to warn idolatrous Judah of the Lord’s imminent judgment (1:4-13). The ultimate purpose was to call out a “remnant” from all nations (Judah, 2:7-9; Israel, 3:12-13; all nations, 3:9-10) to trust in the Lord because of the coming day of his judgment upon the earth (1:2-3,17-18).

THE DAY OF THE LORD: In biblical times, capturing a city through siege warfare took months or even years; only a truly mighty warrior king (see the Lord’s titles, 3:15,17) would claim to win a battle or even a war in a single day. The day of the Lord was any time he “visited” earth, whether to punish his enemies (1:7-9,12) or save his people (2:7; cp. 3:17). This would result in the salvation of his people from immediate hardships in some cases (2:7,9), but the ultimate day of the Lord will come in the end times (3:11-20; cp. Jl 3:14-21; Zch 14:1-14).

THE REMNANT: Zephaniah emphasized that God’s seemingly all-inclusive judgment (1:2-3,17-18; cp. 3:6; Am 9:1-4) was not inconsistent with preserving a few survivors, called the “remnant” or “remainder” of his people (see note at Zph 2:9). Although God would destroy the wicked of Judah and their foreign neighbors (2:4-9), he promised to preserve a remnant—including even foreign peoples—to worship the Lord (3:9; cp. 2:11b).

GOD’S TITLES: The Lord is both God of Israel (2:9a) and Lord (lit “Yahweh”) of Armies (2:9a-10), sovereign ruler over all armies of heaven and earth. Yahweh, King of Israel (3:15), is both “warrior” and “the Lord your God” who saves his people (3:17; cp. Ex 15:2-3,13-18). Second, “the Lord God” (Hb ’adonai Yahweh), universal Master of the earth, pours out his wrath (overflowing anger) in the day of the Lord (Zph 1:7,14-18) upon both idolatrous and complacent worshipers (1:4-13). Also “Lord of Armies” focused on his punishment of nations that mistreated his people (2:8-10) and his “starving” of their false gods (2:11). Thus the Lord’s jealous anger is released (1:18; cp. Dt 4:23-27) not only against Judah (Zph 2:2-3) but upon all earthly kingdoms (3:8). The Lord is a righteous God who executes justice (3:5) in the midst of rebellious Judah (3:1-4) by purging out haughty rebels (3:11). Yet because of his love (3:17), this warrior King (3:15,17) will thwart the plans of Judah’s enemies, remove their deserved punishment, and save them from harm (3:15-17,19).

CONTRIBUTION TO THE BIBLE

The promise of a remnant illustrates God’s amazing grace, counterbalancing his jealous wrath and blazing fury against the wicked (Nah 1:2-8). He would judge the proud nations (Zph 2:8-11,13-15) and purge the haughty braggarts from his people (3:11) to preserve the humble. Thus Zephaniah invited everyone who humbly obeyed the Lord to seek him for possible deliverance (2:2-3). The NT highlights the wonderful truth that all of us can find salvation through faith in Christ. Paul underscored the idea of the Jewish remnant and reminded us that the remnant is “chosen by grace,” not by works (Rm 11:5-6).

STRUCTURE

“The word of the Lord” (lit Yahweh, 1:1a) and “the Lord [Yahweh] has spoken” (3:20b) frame the whole book of Zephaniah to emphasize crucial complementary messages: imminent, universal judgment (1:1-3:8) but eventual blessing for the remnant (3:9-20). The chiastic first section, interlaced by the reinforcing refrain “this is the Lord’s declaration” (see 1:2-3,10a; 2:9a; 3:8a; cp. 2:5, “word of the Lord”), highlights an all-inclusive judgment.

Zephaniah 3:8 is a transitional exhortation that looks both backward (“therefore,” v. 8a) and forward (wait patiently for God to consummate judgment which will yield salvation for the remnant; vv. 9-13, introduced by Hebrew ki, “for/because” vv. 9,11). To offer hope during judgment in 3:8-13 may synthesize two exhortations: 1:7 (hush/wait for the day of the Lord’s “cutting off ” the wicked) and 2:1-3 (pivotal invitation to seek him for possible salvation).

OUTLINE

I.Prophecy of God’s Judgments (1:1-2:3)

A.Identity of the prophet (1:1)

B.Announcement of certain judgment (1:2-6)

C.Announcement of the day of the Lord (1:7-9)

D.The day of the Lord, a day of woe (1:10-13)

E.Judgment will not be delayed (1:14-18)

F.Exhortation to repentance (2:1-3)

II.God’s Judgment of the Nations (2:4-3:8)

A.Destruction of Philistia announced (2:4-7)

B.Moab and Ammon to be destroyed (2:8-11)

C.Universality of the judgment (2:12-15)

D.The corrupt city Jerusalem (3:1-8)

III.Promised Blessings (3:9-20)

A.Salvation and deliverance (3:9-13)

B.Salvation demands praise (3:14-20)

800-725 BC

Amos is called to travel from Judah to Israel to prophesy in Samaria. 783

Jonah is called to go to Nineveh and preach repentance.

Hosea’s prophetic ministry 750-722?

Micah begins his prophetic ministry. 750

Assyria emerges from years of decline as Tiglath-pileser III invades Israel and other territories in the region. 745-727

Isaiah is called to be a prophet. 740

725-640 BC

Assyria’s Shalmaneser V besieges Samaria. 725-722

Samaria falls to Assyria’s Sargon II, nearly 28,000 Israelites are sent into exile, and Gentiles from Assyrian-controlled territories are resettled into what was the northern kingdom. 722

Third temple reform under Hezekiah 715

Years of prophetic silence (698-626) in Judah coincides with some of Judah’s darkest years under the rule of Manasseh (697-642) and Amon (642-640).

640-615 BC

Josiah is placed on Judah’s throne at the age of eight when his father, Amon, is assassinated. 640

Initial reforms of Josiah 631

Zephaniah’s years of prophecy range between 626 and 612.

Jeremiah called to be a prophet; warns of invasion from the north 626

The book of the law is found and read publicly, spurring additional reform under Josiah. 621

Zephaniah and Nahum both prophesy the fall of Nineveh that occurred in 621.

615-580 BC

With the fall of Nineveh, the Babylonian Empire succeeds the Assyrian Empire as the dominant force in the ancient Near East. 612

Josiah killed in battle by Pharaoh Neco 609

Habakkuk prophesies shortly before or after the battle at Carchemish (605) to point out what the growing Babylonian strength means for Judah.

Nebuchadnezzar attacks Jerusalem and leads citizens of Judah into exile. 605, 597, 586, 582