--- title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible" author: "Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown" languages: [en] shelf: "Commentaries" section: 546 of 927 url: https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/546/ cite: "Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, section 546. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/546/" --- # Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible *Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown* The Victorian standard commentary, critical and practical, from Genesis to Revelation. ## 546. Zephaniah · 2 of 4 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/546/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/546/#p-N [¶0] 14. voice of ... day of ... Lord--that is, Jehovah ushering in that day with a roar of vengeance against the guilty ([Jr 25:30]; [Am 1:2]). They who will not now heed ([Zep 1:12]) His voice by His prophets, must heed it when uttered by the avenging foe. [¶1] mighty ... shall cry ... bitterly--in hopeless despair; the might on which Jerusalem now prides itself, shall then fail utterly. [¶2] 15. wasteness ... desolation--The Hebrew terms by their similarity of sounds, Shoah, Umeshoah, express the dreary monotony of desolation (see on [Na 2:10]). [¶3] 16. the trumpet--namely, of the besieging enemy ([Am 2:2]). [¶4] alarm--the war shout [Maurer]. [¶5] towers--literally, "angles"; for city walls used not to be built in a direct line, but with sinuous curves and angles, so that besiegers advancing might be assailed not only in front, but on both sides, caught as it were in a cul-de-sac; towers were built especially at the angles. So Tacitus describes the walls of Jerusalem [Histories, 5.11.7]. [¶6] 17. like blind men--unable to see whither to turn themselves so as to find an escape from existing evils. [¶7] flesh--Hebrew, "bread"; so the Arabic term for "bread" is used for "flesh" ([Mt 26:26]). [¶8] 18. Neither ... silver nor ... gold shall ... deliver them, &c.--([Pr 11:4]). [¶9] fire of his jealousy--([Eze 38:19]); His wrath jealous for His honor consuming the guilty like fire. [¶10] make even a speedy riddance of all--rather, a "consummation" (complete destruction: "full end," [Jr 46:28]; [Eze 11:13]) "altogether sudden" [Maurer]. "A consumption, and that a sudden one" [Calvin]. ### Chapter 2 ### Zep 2:1-15. Exhortation to Repent before the Chaldean Invaders Come. Doom of Judah's Foes, the Philistines, Moab, Ammon, with Their Idols, and Ethiopia and Assyria [¶13] 1. Gather yourselves--to a religious assembly, to avert the judgment by prayers ([Joe 2:16]) [Grotius]. Or, so as not to be dissipated "as chaff" ([Zep 2:2]). The Hebrew is akin to a root meaning "chaff." Self-confidence and corrupt desires are the dissipation from which they are exhorted to gather themselves [Calvin]. The foe otherwise, like the wind, will scatter you "as the chaff." Repentance is the gathering of themselves meant. [¶14] nation not desired--(Compare [2Ch 21:20]), that is, not desirable; unworthy of the grace or favor of God; and yet God so magnifies that grace as to be still solicitous for their safety, though they had destroyed themselves and forfeited all claims on His grace [Calvin]. The Margin from Chaldee Version has, "not desirous," namely of returning to God. Maurer and Gesenius translate, "Not waxing pale," that is, dead to shame. English Version is best. [¶15] 2. Before the decree bring forth--that is, Before God's decree against you announced by me ([Zep 1:1-18]) have its fulfilment. As the embryo lies hid in the womb, and then emerges to light in its own due time, so though God for a time hides His vengeance, yet He brings it forth at the proper season. [¶16] before the day pass as the chaff--that is, before the day for repentance pass, and with it you, the ungodly, pass away as the chaff ([Job 21:18]; [Psa 1:4]). Maurer puts it parenthetically, "the day (that is, time) passes as the chaff (that is, most quickly)." Calvin, "before the decree bring forth" (the predicted vengeance), (then) the chaff (the Jews) shall pass in a day, that is, in a moment, though they thought that it would be long before they could be overthrown. English Version is best; the latter clause being explanatory of the former, and so the before being understood, not expressed. [¶17] 3. As in [Zep 2:1] (compare Note, see on [Zep 1:12]) he had warned the hardened among the people to humble themselves, so now he admonishes "the meek" to proceed in their right course, that so they may escape the general calamity ([Psa 76:9]). The meek bow themselves under God's chastisements to God's will, whereas the ungodly become only the more hardened by them. [¶18] Seek ye the Lord--in contrast to those that "sought not the Lord" ([Zep 1:6]). The meek are not to regard what the multitudes do, but seek God at once. [¶19] his judgment--that is, law. The true way of "seeking the Lord" is to "work judgment," not merely to be zealous about outward ordinances. [¶20] seek meekness--not perversely murmuring against God's dealings, but patiently submitting to them, and composedly waiting for deliverance. [¶21] it may be ye shall be hid--([Is 26:20]; [Am 5:6]). This phrase does not imply doubt of the deliverance of the godly, but expresses the difficulty of it, as well that the ungodly may see the certainty of their doom, as also that the faithful may value the more the grace of God in their case ([1Pe 4:17-19]) [Calvin]. Compare [2Ki 25:12]. [¶22] 4. For--He makes the punishment awaiting the neighboring states an argument why the ungodly should repent ([Zep 2:1]) and the godly persevere, namely, that so they may escape from the general calamity. [¶23] Gaza shall be forsaken--In the Hebrew there is a play of similar sounds, Gaza Gazubah; Gaza shall be forsaken, as its name implies. So the Hebrew of the next clause, Ekron teeakeer. [¶24] at the noonday--when on account of the heat Orientals usually sleep, and military operations are suspended ([2Sa 4:5]). Hence an attack at noon implies one sudden and unexpected ([Jr 6:4], ; ). [¶25] Ekron--Four cities of the Philistines are mentioned, whereas five was the normal number of their leading cities. Gath is omitted, being at this time under the Jews' dominion. David had subjugated it ([1Ch 18:1]). Under Joram the Philistines almost regained it ([2Ch 21:16]), but Uzziah ([2Ch 26:6]) and Hezekiah ([2Ki 18:8]) having conquered them, it remained under the Jews. [Am 1:6]; [Zec 9:5], ; [Jr 25:20], similarly mention only four cities of the Philistines. [¶26] 5. inhabitants of the seacoast--the Philistines dwelling on the strip of seacoast southwest of Canaan. Literally, the "cord" or "line" of sea (compare [Jr 47:7]; [Eze 25:16]). [¶27] the Cherethites--the Cretans, a name applied to the Philistines as sprung from Crete ([De 2:23]; [Jr 47:4]; [Am 9:7]). Philistine means "an emigrant." [¶28] Canaan ... land of the Philistines--They occupied the southwest of Canaan ([Jos 13:2], ); a name which hints that they are doomed to the same destruction as the early occupants of the land. [¶29] 6. dwellings and cottages for shepherds--rather, "dwellings with cisterns" (that is, water-tanks dug in the earth) for shepherds. Instead of a thick population and tillage, the region shall become a pasturage for nomad shepherds' flocks. The Hebrew for "dug cisterns," Ceroth, seems a play on sounds, alluding to their name Cherethites ([Zep 2:5]): Their land shall become what their national name implies, a land of cisterns. Maurer translates, "Feasts for shepherds' (flocks)," that is, one wide pasturage. [¶30] 7. remnant of ... Judah--those of the Jews who shall be left after the coming calamity, and who shall return from exile. [¶31] feed thereupon--namely, in the pastures of that seacoast region ([Zep 2:6]). [¶32] visit--in mercy ([Ex 4:31]). [¶33] 8. I have heard--A seasonable consolation to Judah when wantonly assailed by Moab and Ammon with impunity: God saith, "I have heard it all, though I might seem to men not to have observed it because I did not immediately inflict punishment." [¶34] magnified themselves--acted haughtily, invading the territory of Judah ([Jr 48:29]; ; compare [Zep 2:10]; [Psa 35:26]; Ob 12). [¶35] 9. the breeding of nettles--or, the overspreading of nettles, that is, a place overrun with them. [¶36] salt pits--found at the south of the Dead Sea. The water overflows in the spring, and salt is left by the evaporation. Salt land is barren ([Jud 9:45]; [Psa 107:34], Margin). [¶37] possess them--that is, their land; in retribution for their having occupied Judah's land. [¶38] 10. (Compare [Zep 2:8]). [¶39] their pride--in antithesis to the meek ([Zep 2:3]). [¶40] 11. famish--bring low by taking from the idols their former fame; as beasts are famished by their food being withheld. Also by destroying the kingdoms under the tutelage of idols ([Psa 96:4]; [Is 46:1]). [¶41] gods of the earth--who have their existence only on earth, not in heaven as the true God. [¶42] every one from his place--each in his own Gentile home, taught by the Jews in the true religion: not in Jerusalem alone shall men worship God, but everywhere ([Psa 68:29], ; Mal 1:11; [Joh 4:21]; [1Co 1:2]; [1Ti 2:8]). It does not mean, as in [Is 2:2]; [Mi 4:1], ; [Zec 8:22]; that they shall come from their several places to Jerusalem to worship [Maurer]. [¶43] all ... isles of ... heathen--that is, all the maritime regions, especially the west, now being fulfilled in the gathering in of the Gentiles to Messiah. [¶44] 12. Fulfilled when Nebuchadnezzar (God's sword, [Is 10:5]) conquered Egypt, with which Ethiopia was closely connected as its ally ([Jr 46:2-9]; [Eze 30:5-9]).