Ye--literally, "They." The third person expresses estrangement; while doomed before God's tribunal in the second person, they are spoken of in the third as aliens from God.
13. Here he passes suddenly to the north. Nineveh was destroyed by Cyaxares and Nabopolassar, 625 B.C. The Scythian hordes, by an inroad into Media and thence in the southwest of Asia (thought by many to be the forces described by Zephaniah, as the invaders of Judea, rather than the Chaldeans), for a while interrupted Cyaxares' operations; but he finally succeeded. Arbaces and Belesis previously subverted the Assyrian empire under Sardanapalus (that is, Pul?), 877 B.C.
14. flocks--of sheep; answering to "beasts" in the parallel clause. Wide pastures for sheep and haunts for wild beasts shall be where once there was a teeming population (compare [Zep 2:6]). Maurer, needlessly for the parallelism, makes it "flocks of savage animals."
beasts of the nations--that is, beasts of the earth ([Ge 1:24]). Not as Rosenmuller, "all kinds of beasts that form a nation," that is, gregarious beasts ([Pr 30:25], ).
cormorant--rather, the "pelican" (so [Psa 102:6]; [Is 34:11], Margin).
bittern--([Is 14:23]). Maurer translates, "the hedgehog"; Henderson, "the porcupine."
upper lintels--rather, "the capitals of her columns," namely, in her temples and palaces [Maurer]. Or, "on the pomegranate-like knops at the tops of the houses" [Grotius].
their voice shall sing in the windows--The desert-frequenting birds' "voice in the windows" implies desolation reigning in the upper parts of the palaces, answering to "desolation ... in the thresholds," that is, in the lower.
he shall uncover the cedar work--laying the cedar wainscoting on the walls, and beams of the ceiling, bare to wind and rain, the roof being torn off, and the windows and doors broken through. All this is designed as a consolation to the Jews that they may bear their calamities patiently, knowing that God will avenge them.
15. Nothing then seemed more improbable than that the capital of so vast an empire, a city sixty miles in compass, with walls one hundred feet high, and so thick that three chariots could go abreast on them, and with fifteen hundred towers, should be so totally destroyed that its site is with difficulty discovered. Yet so it is, as the prophet foretold.
there is none beside me--This peculiar phrase, expressing self-gratulation as if peerless, is plainly adopted from [Is 47:8]. The later prophets, when the spirit of prophecy was on the verge of departing, leaned more on the predictions of their predecessors.
hiss--in astonishment at a desolation so great and sudden ([1Ki 9:8]); also in derision ([Job 27:23]; [La 2:15]; [Eze 27:36]).
Chapter 3
Zep 3:1-20. Resumption of the Denunciation of Jerusalem, as Being Unreformed by the Punishment of Other Nations: After Her Chastisement Jehovah Will Interpose for Her against Her Foes; His Worship Shall Flourish in All Lands, Beginning at Jerusalem, Where He Shall Be in the Midst of His People, and Shall Make Them a Praise in All the Earth
1. filthy--Maurer translates from a different root, "rebellious," "contumacious." But the following term, "polluted," refers rather to her inward moral filth, in spite of her outward ceremonial purity [Calvin]. Grotius says, the Hebrew is used of women who have prostituted their virtue. There is in the Hebrew Moreah; a play on the name Moriah, the hill on which the temple was built; implying the glaring contrast between their filthiness and the holiness of the worship on Moriah in which they professed to have a share.
oppressing--namely, the poor, weak, widows, orphans and strangers ([Jr 22:3]).
2. received not correction--Jerusalem is incurable, obstinately rejecting salutary admonition, and refusing to be reformed by "correction" ([Jr 5:3]).
trusted not in ... Lord--Distrust in the Lord as if He were insufficient, is the parent of all superstitions and wickednesses [Calvin].
drew not near to her God--Though God was specially near to her ([De 4:7]) as "her God," yet she drew not near to Him, but gratuitously estranged herself from Him.
3. roaring--for prey ([Pr 28:15]; [Eze 22:27]; [Am 3:4]; [Mi 2:2]).
evening wolves--which are most ravenous at evening after being foodless all day ([Jr 5:6]; [Ha 1:8]).
they gnaw not the bones till the morrow--rather, "they put not off till to-morrow to gnaw the bones"; but devour all at once, bones and flesh, so ragingly ravenous are they [Calvin].
4. light--in whose life and teaching there is no truth, gravity, or steadiness.
treacherous--false to Jehovah, whose prophets they profess to be ([Jr 23:32]; [Eze 22:28]).
polluted ... sanctuary--by their profane deeds.
5-7. The Jews regard not God's justice manifested in the midst of them, nor His judgments on the guilty nations around.
The just Lord--Why then are ye so unjust?
is in the midst thereof--He retorts on them their own boast, "Is not the Lord among us" ([Mi 3:11])? True He is, but it is for another end from what ye think [Calvin]; namely, to lead you by the example of His righteousness to be righteous. [Le 19:2], "Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy" [Maurer]. But Calvin, "That ye may feel His hand to be the nearer for taking vengeance for your crimes: 'He will not do iniquity' by suffering your sins to go unpunished" ([De 32:4]).
every morning--literally, "morning by morning." The time in the sultry East for dispensing justice.
bring ... to light--publicly and manifestly by the teaching of His prophets, which aggravates their guilt; also by samples of His judgments on the guilty.
he faileth not--He is continually setting before you samples of His justice, sparing no pains. Compare [Is 5:4]; , "he wakeneth morning by morning."
knoweth no shame--The unjust Jews are not shamed by His justice into repentance.
8. wait ye upon me--Here Jehovah turns to the pious Jews. Amidst all these judgments on the Jewish nation, look forward to the glorious time of restoration to be ushered in by God's precious outpouring of wrath on all nations, [Is 30:18-33]; where the same phrase, "blessed are all they that wait for Him," is used as to the same great event. Calvin erroneously makes this verse an address to the ungodly; and so Maurer, "Ye shall not have to wait for Me in vain"; I will presently come armed with indignation: I will no longer contend with you by My prophets.
until the day--that is, waiting for the day ([Ha 2:3]).
rise up to the prey--like a savage beast rising from his lair, greedy for the prey (compare [Mt 24:28]). Or rather, as a warrior leading Israel to certain victory, which is expressed by "the prey," or booty, which is the reward of victory. The Septuagint and Syriac versions read the Hebrew, "I rise up as a witness" (compare [Job 16:8]; Mal 3:5). Jehovah being in this view witness, accuser, and judge. English Version is better (compare [Is 33:23]).
gather the nations--against Jerusalem ([Zec 14:2]), to pour out His indignation upon them there ([Joe 3:2]; [Zec 12:2], ).
9. For--The blessed things promised in this and [Zep 3:10] are the immediate results of the punishment inflicted on the nations, mentioned in [Zep 3:8] (compare [Zep 3:19]).
turn to the people a pure language--that is, changing their impure language I will give to them again a pure language (literally, "lip"). Compare for this Hebrew idiom, [1Sa 10:9], Margin. The confusion of languages was of the penalty sin, probably idolatry at Babel ([Ge 11:1-6], Margin, where also "lip" expresses language, and perhaps also religion; [Zep 3:4], "a tower whose top may reach unto heaven," or rather, points to heaven, namely, dedicated to the heavens idolized, or Bel); certainly, of rebellion against God's will. An earnest of the removal of this penalty was the gift of tongues on Pentecost ([Ac 2:6-13]). The full restoration of the earth's unity of language and of worship is yet future, and is connected with the restoration of the Jews, to be followed by the conversion of the world. Compare [Is 19:18]; [Zec 14:9]; [Ro 15:6], "with one mind and one mouth glorify God." The Gentiles' lips have been rendered impure through being the instruments of calling on idols and dishonoring God (compare [Psa 16:4]; [Ho 2:17]). Whether Hebrew shall be the one universal language or not, the God of the Hebrews shall be the one only object of worship. Until the Holy Ghost purify the lips, we cannot rightly call upon God ([Is 6:5-7]).
serve him with one consent--literally, "shoulder" or "back"; metaphor from a yoke, or burden, borne between two ([Nu 13:23]); helping one another with conjoint effort. If one of the two bearers of a burden, laid on both conjointly, give way, the burden must fall to the earth [Calvin]. Christ's rule is called a burden ([Mt 11:30]; [Ac 15:28]; [Re 2:24]; compare [2Co 6:14] for the same image).
10. From beyond ... Ethiopia my suppliants--literally, "burners of incense" (compare [Psa 141:2]; [Re 5:8]; , ). The Israelites are meant, called "the daughter of My dispersed," a Hebrew idiom for My dispersed people. "The rivers of Ethiopia" are those which enclose it on the north. In the west of Abyssinia there has long existed a people called Falashas, or "emigrants" (akin to the synonym "Philistine"). These trace their origin to Palestine and profess the Jewish religion. In physical traits they resemble the Arabs. When Bruce was there, they had a Jewish king, Gideon, and his queen, Judith. Probably the Abyssinian Christians were originally in part converted Jews. They are here made the representatives of all Israel which is to be restored.
shall bring mine offering--that is, the offering that is My right. I prefer, with De Wette and Chaldee Version, making "suppliants" the objective case, not the nominative. The peoples: ([Zep 3:8], ), brought to fear Me by My judgments, "shall bring as Mine offering My suppliants (an appropriate term for the Jews, on whom then there shall have been poured the spirit of supplications, [Zec 12:10]), the daughter of My dispersed." So [Is 66:20], "they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the Lord." Compare Horsley's view of [Is 18:1], 2, 7. England in this view may be the naval power to restore Israel to Palestine ([Is 60:9]). The Hebrew for "Ethiopia" is Cush, which may include not only Ethiopia, but also the region of the Tigris and Babylon, where Nimrod, Cush's son ([Ge 10:8-12]), founded Nineveh and acquired Babylon, and where the ten tribes are mentioned as being scattered ([1Pe 1:1]; ; compare [Is 11:11]). The restoration under Cyrus of the Jews transported under Pharaoh-necho to Egypt and Ethiopia, was an earnest of the future restoration under Christ.
11. shalt thou not be ashamed--Thou shalt then have no cause to be ashamed; for I will then take away out of the midst of thee those who by their sins gave thee cause for shame ([Zep 3:7]).
them that rejoice in thy pride--those priding themselves on that which thou boastest of, thy temple ("My holy mountain"), thy election as God's people, &c., in the Pharisaic spirit ([Jr 7:4]; [Mi 3:11]; [Mt 3:9]). Compare [Jr 13:17], "mine eyes shall weep for your pride." The converted remnant shall be of a humble spirit ([Zep 3:12]; [Is 66:2], ).
12. afflicted ... they shall trust in ... Lord--the blessed effect of sanctified affliction on the Jewish remnant. Entire trust in the Lord cannot be, except where all cause for boasting is taken away ([Is 14:32]; [Zec 11:11]).
13. nor speak lies--worshipping God in truth, and towards man having love without dissimulation. The characteristic of the 144,000 sealed of Israel.