geneva - Zephaniah:1-3

geneva@Zephaniah:1:1 @ The word of the LORD which came unto Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hizkiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah. (note:)The Argument - Seeing the great rebellion of the people, and that there was now no hope of amendment, he gives notice of the great judgment of God, which was at hand, showing that their country would be utterly destroyed, and they would be carried away captives by the Babylonians. Yet for the comfort of the faithful he prophesied of God's vengeance against their enemies, such as the Philistines, Moabites, Assyrians, and others, to assure them that God had a continual care over them. And as the wicked would be punished for their sins and transgressions, so he exhorts the godly to patience, and to trust to find mercy by reason of the free promise of God made to Abraham: and therefore quietly to wait until God shows them the effect of that grace, by which in the end they should be gathered to him, and counted as his people and children.(:note)

geneva@Zephaniah:1:2 @ I will surely destroy all things from off the land, saith the Lorde.

geneva@Zephaniah:1:3 @ I will consume man and beast; I will consume the (note:)Not that God was angry with these dumb creatures, but because man was so wicked for whose cause they were created, God makes them to take part of the punishments with him.(:note) fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumblingblocks with the wicked; and I will cut off man from off the land, saith the LORD.

geneva@Zephaniah:1:4 @ I will also stretch out mine hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, [and] the name of the (note:)Who were an order of superstitious priests appointed to minister in the service of Baal, and were as his special chaplains; read (2Ki_23:5; Hos_10:5).(:note) Chemarims with the priests;

geneva@Zephaniah:1:5 @ And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship [and] that swear by the LORD, and that swear by (note:)He alludes to their idol Molech, which was forbidden; read (Lev_20:2), yet they called him their king, and made him as a god: therefore he here notes those that will both say they worship God, and yet will swear by idols and serve them: which faltering is here condemned, as in (Eze_20:39; 1Ki_18:21; 2Ki_17:33).(:note) Malcham;

geneva@Zephaniah:1:6 @ And them that are turned backe from the Lord, and those that haue not sought the Lorde, nor inquired for him.

geneva@Zephaniah:1:7 @ Be stil at the presence of the Lord God: for the day of the Lord is at hand: for the Lord hath prepared a sacrifice, and hath sanctified his ghests.

geneva@Zephaniah:1:8 @ And it shall come to pass in the day of the LORD'S sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king's children, and all such as are clothed with (note:)Meaning, the courtiers, who did imitate the strange apparel of other nations to win their favour by it, and to appear glorious in the eyes of all others; read (Eze_23:14-15).(:note) strange apparel.

geneva@Zephaniah:1:9 @ In the same day also will I punish all those that (note:)He means the servants of the rulers who invade other men's houses, and rejoice and leap for joy, when they can get any gain to please their master with.(:note) leap on the threshold, which fill their masters' houses with violence and deceit.

geneva@Zephaniah:1:10 @ And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD, [that there shall be] the noise of a cry from the (note:)Signifying that all the corners of the city of Jerusalem would be full of trouble.(:note) fish gate, and an howling from the second, and a great crashing from the hills.

geneva@Zephaniah:1:11 @ Howl, ye inhabitants of (note:)This is meant of the street of the merchants which was lower than the rest of the place around it.(:note) Maktesh, for all the merchant people are cut down; all they that bear silver are cut off.

geneva@Zephaniah:1:12 @ And it shall come to pass at that time, [that] I will search Jerusalem with (note:)So that nothing will escape me.(:note) candles, and punish the men that are settled By their prosperity they are hardened in their wickedness. on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil.

geneva@Zephaniah:1:13 @ Therefore their goods shall be spoyled, and their houses waste: they shall also build houses, but not inhabite them, and they shall plant vineyards, but not drinke the wine thereof.

geneva@Zephaniah:1:14 @ The great day of the LORD [is] near, [it is] near, and hasteth greatly, [even] the voice of the day of the LORD: (note:)They that trusted in their own strength and condemned the Prophets of God.(:note) the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.

geneva@Zephaniah:1:15 @ That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and heauinesse, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of obscuritie and darkenesse, a day of cloudes and blackenesse,

geneva@Zephaniah:1:16 @ A day of the trumpet and alarme against the strong cities, and against the hie towres.

geneva@Zephaniah:1:17 @ And I will bring distresse vpon men, that they shall walke like blind men, because they haue sinned against the Lorde, and their blood shall be powred out as dust, and their flesh as the dongue.

geneva@Zephaniah:1:18 @ Neither their siluer nor their golde shalbe able to deliuer them in ye day of the Lords wrath, but the whole lande shalbe deuoured by the fire of his ielousie: for hee shall make euen a speedie riddance of all them that dwell in the land.

geneva@Zephaniah:2:1 @ Gather (note:)He exhorts them to repentance, and wills them to descend into themselves and gather themselves, lest they be scattered like chaff.(:note) yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired;

geneva@Zephaniah:2:2 @ Before the decree come foorth, and ye be as chaffe that passeth in a day, and before the fierce wrath of the Lord come vpon you, and before the day of the Lords anger come vpon you.

geneva@Zephaniah:2:3 @ Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which (note:)That is, who have lived uprightly and godly according as he prescribes by his word.(:note) have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger.

geneva@Zephaniah:2:4 @ For (note:)He comforts the faithful in that God would change his punishments from them to the Philistines their enemies, and other nations.(:note) Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up.

geneva@Zephaniah:2:5 @ Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea (note:)That is, Galilee: by these nations he means the people that dwelt near to the Jews, and instead of friendship were their enemies: therefore he calls them Canaanites, whom the Lord appointed to be slain.(:note) coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the LORD [is] against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant.

geneva@Zephaniah:2:6 @ And the sea coast shal be dwellings and cotages for shepheardes and sheepefoldes.

geneva@Zephaniah:2:7 @ And the coast shall be for the (note:)He shows why God would destroy their enemies, because their country would be a resting place for his Church.(:note) remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the LORD their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.

geneva@Zephaniah:2:8 @ I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people, and (note:)These nations presumed to take from the Jews that country which the Lord had given them.(:note) magnified [themselves] against their border.

geneva@Zephaniah:2:9 @ Therefore, as I liue, saith the Lord of hostes, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall bee as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorah, euen the breeding of nettels and salt pittes, and a perpetuall desolation: the residue of my folke shall spoyle them, and the remnant of my people shall possesse them.

geneva@Zephaniah:2:10 @ This shall they haue for their pride, because they haue reproched and magnified themselues against the Lord of hostes people.

geneva@Zephaniah:2:11 @ The LORD [will be] terrible unto them: (note:)When he will deliver his people and destroy their enemies and idols, his glory will shine throughout all the world.(:note) for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and [men] shall worship him, every one from his place, [even] all the isles of the heathen.

geneva@Zephaniah:2:12 @ Ye Morians also shalbe slaine by my sword with them.

geneva@Zephaniah:2:13 @ And he wil stretch out his hand against the North, and destroy Asshur, and will make Nineueh desolate, and waste like a wildernesse.

geneva@Zephaniah:2:14 @ And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the (note:)Read (Isa_34:11)(:note) cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it; [their] voice shall sing in the windows; desolation [shall be] in the thresholds: for he shall uncover the cedar work.

geneva@Zephaniah:2:15 @ This [is] the (note:)Meaning, Nineveh, which rejoicing so much of her strength and prosperity, should be thus made waste, and God's people delivered.(:note) rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I [am], and [there is] none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, [and] wag his hand.

geneva@Zephaniah:3:1 @ Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing (note:)That is, Jerusalem.(:note) city!

geneva@Zephaniah:3:2 @ She heard not the voyce: she receiued not correction: she trusted not in the Lord: she drew not neere to her God.

geneva@Zephaniah:3:3 @ Her princes within her [are] roaring lions; her judges [are] evening wolves; they (note:)They are so greedy, that they eat up bones and all.(:note) gnaw not the bones till the morrow.

geneva@Zephaniah:3:4 @ Her prophets are light, and wicked persons: her priests haue polluted the Sanctuarie: they haue wrested the Lawe.

geneva@Zephaniah:3:5 @ The (note:)The wicked thus boasted that God was ever among them, but the Prophet answers that that cannot excuse their wickedness: for God will not bear with their sins. Yet he did patiently abide and sent his Prophets continually to call them to repentance, but he profited nothing.(:note) just LORD [is] in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.

geneva@Zephaniah:3:6 @ I have (note:)By the destruction of other nations he shows that the Jews should have learned to fear God.(:note) cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant.

geneva@Zephaniah:3:7 @ I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but (note:)They were most earnest and ready to do wickedly.(:note) they rose early, [and] corrupted all their doings.

geneva@Zephaniah:3:8 @ Therefore (note:)Seeing that you will not repent, you can expect my vengeance as well as other nations.(:note) wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination [is] to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, [even] all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.

geneva@Zephaniah:3:9 @ For (note:)Lest any should then think that God's glory should have perished when Judah was destroyed, he shows that he will proclaim his grace through all the world.(:note) then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent.

geneva@Zephaniah:3:10 @ From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, [even] the (note:)That is, the Jews will come as well as the Gentiles: which is to be understood as referring to the time of the Gospel.(:note) daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering.

geneva@Zephaniah:3:11 @ In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for (note:)For they will have full remission of their sins, and the hypocrites who boasted of the temple, which was also your pride in times past, will be taken from you.(:note) all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain.

geneva@Zephaniah:3:12 @ Then will I leaue in the middes of thee an humble and poore people: and they shall trust in the Name of the Lord.

geneva@Zephaniah:3:13 @ The remnant of Israel shal do none iniquitie, nor speake lies: neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shalbe fed, and lie downe, and none shall make them afraide.

geneva@Zephaniah:3:14 @ Reioyce, O daughter Zion: be ye ioyfull, O Israel: be glad and reioyce with all thine heart, O daughter Ierusalem.

geneva@Zephaniah:3:15 @ The LORD hath taken away thy (note:)That is, the punishment for your sin.(:note) judgments, he hath cast out thine As the Assyrians, Chaldaeans, Egyptians, and other nations. enemy: the king of Israel, [even] the LORD, [is] in the midst of To defend you, as by your sins you have put him away, and left yourself naked, as in (Exo_32:25). thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.

geneva@Zephaniah:3:16 @ In that day it shalbe said to Ierusalem, Feare thou not, O Zion: let not thine handes be faint.

geneva@Zephaniah:3:17 @ The LORD thy God in the midst of thee [is] mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in (note:)Signifying, that God delights to show his love and great affection toward his Church.(:note) his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

geneva@Zephaniah:3:18 @ I will gather [them that are] sorrowful for the solemn assembly, [who] are of thee, [to whom] the reproach of (note:)That is, those that were held in hatred and reviled for the Church, and because of their religion.(:note) it [was] a burden.

geneva@Zephaniah:3:19 @ Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will (note:)I will deliver the Church, which now is afflicted, as in (Mic_4:6).(:note) save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every As among the Assyrians and Chaldaeans, who mocked them and put them to shame. land where they have been put to shame.

geneva@Zephaniah:3:20 @ At that time wil I bring you againe, & then wil I gather you: for I wil giue you a name & a praise among all people of the earth, when I turne backe your captiuitie before your eyes, saith the Lorde.

geneva@Zechariah:6:10 @ Take of [them of] the captivity, [even] of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah, who are come from Babylon, and come thou the same day, and go into the house of (note:)To receive from him and the other three, money to make the two crowns: who were men of great authority among the Jews, and doubted of the restitution of the kingdom, and of the priesthood, and hurt others by their example.(:note) Josiah the son of Zephaniah;

geneva@Zechariah:6:14 @ And the crowns shall be to (note:)Who was also called Heldai.(:note) Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to He was also called Joshias. Hen the son of Zephaniah, for a That they may acknowledge their infirmity, who thought that all things would be restored immediately: and of this their infidelity these two crowns will remain as tokens; (Act_1:6). memorial in the temple of the LORD.