The Book of Zephaniah
Background
of Zephaniah
Time: Late 7th Century BCE
Last
of the pre-exile prophets (though sometimes dated later)
Place: Southern Kingdom
There
is no more Northern Kingdom
Kings: King Josiah (South)
Political
Backdrop:
·
Josiah is the last great king of Judah –
removes idols: ‘Josiah’s Reform’ (622BCE)
o
Zephaniah seems very critical of Jerusalem,
which is strange because Josiah reigned over one of the better eras! Some suggest
that the book was written pre-reform
·
Assyrian Empire starting to fall apart;
Neo-Babylonian Empire hasn’t yet risen to take its place. Zephaniah seems to be
describing Babylon, but doesn’t name them.
Primary
Themes of Zephaniah:
·
Catastrophe -> Restoration
·
The Day of the Lord – doom and gloom, followed
by announcement of hope
·
Universality of God’s power and reign
(creation, nations, statement against deism)
·
Zephaniah is both an ‘insider’ (Hezekiah?) and
an ‘outsider’ (Cushi?) – prophesises against the ‘insiders’ and the ‘outsiders’
Structure
of Zephaniah
|
Content
|
Verses
|
|
Section
One: Doom is Coming
|
Chapter
1 – 2:3
|
|
Superscription
|
1:1
|
|
Announcement
of doom
|
1:2-9
|
|
Description
of doom
|
1:10-18
|
|
Repent!
|
2:1-3
|
|
|
|
|
Section
Two: Judgments
|
2:4-3:13
|
|
Against
the nations
|
2:4-14
(15?)
|
|
Against
Jerusalem – but ambiguity with Nineveh
|
3:1-7
|
|
|
|
|
Section
Three: Joy to Jerusalem
|
3:8-20
|
|
We
will be saved
|
3:8-11
|
|
Remnant
|
3:12-13
|
|
Song
of joy
|
3:14-20
|
|
|
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