Westminster Annotations, Zephaniah 1
ANNOTATIONS ON THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ZEPHANIAH.
CHAP. I.
Vers. 1. ZEphaniah the son] Tzephaniah prophecieth, what Tzephan Jah: stored hath God (as Moses told, Deut. 32. 43.) for his peoples sinne. All Judah shall be utterly destroyed: namely, the Kings sonnes shall be visited: as in Jeremie God teacheth Solomons house shall end, Jer. 22. 30.
V. 2. I will utterly consume] Heb. By taking away I will make an end. A threatning of the countries desolation by the Chaldeans.
the land] Heb. the face of the land.
V. 3. the fowles of the heaven] A kind of amplification, very frequent amongst the Prophets. See Jer. 4. 25. & 12. 4. Hos. 4. 3. Not that God was angry with these dumb creatures, but because man was so wicked for whose cause they were created, God maketh them to take part of the punishment with him.
stumbling-blocks] Or, idols. The idols, and all the objects and instruments of idolatry, by which men were induced to sinne, even to their own ruine. See Deut. 7. 25. Ezek. 14. 3. 7 Hab. 2. 18.
V. 4. the remnant of Baal] That which remained since Josiahs reformation. 2 King. 23. 3, 4, 5.
the chemarims] Which were an order of superstitious Priests appointed to minister in the service of Baal, and were as his peculiar Chaplaines; read 2 King. 23. 5. Hos. 10. 5.
priests] Namely, of Idols: Or Leviticall Priests, but corrupted by idolatry, 2 King. 23. 8, 9. or by a wicked life, Zeph. 3. 4.
V. 5. And them that] 2 King. 23. 12. Jer. 19. 13.
that worship and that swear] By an outward profession, gainsaid by their life and conversation, Isa. 48. 1. Others translate it: which worshipping the Lord, and swearing by him, sweare also by Malcham: that is to say; which mix the service of the true God with the service of idols. See Hos. 4. 15. 2 King. 17. 41.
by the LORD] Or, to the LORD.
that swear] Which comprehendeth the whole profession of true Religion, Psal. 63. 11. Isa. 19. 8. and 45. 23. Others, that sweare to the Lord: so it may be he hath relation to the renewing the covenant by Josiah, 2 King. 23. 3.
Malcham] An idol of the Ammonites, erected in Tophet, neare to Jerusalem, 2 King. 23. 10. Jer. 49. 3. Amos 1. 15. See on 1 King. 11. 5.
V. 7. Hold thy peace] Hab. 2. 20. Zach. 2. 13. Let every one in humilitie adore Gods judgements, without any murmuring or contradiction, Psal. 39. 9.
a sacrifice] A great slaughter, as it were to prepare a banquet, which he intends to make for the Chaldeans, who are as it were guests: Or for the fowles of the ayre, and for his ravening beasts, as Isa. 34. 6. Jer. 46. 10. Ezek. 39. 17. Revel. 19. 17.
bid his guests] Heb. sanctified, or prepared.
V. 8. punish] Heb. visit upon.
the princ…s] Jer. 39. 6.
with strange apparel] Meaning the Courtiers, and other which did imitate the strange apparel of other nations, to winne their favour thereby, and to appeare glorious in the eyes of all others: Read Ezek. 23. 14.
V. 9. that leap on the threshold] This was indeed a very frequent superstition amongst the heathen, upon many occasions; as 1 Sam. 5. 5. 1 King. 18. 26. but because that agreeth not with this place, it seemeth to be a proverbiall kind of speech, to signifie great mens officers, who by an absolute power went into other mens houses, against whom no doores were shut. See Hos. 5. 10.
V. 10. there shall be the noise] Heb. voyce. Signifying that all the corners of the citie of Jerusalem should be full of trouble by the Chaldeans, who came in at these two gates, Jer. 39. 3. See concerning this fish-gate, 2 Chron. 33. 14. Nehem. 3. 3. which is also called the first gate, Zach. 14. 10. to make a difference between it, and this second gate.
hills] As the hills of Jareb and Goath, Jer. 31. 39. on the west side of Jerusalem, where it did seeme the Chaldeans did also endevour to force the Citie.
V. 11. Maktesh] Or the low place: This is meant of the street of the Merchants, which was lower then the rest of the place about it.
all they that hear silver are cut off] Hereby is signified the rich trading, which was in that place; to which money was carried in great burdens.
V. 12. I will search Jerusalem] I will cause the Chaldeans to seek out the most hidden things that be in Jerusalem, and that most exactly: As Luk. 15. 8.
s…ttled on their lees] Heb. curded, or thickened. A phrase taken from such liquors, as grow thick when being powred out of one vessel into an other they stand long, Jer. 48. 11. to signifie, either the gathering together of riches in Jerusalem, which for many years before had not been taken, nor pillaged. Or the stupidity and carnall securitie of the inhabitants, to which seems to be referred the following words of the profane men, who denied Gods providence, or took no notice of it. See Psal. 119. 70.
V. 13. not inhabit them] Deut. 28. 30, 39. Amos 5. 11.
V. 14. the voyce of the day] The Chaldeans shall come so suddenly, that the first news that shall be heard of it, shall be the terrible cries of the tumult of the Captains and Souldiers, being already at the gate.
V. 15. day of wrath] Jer. 30. 7. Joel 2. 11. Amos 5. 18.
V. 16. the high towers] Which are the places of the citie most fortified.
V. 17. they shall walk like blind men] They shall be amazed and unprovided of counsell and advice, no more knowing what they do then blind men: as Gen. 19. 11.
V. 18. Neither their silver] Prov. 11. 4. Ezek. 7. 19.
devoured by the fire] Chap. 3. 8.
CHAP. II.
Vers. 1. GAther your selves together] All your assemblies, whereby you shall endevour to defend your selves, shall be but like great bundles of stalkes and flax, to be consumed all together by the fire of Gods wrath, Chap. 1. 18. for preventing whereof he exhorteth them to humiliation and re…ance, Joel 1. 14. & 2. 15.
not desired] Or, not desirous.
V. 2. Before the decree] This verse must be joyned with the next. The meaning is, before Gods decree against his people be put in execution, you beleevers shall flie to his grace by prayer and conversion.
the day of the LORDS anger] That is, the time of this execution.
V. 3. meek of the earth] A title which is ordinarily given to good men, Psal. 25. 9. and 37. 11. Matth. 5. 5.
which have wrought] Which have lived uprightly and godly, according as he prescribeth by his word.
it may be] Joel 2. 14. Amos 5. 15. Jon. 3. 9.
be hid in the day] Saved and defended.
V. 4. For Gaza shall be forsaken] Jer. 47. 4, 5. Ezek. 25. 15. Amos 1. 6. The Philistims, and all other enemies of the Church shall be utterly destroyed, without hope of being restored: But I will preserve some seed and remainder of my people, to reestablish them in the appointed time: Wherefore let every one of you endevour to be of that blessed number.
Ashdod] The inhabitants thereof shall be led into captivitie.
at the noon-day] The citie being forced and taken by assault.
V. 5. sea-coasts] Where the Philistims land was, 1 Sam. 30. 14. 16. Ezek. 25. 16.
Cherethites] 1 King. 8. 38.
Canaan] Of which the Philistims were a part, Jos. 13. 3.
V. 7. remnant of the house of Judah] He sheweth why God would destroy their enemies, because their countrey might be a resting place for his Church, at their return from Babylon.
for the LORD their God shall visit them] Or, when, &c.
V. 8. I have heard the reproch] Jer. 48. 27.
and magnified themselves] Jer. 49. 1. These nations presumed to take from the Jews that countrey which the Lord had given them.
V. 9. Moab shall be as Sodome] Isa. 15. Jer. 48. Ezek. 25. 8. Amos 2. 1.
the children of Ammon as Gomorrah] Jer. 49. 1. Ezek. 25. 2. Amos 1. 13.
V. 10. for their pride] Isa. 16. 6. Jer. 48. 29.
V. 11. for he will famish] Heb. make lean. The chief end of all these terrible judgements shall be to root out those peoples idolatries, and to cause the true God alone to be worshipped▪ which hath been accomplished under Christ Jesus.
the isles of the heathen] Farre countries, especially beyond the Sea.
V. 12. Ye Ethiopians also] Isa. 18. 1. & 20. 4. Ezek. 30. 9.
V. 13. he will stretch out his hand] Because the destruction of Nineveh, and the Assyrian Empire, happened, as is thought, in the time of Jehoiachim, after Zephaniahs prophecies. See Nahums Prophecie.
and destroy Assyria] Isa. 10. 5. 12. Ezek. 31. 3. Nahum 1. 8. and 2. 10. & 3. 15.
V. 14. cormorant] Or, pelicane. Isa. 34. 11.
upper lintels] Or, knops, or chapiters. See upon Amos 9. 1.
for he shall uncover] Or, when he hath uncovered. Her roof and all her timber-work being burnt down, there shall remain nothing but the walls of ruined houses.
V. 15. the rejoycing citie] Meaning Nineveh, which rejoycing so much of her strength and prosperitie, should be thus made waste, and Gods people delivered.
I am, and there is none] Isa. 47. 8.
shall hisse and wagge his hand] In horrour and disdain.
CHAP. III.
Vers. 1. HEr that is filthy and polluted] Or, gluttonous. Heb. craw.
citie] That is, Jerusalem.
V. 2. voice] Namely, Gods voice, calling her to repentance by his servants.
correction] Or, instruction.
V. 3. Her princes within her are roring lions] Ezek. 22. 27. Micah 3. 9, 10.
evening wolves] Jer. 5. 6. Hab. 1. 8.
gnaw not the bones] Or, leave not. Which are even raging with hunger, being so greedy that they eat up bones and all.
till the morrow] Or, in the morning.
V. 4. prophets] Jer. 23. 11. Hos. 9. 7.
light and treacherous persons] Or bold: in feigning prophecies of their own inventions, uttering them, and boldly maintaining of them.
violence to the law] Ezek. 22. 26.
V. 5. just LORD] That is, God, who hath chosen Jerusalem, for the place of his residence, and manifestation in the world, cannot in justice suffer these sinnes to escape punishment.
every morning] Heb. morning by morning. That is, every day, even in the morning, which seemed to have been the ordinary time for the Prophets preaching, he doth denounce to them his judgements to come: and represents unto them those which he had already executed upon other nations, to call his people to repentance. See 2 Chron. 36. 15. Jer. 7. 13. & 11. 7. & 25. 3.
but] Or, yet. as Jer. 5. 3.
V. 6. cut off the nations] By the destruction of other nations he sheweth, that the Jews should have learned to feare God.
towers are desolate] Heb. corners. See Chap. 1. 16. Because towers were set in corners of citie wals. The Hebrew word may also be taken for princes and lords, Judg. 20. 2. 1 Sam. 14. 38.
V. 7. howsoever I punished them] Though I brought them into great miseries, by reason of their sinnes: yet will I save Jerusalem from finall ruine, if so be she will be converted.
they rose early] They were most earnest and ready to do wickedly, notwithstanding Gods judgements, Isa. 1. 5.
V. 8. wait ye upon me] O ye remainder of true beleevers, comfort your selves still, with the hope of my vengeance upon your enemies: and of the deliverance which I shall send to you in the Messias his time: for then will I gather all the nations together to serve me, as heretofore I have gathered them to punish them.
jealousie] Chap. 1. 18.
V. 9. For then will I turn to the people a pure language] Heb. lip. He giveth a reason of the former reason: for, under the Messias, the face of the earth shall be changed, by the conversion of the Gentiles, and by their sanctification in heart and tongue. See Isa. 18. 19.
one consent] Heb. with one shoulder. A phrase taken from oxen, which are yoked together. See Zach. 7. 11.
V. 10. From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia] Even by the farthermost countreys, which have least knowledge of me, and of my grace, will I be served and worshipped. See Isa. 18. 7. Act. 8. 27.
dispersed] My elect, as well Jews as Gentiles, dispersed throughout the world.
V. 11. shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings] Rom. 6. 21. O my Church, I will take away that ignominie from thee, wherewith I had heretofore punished thee for thy sinnes, and especially for thy pride, which thou wast grown to, by reason of the great prerogative which I had bestowed upon thee, of my presence and abode with thee.
because of my holy] Heb. in my holy.
V. 12. leave in the midst of thee, &c.] Out of the carnall and reproved Israel, and out of lost mankinde, will I deliver mine elect and beleevers, which are poore and wretched in the worlds esteeme. See Isa. 14. 32. Zach. 11. 11. & 13. 9.
V. 13. The remnant of Israel] The true beleevers, chosen out of all the world, being regenerated by the holy Ghost, shall live in puritie, sinceritie, and innocencie, like Christs true sheep, fed by the word of truth, and kept safe under his protection: without any other devices or cunning.
a deceitfull tongue be found in their mouth] Vers. 9.
V. 14. daughter of Zion] Isa. 12. 6. and 54. 1.
V. 15. judgements] That is, the punishments and visitations for thy sinnes.
enemy] As the Assyrians, Chaldeans, Egyptians, and other nations.
the King of Israel] Namely, Jesus Christ, the true everlasting God, shall alwayes be with thee, in the power and grace of his Spirit, to defend and comfort thee.
V. 16. Let not thine hands be slack] Or, faint. Be not discouraged: strengthen thy self in faith and in perseverance in all the duties of thy calling, not fearing any harme, which may happen to thee.
V. 17. rejoyce over thee with joy] His delight shall be in thee, in loving thee, and in doing thee good, Jer. 32. 41. Ezek. 20. 40.
he will rest in his love] Heb. he will be silent.
V. 18. sorrowfull for the solemn assembly] The poor Jews led into captivitie, and afflicted, chiefly by the cessation of Gods service: whereby (though God was at first honoured by offerings and sacrifices) he was dishonoured and blasphemed by his enemies. A figure of the elects being gathered together in the Church, out of which there is no true service of God.
the reproch of it, &c.] Heb. the burden upon it was reproch.
V. 19. save her] I will deliver the Church, which now is afflicted, as Mic. 4. 6. 7.
halteth] Ezek. 34. 16. Micah 4. 7.
I will get them praise] Heb. I will set them for a praise.
in every land] As among the Assyrians, Chaldeans and Grecians, which did mock them and put them to shame.
where they have been put to shame] Heb. of their shame.
V. 20. bring you again] Into your countrey, which is the figure of the Church.