Hierarchical Précis
Minor Prophets
Zephaniah
Zephaniah,s name means “Yahweh Hides”.
Zephaniah
was
of
royal
blood,
his
ancestry
given
as
tracing
back
to
King
Hezekiah.
He
prophesied
during
the
reign
of
King
Josiah
of
Judah, contemporary with the early years of Jeremiah’s ministry.
Jeremiah prophesied from around 635 to 625 B.C
His purpose seems to be to motivate God’s people to repent and return to God, as there will be a future restoration.
Judgement is near
[Zep 1]
Through
Zephaniah,
God
declares
the
utter
consumption
of
sinful
Judah.
Sins
particularly
mentioned
are
idolatry,
violence
and
fraud.
There
will
be
a
great
noise
of
crying
and
howling,
especially
in
Jerusalem,
where
there
are
men
content
with
their
lifestyle
and
indifferent to God’s providence and judgement. This coming judgement is not far off, and is inevitable and inescapable.
Judgement on the nations
[Zep 2]
The
Jews
are
exhorted
to
repentance
before
judgement
is
pronounced
on
the
surrounding
nations:
to
the
west,
Philistia;
to
the
east,
Moab and Ammon; to the south, Cush (Ethiopia); to the north, Assyria.
Jerusalem’s future
[Zep 3]
Jerusalem
is
reproved
for
her
persistence
in
sinning,
despite
all
the
warnings
and
corrections
from
God.
Judgement
will
follow,
but
then
so will redemption. All nations will be purified, the scattered remnant of Israel restored and God’s people will be held in high esteem.