The
terrors of the great day of the Lord: the whole land
judged
The prophet begins by
declaring that the land should be reduced to complete
desolation; afterwards, that Judah, Jerusalem, their
false gods, and their priests, should be smitten by the
hand of Jehovah. The idolaters, those who mingled the
name of Jehovah with that of other gods, those who had
turned back from Jehovah, those who had not sought Him,
each one is called to hold his peace at the presence of
the Lord Jehovah; for the day of Jehovah was at hand. He
had prepared His sacrifice, He had invited His guests;
and in the day of His sacrifice, the king, the prince,
and the king's children should be visited by His hand.
Violence and deceit should receive their just reward.
The day of Jehovah should
cause a cry to be heard from the gates of Jerusalem. He
would search Jerusalem as with candles, and make manifest
the folly of those who denied His intervention either for
good or for evil. The prophet then declares, in general
but most forcible terms, the terrors of the day of
Jehovah. The whole land should be devoured by the fire of
His jealousy. We have here the whole land—Jerusalem
and Judah—judged in the great day of God. This
division of the prophecy ends here.
Zephaniah 1 Bible Commentary
John Darby’s Synopsis
The prophet begins by declaring that the land should be reduced to complete desolation; afterwards, that Judah, Jerusalem, their false gods, and their priests, should be smitten by the hand of Jehovah. The idolaters, those who mingled the name of Jehovah with that of other gods, those who had turned back from Jehovah, those who had not sought Him, each one is called to hold his peace at the presence of the Lord Jehovah; for the day of Jehovah was at hand. He had prepared His sacrifice, He had invited His guests; and in the day of His sacrifice, the king, the prince, and the king's children should be visited by His hand. Violence and deceit should receive their just reward.
The day of Jehovah should cause a cry to be heard from the gates of Jerusalem. He would search Jerusalem as with candles, and make manifest the folly of those who denied His intervention either for good or for evil. The prophet then declares, in general but most forcible terms, the terrors of the day of Jehovah. The whole land should be devoured by the fire of His jealousy. We have here the whole land—Jerusalem and Judah—judged in the great day of God. This division of the prophecy ends here.