THE BOOK OF ZEPHANIAH
LESSON 3: CHAPTERS 2:4-3:20
PROPHSIES AGAINST THE NATIONS
PROMISES OF REDEMPTION
And neither will you believe that
it was foretold that these nations would come to some place of God, as it has
been said, "To you the Gentiles shall come from the ends of the earth." Understand,
if you can, that it is to the God of the Christians, who is supreme and the
true God, that the people of these nations come, not by walking but by
believing.
St. Augustine, On Faith in Things Unseen, 4
Prophecies Against the Nations (2:4-15)
Condemnation and warnings of punishment in 2:1-3 were followed by a call for conversion with emphasis on practicing humility, mentioned twice in verse 3. God will return to the theme of the humble remnant in the oracle of promised redemption in 3:12.
Like other prophets, Zephaniah pronounces oracles against the enemy Gentile nations that border the covenant people (Isaiah chapters 13-21; Jeremiah chapters 46-51; Ezekiel chapters 25-32; Amos chapters 1-2; etc.). He named them from the west, east, south, and north:
Zephaniah 2:4-7 ~ The Enemy to the West: the Philistines
4 For Gaza will be abandoned and Ashkelon reduced to ruins; Ashdod will be driven
out in broad daylight and Ekron uprooted. 5 Disaster to the members of the
coastal league, to the nation of the Cherethites! This is the word of Yahweh
against you: I shall subdue you, land of the Philistines, I shall destroy you
till there are no inhabitants left; 6 and the coastal league will be reduced to
pasture land, to grazing grounds for shepherds and folds for sheep; 7 and the
league will belong to the remnant of the House of Judah; they will pasture
their flocks there, at night they will rest in the houses of Ashkelon; for,
when Yahweh their God has punished them, he will restore their fortunes.
The first oracles in verses 4-11 are judgments against nations that have oppressed the covenant people and caused them to suffer. In verses 4-7, the oracle lists the Philistine cities of the coastal league except for Gath, which may have already been in ruins. Zephaniah uses wordplay on the names Gaza and Ekron, making them omens of disaster. Gaza first appears as a Canaanite city in the Table of Nations (Genesis 10:19). Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, and Gath were the five cities of the Philistines who occupied the Mediterranean coastal plain of the Levant between the sea and the Shephelah Valley of Israel, forming the "coastal league" of Gentile cities hostile to Judah (Joshua 13:3; 1 Samuel 4:1b-11). The Israelite hero Samson performed the feat of carrying off the doors of Gaza's city gates (Judges 16:1-3). King Hezekiah of Judah conquered Gaza, but it was immediately lost to Judah soon after that lost (2 Kings 18:8). The New Testament mentions Gaza only in Acts 8:26. Other prophets also threatened Gaza and its sister cities (Amos 1:6-8).
The Egyptian Execration Texts of the 19th-18th centuries BC mention Ashkelon, which is also included in the list of Canaanite cities sacked by Pharaoh Merneptah (1230 BC). The Israelite hero Samson raided the Ashkelon (Judges 14:19), and it was threatened with prophetic oracles like the other Philistine cities, not only by Zephaniah but also by the prophets Amos (1:8), Jeremiah (47:5), and Zechariah (9:5).
Ashdod was another of the five cities of the Philistines. It was one of the foreign communities with whom the Jews intermarried in Ezra and Nehemiah's time (Nehemiah 13:23 f). St. Philip evangelized the region of Ashdod in the New Testament (Acts 8:40).
Ekron was the northernmost of the five Philistine cities and was listed among the cities of Judah in Joshua 15:45. When the Philistines captured Israel's Ark of the Covenant, they took it to Ekron, afflicting the city with a plague, which resulted in the Ark's return (1 Samuel 5:10-6:16). It was the center of Beelzebul worship (cf. Beelzebub; 2 Kings 1:2), and was also threatened by Amos (1:8), Jeremiah (25:20), and Zechariah (9:5).
The Cherethites and Pelethities were two ethnic groups in the Levant. The Bible mentions the Cherethites independently three times (1 Samuel 30:14; Zephaniah 2:5; Ezekiel 25:16) and as the Cherethites and Pelethities seven times (2 Samuel 8:18; 15:18; 20:7, 23; 1 Kings 1:38, 44; 1 Chronicles 18:17).
Zephaniah 2:8-11 ~ The Enemies to the East: Moab and Ammon
8 I have heard the taunt of Moab and the insults of the Ammonites, as they boasted
of their own domains. 9 For this, as I live "declares Yahweh Sabaoth, God of
Israel "Moab will become like Sodom and the Ammonites like Gomorrah: a realm of
nettles, a heap of salt, a desolation for ever. What is left of my people will
plunder them; the survivors of my nation will take their heritage. 10 This will
be the price of their pride for having taunted and boasted over the people of
Yahweh Sabaoth. 11 Yahweh will be fearsome to them, for he will scatter all the
gods of the earth, and they will bow down to him, each from his own place "all
the islands of the nations.
The oracles against Moab and Ammon in 2:8-11 refer to the predatory attacks of Moab and Ammon against Judah when weakened, like those after the Babylonian conquest of 587 BC (see Jeremiah 49:1-6 and Ezekiel 25:1-11). Genesis 19:30-38 records that Lot, the nephew of Abraham, was the father of the Moabites and Ammonites by an incestuous union with his two daughters after God's angels saved them from Sodom's destruction. Therefore, they were kinsmen of the Israelites who were descendants of Abraham's son Isaac through his son Jacob-Israel. Their betrayal of their kin condemns them to destruction.
Verse 10 summarizes the reason for the Lord's condemnation of the Gentile nations. However, while Judah has suffered from the actions of their neighbors, God will look after His people. He will raise up a "remnant" (verses 7, 9) who will avenge past aggression and recover its lost territory. Those who survived the purification of the Day of Yahweh were saved because they kept God's holy commandments and had not become corrupted by foreign beliefs and standards. Zechariah 3:12 described this "remnant" as a people humble and lowly.
all the islands of the nations.
The promise of salvation extending to all parts of the earth was accomplished by
the spread of Jesus's Gospel of salvation across the world through the work of
Jesus's disciples over many generations.
Zephaniah 2:12 ~ The Enemy to the South: Ethiopia
12 You Ethiopians too will be run through by my sword.
At this time, "Ethiopians" probably refers to Egypt, where an Ethiopian dynasty was in power (25th Dynasty, 715-663 BC). The Saite Egyptian Dynasty defeated Ethiopia in the early 7th century BC. The defeat signaled a change in Egypt and potentially the end of Assyrian power there that would open King Josiah of Judah's opportunity to restore Judean independence and control over Samaria (at one time, the Northern Kingdom of Israel). Assyria was the ancient oppressor that had denied Judah independence for nearly a century.
The promise of the conversion of Ethiopia and "the nations" in 3:9-10 (also see Isaiah 18:7; 19:18-25; 45:14) took place when those peoples accepted salvation through Jesus the Messiah.
Zephaniah 2:13-15 ~ The Enemy to the North: Assyria
13 He will raise his hand against the north and bring Assyria down in ruins; he
will make Nineveh a waste, as dry as a desert. Flocks will rest inside there,
so will wild animals; pelican and porcupine will nest round her cornices at
night; the owl will hoot at the window, and the raven croak on the doorstep "for
the cedar has been torn down. 15 This is what the city will be like, once
living happy and carefree and thinking to itself, "I have no rival "not I!" And
what will it be now? A ruin, a lair for wild beasts to rest in, and everyone
who passes by will whistle and throw up his hands.
Neo-Assyria Empire was the enemy and oppressor of the covenant people for nearly a century. Built at the beginning of the 8th century BC, Nineveh, located in what is now northern Iraq, was the capital of the Neo-Assyrian Empire and, at one time, the largest city in the world. The Neo-Assyrians built their empire on unprecedented violence that would make them notorious. If any city rebelled against them, they would burn that city to the ground, take the population away into exile, and execute the leaders. If anyone broke a treaty with them, they usually annihilated the entire population. Even by ancient standards, their actions were considered especially brutal.
Archaeological excavations have found that people have lived in and near Nineveh for at least 9,000 years. However, during the reign of Assyrian king Sennacherib, the city was transformed into the region's most magnificent capital city.1 Since the oracle predicts the future destruction of Nineveh, Zephaniah's oracles must date before 612 BC when a coalition of Babylonians and Medes conquered Nineveh. Their armies destroyed the great city; it never arose again from the ashes, becoming, as Zephaniah predicted, a place occupied by wild animals. It was an event celebrated in the prophecy of Nahum (2:2-3:19).
Oracles Against Judah and Jerusalem (3:1-8)
Zephaniah 3:1-5 ~ Against the Rulers of Judah
1 Disaster to the rebellious, the befouled, the tyrannical city! 2 She has not
listened to the call, she has not bowed to correction, she has not trusted in
Yahweh, she has not drawn near to her God. 3 The rulers she has are roaring
lions, her judges are wolves of the wastelands which leave nothing over for the
morning, 4 her prophets are braggarts, impostors, her priests have profaned
what is holy and violated the Law. 5 Yahweh the Upright is in her, he does no
wrong; morning by morning he gives judgment, each dawn unfailingly (but the
wrong-doer knows no shame).
The oracles against Judah's Gentile neighbors are followed by an oracle against Jerusalem. It is similar to oracles by Amos in chapters 1-2 and Isaiah in 1:21-26, which are also against rulers, officials, judges, prophets, and priests. Where Zephabiah's oracle had called Nineveh a city full of pride, now Jerusalem is accused of committing the same sins.
Zephaniah describes Judah and her rulers as:
In contrast, the Lord is righteous and does no wrong, showing His justice, while the unjust knows no shame (3:5). Also see James 1:13-14 and Sirach 15:11-20.
Zephaniah 3:6-8 ~ The Example of the Nations
6 I have exterminated the nations, their corner-towers lie in ruins; I have emptied
their streets, no one walks through them; their cities have been destroyed and
are now deserted and unpeopled. 7 I thought, "At least you will fear me, at
least you will bow to correction," and none of the punishments I brought on
them will disappear from their view. But no, it only made them more anxious to
do whatever was corrupt. 8 So wait for me "declares Yahweh "for the day when I
rise as accuser, for I am determined to gather the nations, to assemble the
kingdoms, and on you to vent my fury, the whole heat of my anger (for the whole
earth will be devoured by the fire of my jealousy).
Now, Yahweh directly speaks in Zephaniah's oracle. Corner towers in verse 6 refer to the corner watchtowers on the walls of fortified cities. The judgment He inflicted on Judah's Gentile neighbors should have been enough warning to make Jerusalem repent and return to covenant union with Yahweh (verses 6-7). However, the city and her people persisted in doing evil (verse 7). As in a Law court, Yahweh will arise as their accuser and, as Divine Judge, He will deliver their punishment.
The whole earth consumed in God's wrath in verse 8 recalls the sin of Adam and Eve, which brought death and sin into the world (Genesis 3:17-18). As in the beginning of Zephaniah's oracles (1:2-3), there is a connection to the idea about the connection between what humankind does and what happens to the rest of creation. The oracle uses apocalyptic language to describe Yahweh's judgment on the earth because of humanity's sins. St. Cyprian wrote, quoting verse 8: "Many people hope that they will soon be avenged for the anguish they suffered in the injuries done to them or the torment they endured in the attacks by those who persecute them. [...] We should not plead for the punishment of those who inflicted our sufferings upon us, for as it is written: Therefore wait for me,' says the Lord, for the day when I arise as a witness. For my decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them my indignation, all the heat of my anger'" (St. Cyprian, De bono patientiae, 21).
for the whole earth will be devoured by the fire of my jealousy).
For some other Biblical passages that refer to Yahweh's "jealousy" concerning His
covenant people and His relationship with them symbolized as a Divine
Bridegroom to His faithful and chaste covenant Bride, see
Exodus 20:5; Numbers 25:11,
Deuteronomy 6:15; 32:21; Psalm 78:58;
Ezekiel 23:25; 36:5-6; Zechariah 8:2; etc. For more information on marriage as a symbolic image of God's
covenant relationship, see the book Jesus and the Symbolic Images of the
Prophets at Amazon.com.
Promises of Redemption (3:9-20)
Zephaniah 3:9-10 ~ Conversion of the Nations
9 Yes, then I shall purge the lips of the peoples, so that all may invoke the
name of Yahweh and serve him shoulder to shoulder. 10 From beyond the rivers of
Ethiopia, my supplicants will bring me tribute.
Yahweh continues speaking, but the focus shifts from judgment and destruction to salvation, which is always the intention of His divine punishment. Verses 9-10 announce the purification of the nations.
Question #1: The purification and ingathering of the nations is a reversal of what judgment God delivered in Genesis 11:1-9? See the answer at the end of the lesson.
The prophecy concerning Ethiopia was fulfilled when Christianity took hold in Ethiopia during the ancient Kingdom of Aksum. King Ezana adopted the Christian faith as the state religion in the 4th century AD, making Ethiopia one of the first regions in the world to adopt Christianity officially. According to Ethiopian legend, the Ethiopian eunuch and chief treasurer at the court of the kandake (queen) of Ethiopia brought St. Philip to the royal court of his queen. St. Philip had baptized him in Acts 8:26-40. The queen of Ethiopia accepted Christianity and was baptized by St. Philip. Christianity is the country's largest religion, making up an estimated 68% of the population.
Zephaniah 3:11-13 ~ The Humble Remnant of the Covenant People
11 When that Day comes, you will never again be ashamed of all the deeds with
which you once rebelled against me, for I shall rid you of those who exult in
your pride; never again will you strut on my holy mountain. 12 But in you, I
shall leave surviving a humble and lowly people, 13 and those who are left in
Israel will take refuge in the name of Yahweh. They will do no wrong, will tell
no lies; nor will a deceitful tongue be found in their mouths. But they will be
able to graze and rest with no one to alarm them.
Now, Yahweh tenderly addresses the covenant people. He promises that a "remnant" of Israel will be saved to become the core of a great restoration, creating a "new Israel." The new Israel will be the Church of Jesus Christ: "... In fact, from the beginning of his ministry, the Lord Jesus instituted the Twelve (apostles) as the seeds of the new Israel and the beginning of the sacred hierarchy" (CCC 877).
The New Testament quotes only one phrase from Zephaniah: nor will a deceitful tongue be found in their mouths (3:13 in Revelation 14:5). Also, the tone of the oracles of consolation in 3:9-20 appears to be present in St. Luke's Infancy Narrative (Luke 1:5-2:52). The description of the "humble and lowly" remnant (3:13) is reflected in the Virgin Mary's life, the lives of John the Baptist's parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth.
In verse 12, Zephaniah writes that true humility belongs to the people Yahweh will save. In her Magnificat, the Virgin Mary praises God's recognition of humility (Luke 1:48). St. Bernard wrote that Jesus wanted to be born of a humble and lowly woman because He is meek and humble of heart (Matthew 11:29). He wanted to be the perfect example of those virtues (St. Bernard, Holiliae super Missus est, 2,1).
Zephaniah 3:14-18 ~ Psalms of Joy in Zion
14 Shout for joy, daughter of Zion, Israel, shout aloud! Rejoice, exult with all
your heart, daughter of Jerusalem! 15 Yahweh has repealed your sentence; he has
turned your enemy away. Yahweh is king among you, Israel, you have nothing more
to fear. 16 When that Day comes, the message for Jerusalem will be: Zion, have
no fear, do not let your hands fall limp. 17 Yahweh your God is there with you,
the warrior-Savior. He will rejoice over you with happy song, he will renew you
by his love, 18 he will dance with shouts of joy for you, as on a day of
festival.
Yahweh's promises become a hymn of joy. The Lord God will see to it that His people will rejoice (verse 14) and that there is "nothing more to fear" (verse 15). The joy in verses 3:14 and 17a are similar expressions of rejoicing that appear in the angel Gabriel's greeting to the Virgin Mary at the Annunciation (Luke 1:48) and in Revelation 21:3 (see CCC 2676). These two psalms and the promised return of the faithful remnant from exile end of the book of Zephaniah's oracles with hope and faith in God's promises.
Zephaniah 3:19-20 ~ The Promised Return of the Exiles
18b I have taken away your misfortune, no longer need you bear the disgrace of it. 19
I am taking action here and now against your oppressors. When that time comes,
I will rescue the lame, and gather the strays, and I will win them praise and
renown when I restore their fortunes. 20 At that time I shall be your guide, at
the time when I gather you in, I shall give you praise and renown among all the
peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes under your own eyes, declares
Yahweh.
The last part of Zechariah's psalm of promise is filled with imagery of Yahweh, the Good Shepherd, gathering His flock, including the lame and the strays. Jesus will use the same imagery in His ministry, especially in the Good Shepherd discourse in John chapter 10. This time, God's people are assembled not for divine judgment but for salvation. The purification of the faithful remnant will result in the new Israel receiving "praise and renown" across the earth (verse 19) in the Universal Kingdom of the Church!
Answer to Question #1: It is a reversal of what happened at the Tower of Babel, where God scattered humanity across the face of the earth and confused their languages. In the conversion of the nations, God will gather together all peoples through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ into the Kingdom of the Church and they will all speak the one language of Jesus's Gospel of eternal salvation.
Endnotes:
1. A century after Sennacherib took the throne, his capital "and indeed the Neo-Assyrian Empire "was gone. Nineveh was sacked in 612 BC by a coalition of Babylonians from the south and Medes from the east, two long-standing enemies and former subjects of the Assyrians. It was an event from which the Assyrians would never fully recover, and they and Nineveh slipped into relative obscurity. The city's exact location would remain largely unknown until the nineteenth century, when the site gained worldwide attention after European archaeologists began to explore its rumored position. They soon unearthed sprawling buildings, massive statues, and more than 30,000 inscribed cuneiform tablets collected by Sennacherib's grandson Ashurbanipal (reigned 668-631 BC), who established one of the ancient world's greatest libraries. Excavations showed that the Neo-Assyrians were far more than their reputation for warmongering and greed had led people to believe. Nineveh had been a place of magnificence and wonder.
Catechism References (* refers to Scripture quoted or paraphrased in the citation)
Zephaniah 3:14 (CCC 722*, 2676),
3:17a (CCC 2676);
3:17b (CCC 2676*)
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