Albert Barnes Commentary Zephaniah 3:10

"From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering." — Zephaniah 3:10 (ASV)

From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia - . The farthest southern people, with whom the Jews had contact, stand as the type of the whole world beyond. The utmost bound of the known inhabited land should not be the bound of the Gospel. The conversion of Abyssinia is one, but the narrowest fulfillment of the prophecy. The whole new world, though not in the mind of the prophet, was in the mind of Him who spoke by the prophet.

My suppliants - He names them as what they will be when they will come to Him. They will come, as needy, to the Fountain of all good, asking for mercy from the unfailing Source of all mercy. He describes the very character of all who come to God through Christ. The daughter of My dispersed. God is, in the way of Providence, the Father of all, although, by sin, alienated from Him; where Paul says, we are the offspring of God (Acts 17:28).

They were dispersed, severed from the oneness in Him and from His house and family; yet still, looking on them as already belonging to Him, He calls them, My dispersed, just as Caiaphas, being high priest, prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; and not for that nation only, but that also He should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad (John 11:51–52).

Shall bring My offering - The offering is the same as that which Malachi prophesies will continue under the New Testament, which offering was to be offered to the Name of God, not in Jerusalem, but in every place from the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same (Malachi 1:11).

The dark skin of the Ethiopian is the image of ingrained sin, which humanity could not efface or change (Jeremiah 13:23). Their conversion then declares how those steeped in sin will be cleansed from all their darkness of mind, washed white from their sins in Baptism, and beautified by the grace of God.

Cyril states: “The word of prophecy ends in truth. For not only through the Roman empire is the Gospel preached, but it circles around the barbarous nations. And there are Churches everywhere, shepherds and teachers, guides and instructors in mysteries, and sacred altars, and the Lamb is invisibly sacrificed by holy priests among Indians too and Ethiopians. And this was said plainly by another prophet also, For I am a great King, says the Lord, and My Name is great among the pagan, and in every place incense is offered to My Name and a pure sacrifice (Malachi 1:11).”