Charles Ellicott Commentary Zephaniah 3
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Zephaniah 3
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Zephaniah 3
"Woe to her that is rebellious and polluted! to the oppressing city! She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in Jehovah; she drew not near to her God. Her princes in the midst of her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they leave nothing till the morrow. Her prophets are light and treacherous persons; her priests have profaned the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law." — Zephaniah 3:1-4 (ASV)
The prophet denounces the corruption and moral stubbornness which characterise all classes in Jerusalem. This denunciation comes in with startling abruptness. The prophet does not even name the object of his rebuke. The literal rendering is, Woe, rebellious and polluted, you oppressive city!
"She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in Jehovah; she drew not near to her God." — Zephaniah 3:2 (ASV)
Obeyed not the voice. —Better, did not listen to the voice — i.e., of Jehovah, when He addresses her, as in Zephaniah 2:1-3. She does not trust in Jehovah, but in her own wealth (Zephaniah 1:12); she does not draw near to her God, but to Baal and Moloch (Zephaniah 1:4–6).
"Her princes in the midst of her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they leave nothing till the morrow." — Zephaniah 3:3 (ASV)
Until the next day. —Better, on the next day. The meaning is just the opposite to that given in the Authorized Version. They are so greedy that they devour their prey instantly, leaving no portion of it for the next day.
"Her prophets are light and treacherous persons; her priests have profaned the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law." — Zephaniah 3:4 (ASV)
Light and treacherous persons. —Better, braggarts and men of treachery.
"Jehovah in the midst of her is righteous; he will not do iniquity; every morning doth he bring his justice to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame. I have cut off nations; their battlements are desolate; I have made their streets waste, so that none passeth by; their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, so that there is no inhabitant. I said, Only fear thou me; receive correction; so her dwelling shall not be cut off, [according to] all that I have appointed concerning her: but they rose early and corrupted all their doings." — Zephaniah 3:5-7 (ASV)
In contrast to this universal corruption, Jehovah daily exemplifies the law of righteousness, yet sinners are not moved to repentance (Zephaniah 3:5). He sets forth the great judgments He has executed on other sinful nations, but the warning is not heeded (Zephaniah 3:6–7).
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