John Calvin Commentary Zephaniah 1:10

"And in that day, saith Jehovah, there shall be the noise of a cry from the fish gate, and a wailing from the second quarter, and a great crashing from the hills." — Zephaniah 1:10 (ASV)

He confirms the same truth here, and amplifies and illustrates it with a striking description. We know how much a vivid representation is effective in touching the feelings when the event itself is not only narrated but placed, as it were, before our eyes. So the Prophet is not content with plain words but presents a scene so that the future destruction of Jerusalem might appear in a clearer light. But since I have explained this way of speaking elsewhere, I will not dwell on the subject now.

He says that there would be the voice of crying from the gate of the fishes. He names three places in Jerusalem here, and later he adds a fourth. But since we do not understand the layout of the city, sufficient for us is this probable conjecture: that he refers to parts opposite one another, as though he had said that no corner of the city would be in a quiet state when the Lord roused up war.

Let us then suppose it to be triangular: let the gate of the fishes be one side, the second gate or the school on another, and the part near the hills forming the third side. What some say—that the hills mean palaces—I do not approve of, nor is it consistent with the context. But we ought to bear in mind what I have already stated: that the Prophet here denounces ruin on every part of the city, so that the Jews would seek refuge for themselves in vain, because by running here and there, they would find all places full of crying and howling. There shall be then the voice of crying from the gate of the fishes. Why the Prophet calls it "the gate of the fishes" we cannot say with certainty, except that it is a probable conjecture that either a fishpond was near it, or that the fish market was nearby.

Regarding the word משנה, meshene, the majority of interpreters think that it means the place where the priests explained the law and devoted themselves to its study. They cite a passage from 2 Kings 22:14 where it seems—since priests are mentioned—the word is taken in this sense. But since gates are spoken of here, and since the Hebrews often call whatever is second in order by this word (as the second part in buildings, towns, and other places is thus called), we may take it here in this sense: that is, meaning the gate which was next to the first in general esteem. But since this subject has little to do with the main point, I will dismiss it.

Finally, he says that there would be a great breach in the hills. He refers, I have no doubt, to that part of the city which was adjacent to the mountains. However this may be, it was the Prophet’s objective to include the whole city here, so that he might shake off from the Jews all vain confidence and show that there would be no escape when the Lord stretched out his hand to punish their sins. It now follows—