John Calvin Commentary Zephaniah 1:17

"And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against Jehovah; and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as dung." — Zephaniah 1:17 (ASV)

He confirms what I have already stated: that even though other enemies, such as the Assyrians or Chaldeans, attacked the Jews, God Himself would be the principal leader of the war. God then claims for Himself here what the Jews attributed to their earthly enemies; and the Prophet has already often called it the day of Jehovah, for God would then make His power known, which they had scorned.

He therefore declares in this place that He would reduce man to distress, so that the whole nation would walk like the blind—that, being devoid of counsel, they would stumble and fall, and not be able to continue on their path. For those who see no end to their troubles, who find no way to escape ruin, but are, as it were, held fast, are said to go astray like the blind.

And we must always remember what I have already said: that the Jews were so inflated with pride that they heedlessly despised all the Prophets. Since, then, they were so wise in their own eyes, God denounces blindness upon them.

He adds the reason: Because they had acted impiously towards Jehovah. By these words he confirms what I have already explained: that the intermediate causes are not to be the focus, even though the Chaldeans took vengeance on the Jews. For there is a higher principle and another cause of this calamity—namely, the contempt of God and of His celestial truth, since they had acted impiously towards God. And by these words the Prophet reminds the Jews that no relief was to be expected, as they not only had men hostile to them, but God Himself, whom they had greatly provoked.

Therefore, he adds, Poured forth shall be your blood as dust. Those whom God delivered up to extreme reproach deserved this, because He had been despised by them. Their flesh, he says, shall be as dung.

Now, we know how much the Jews boasted of their preeminence; and God had certainly given them reason to boast, if they had made a right and legitimate use of His benefits. But since they had despised Him, they, in turn, deserved to be exposed to every shame and disgrace. Therefore, the Prophet here lays low all their false boasts by which they were inflated, for they wished to be honorable while God was despised by them.

Finally, he adds—