John Gill Commentary Zephaniah 2:13

"And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria, and will make Nineveh a desolation, and dry like the wilderness." — Zephaniah 2:13 (ASV)

And he will stretch out his hand against the north Either the Lord, or Nebuchadnezzar his sword; who, as he would subdue the nations that lay southward, he would lead his army northward against the land of Assyria, which lay to the north of Judea, as next explained.

and destroy Assyria That famous monarchy, which had ruled over the kingdoms of the earth, now should come to an end, and be reduced to subjection to the king of Babylon.

and will make Nineveh a desolation Which was the capital city, the metropolis of the Assyrian monarchy: Nahum prophesies at large of the destruction of this city.

[and] dry like a wilderness Which before was a very watery place, situated by rivers, particularly the river Tigris; so that it was formerly like a pool of water, (Nahum 2:6Nahum 2:8) but now should be dry like a heath or desert.

Dr. Prideaux places the destruction of Nineveh in the twenty ninth year of Josiah's reign; but Bishop Usher earlier, in the sixteenth year of his reign; and, if so, then Zephaniah, who here prophesies of it, must begin to prophesy in the former part of Josiah's reign.