This confirms the former, tells us what shall be in those parts; instead of cities full of rich citizens, there shall be cottages for shepherds watching over their flocks. read more
CRITICAL NOTES.] Zephaniah 2:4. For] The punishment of neighbouring states a warning. Five nations, from all quarters of the earth, to indicate universality of judgment. Gaza] and cities of Philistines (cf. Amos 1:6-8; Isaiah 20:1). Noon-day] Not by thieves at night; but in the hottest part of day, generally spent in rest (2 Samuel 4:5), and less likely for attack; hence sudden invasion (Jeremiah 15:8). Zephaniah 2:5. Cherethites] Cretans. The connection of Philistines with Crete early noticed... read more
Chapter 2Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired ( Zephaniah 2:1 );Now that "not desired" in the Hebrew literally means "a nation that knows no shame." They were doing shameful things, but they refused to be ashamed.Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD'S anger has come upon you. Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek... read more
Zephaniah 2:1 . Gather yourselves together, for fasting and prayer, oh nation not desired, whose practices are lothed and abhorred; a nation whom God will not own as his chosen people. Zephaniah 2:3 . It may be ye shall be hid from the general scourge. Jeremiah uses the same words in Jeremiah 36:3. The avenging arm becomes weak, when mortals are truly contrite. Zephaniah 2:4 . Gaza shall be forsaken Ashkelon, Ashdod, and Ekron shall be rooted up. Gaza was a primitive city, given... read more
Zephaniah 2:4-7For Gaza shall be forsaken.The sinner’s baleful influence, and God’s disposal of allI. The calamities falling upon one sinner often involve others. The ruin of the Hebrew nation would be most calamitous to the Philistine cities, and indeed to the neighbouring States. It is so--1. With nations.2. With individuals.This shows--(1) The social connection between man and man. No man can live unto himself. Each man is a link in the great chain of human life; and he cannot move without... read more
Zep 2:4 For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up. Ver. 4. For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Askelon, &c. ] Here is dainty rhetoric in the original. This prophet was (as Quintilian saith a good orator ought to be) Vir bonus, dicendi peritus, a good man, and a master of speech. The Hebrew tongue seemeth to have been in the prime and flourish when Isaiah, Micah, and Zephaniah prophesied, like as the Latin... read more
Zep 2:5 Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the LORD [is] against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant. Ver. 5. Woe to the inhabitants of the sea coast ] These were the Philistines; they lay between the Jews and the sea; God having so disposed of it, that his people might not have much commerce with foreign nations, nor learn their manners. Into havens and maritime towns there... read more
Zep 2:6 And the sea coast shall be dwellings [and] cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks. Ver. 6. And the sea coasts shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds ] It shall be waste and untilled, and therefore unfrequented by any but shepherds, who pitch their tents up and down, where they may best feed their flocks, in desert places. And folds for flocks ] God may do thus in his just judgment upon his enemies, that live in his good land, and not by his good laws; but woe be to our... read more
Gaza: Jeremiah 25:20, Jeremiah 47:1-Judges :, Ezekiel 25:15-Esther :, Amos 1:6-Ruth :, Zechariah 9:5-Judges : at: Psalms 91:6, Jeremiah 6:4, Jeremiah 15:8 Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 2:23 - Azzah Joshua 5:1 - which were by Joshua 13:3 - five Lords Joshua 15:45 - Ekron Joshua 15:47 - Gaza 1 Kings 14:15 - root up Israel Isaiah 14:30 - and I Jeremiah 47:5 - Gaza Ezekiel 25:16 - Cherethims Amos 1:7 - I will Amos 1:8 - and the Obadiah 1:19 - the plain read more
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Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Zephaniah 2:5
Woe unto the inhabitants! now all the Philistines are threatened, whereas before he named only those four cities. Of the sea-coasts; the coasts of the great or western sea, now the Mediterranean, on which the Philistines of old did dwell. The Cherethites, or destroyers, men that were stout, but fierce, and perhaps terrible to neighbours and foreigners that had the hard hap to be forced on their coasts by violence of sea. They were great soldiers, and lived Switzerlike, guards to David, it may... read more