Zephaniah 2:1-4 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zephaniah 2:1-3

Here we see what the prophet meant in that terrible description of the approaching judgments which we had in the foregoing chapter. From first to last his design was, not to drive the people to despair, but to drive them to God and to their duty?not to frighten them out of their wits, but to frighten them out of their sins. In pursuance of that he here calls them to repentance, national repentance, as the only way to prevent national ruin. Observe, I. The summons given them to a national... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zephaniah 2:4-7

The prophet here comes to foretel what share the neighbouring nations should have in the destruction made upon those parts of the world by Nebuchadnezzar and his victorious Chaldees, as others of the prophets did at that time, which is designed, 1. To awaken the people of the Jews, by making them sensible how strong, how deep, how large, the inundation of calamities should be, that the day of the Lord, which was near, might appear the more dreadful, and they might thereby be quickened to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zephaniah 2:1

Gather yourselves together ,.... This is said to the people of the Jews in general; that whereas the judgments of God were coming upon them, as predicted in the preceding chapter Zephaniah 1:1 , it was high time for them to get together, and consider what was to be done at such a juncture; it was right to call a solemn assembly, to gather the people, priests, and elders, together, to some one place, as Joel directs, Joel 1:14 the inhabitants of Jerusalem to the temple, and the people of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zephaniah 2:2

Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff ,.... Which was like a woman big with child, ready to be delivered. The decree of God concerning the people of the Jews was pregnant with wrath and ruin for their sins, and just ripe for execution; and therefore, before it was actually executed, they are exhorted as above; not that the decree of God which was gone forth could be frustrated and made void by anything done by them; only that, when it was put into execution, such... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zephaniah 2:3

Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth ,.... Or "of the land", of the land of Judea. In this time of great apostasy, there was a remnant according to the election of grace, whom the Lord reserved for himself, and bestowed his grace upon; and it is for the sake of these that the general exhortations to repentance and reformation are given out, to whom alone they were to be useful, that they might be protected and preserved from the general ruin; for such as are here described are persons... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zephaniah 2:4

For Gaza shall be forsaken ,.... Therefore seek the Lord; and not to the Philistines, since they would be destroyed, to whom Gaza, and the other cities later mentioned, belonged; so Aben Ezra connects the words, suggesting that it would be in vain to flee thither for shelter, or seek for refuge there; though others think that this and what follows is subjoined, either to assure the Jews of their certain ruin, since this would be the case of the nations about them; or to alleviate their... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zephaniah 2:1

Gather yourselves - Others, sift yourselves. Separate the chaff from the wheat, before the judgments of God fall upon you. O nation not desired - unlovely, not delighted in; hated because of your sin. The Israelites are addressed. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zephaniah 2:3

Ye meek of the earth - ענוי anavey , ye oppressed and humbled of the land. It may be ye shall be hid - The sword has not a commission against you. Ask God, and he will be a refuge to you from the storm and from the tempest. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zephaniah 2:4

Gaza shall be forsaken - This prophecy is against the Philistines. They had been greatly harassed by the kings of Egypt; but were completely ruined by Nebuchadnezzar, who took all Phoenicia from the Egyptians; and about the time of his taking Tyre, devastated all the seignories of the Philistines. This ruin we have seen foretold by the other prophets, and have already remarked its exact fulfillment. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zephaniah 2:1

Verse 1 The Prophet, after having spoken of God’s wrath, and shown how terrible it would be, and also how near, now exhorts the Jews to repentance, and thus mitigates the severity of his former doctrine, provided their minds were teachable. We hence learn that God fulminates in his word against men, that he may withhold his hand from them. The more severe, then, God is, when he chastises us and makes known our sins, and sets before us his wrath, the more clearly he testifies how precious and... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zephaniah 2:1-3

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zephaniah 2:4-7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zephaniah 2:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zephaniah 2:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zephaniah 2:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zephaniah 2:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zephaniah 2:1

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zephaniah 2:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zephaniah 2:4

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zephaniah 2:1

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