Zephaniah 1:2-8

II. THE DAY OF YAHWEH’S JUDGMENT 1:2-3:8

Zephaniah’s prophecies are all about "the day of the LORD." He revealed two things about this "day." First, it would involve judgment (Zephaniah 1:2 to Zephaniah 3:8) and, second, it would eventuate in blessing (Zephaniah 3:9-20). The judgment portion is the larger of the two sections of revelation. This judgment followed by blessing motif is common throughout the Prophets. Zephaniah revealed that judgment would come from Yahweh on the whole earth, Judah, Israel’s neighbors, Jerusalem, and all nations. The arrangement of this judgment section of the book is chiastic.

A Judgment on the world Zephaniah 1:2-3

B Judgment on Judah Zephaniah 1:4 to Zephaniah 2:3

C Judgment on Israel’s neighbors Zephaniah 2:4-15

B’ Judgment on Jerusalem Zephaniah 3:1-7

A’ Judgment on the all nations Zephaniah 3:8