Zephaniah 2:8 - Exposition.

The reproach of Moab. As this refers to past actions, it must signify the hostile attitude which Moab always assumed towards Israel. The revilings of the children of Ammon. Both these descendants of Lot proved themselves bitter enemies of the Jews. Keil refers to Numb, 15:30 and Ezekiel 20:27 , where the word gadaph is used in the sense "to revile or blaspheme by actions." (For the persistent hostility of Moab, see note on Amos 2:1 , and for that of Ammon, the note on Amos 1:13 .) Magnified themselves against their border . They carried themselves haughtily, showed their pride by violating the territory of the Israelites. This pride and self-exaltation is a leading feature of the character of these two nations (comp. Isaiah 16:6 ; Jeremiah 48:29 , etc.). The destruction of the kingdom of Israel and the weakness of that of Judah gave occasion to these neighbours to display their haughtiness and independence. The LXX . has, "my borders." God himself assigned its boundaries to Israel, as to other nations ( Deuteronomy 32:8 ); and to invade these was an offence against him.