Verse 17
17. The awfulness and suddenness of the calamity will throw the inhabitants into helpless confusion.
Distress Anxiety, terror, perplexity.
Walk like blind men They will look for a way out of the tribulation, but in their perplexity they grope around like blind men, unable to find one (compare Deuteronomy 28:29).
Because they have sinned The judgment is the result of the sins described in Zephaniah 1:4-13.
Their blood shall be poured out as dust The point of comparison is worthlessness. Human blood will be considered of no more value than the dust trodden under foot; hence it will be poured out wantonly. The last clause expresses a similar thought.
Their flesh as the dung The word translated “flesh” occurs again only in Job 20:23; its meaning is not certain, but the ancient versions favor the English translation. Some have suggested the translation “intestines” or “bowels,” which would be very appropriate here, but that translation has little support. Others render it “sap” (blood), in parallelism with “blood” in the preceding clause, while some change the Hebrew word to get this meaning. A very ingenious emendation is that of Bachmann, who reads the last clause, “and they shall lick water like camels.” In the absence of conclusive evidence to the contrary, it may be best to retain the meaning given to the word by the English translators, which gives acceptable sense. The bodies of the slain will be cast forth like dung (compare Amos 8:3).
Be the first to react on this!
