Zephaniah historical overview foundations for freedom. Zephaniah means yahweh has hiddenprotected, or yahweh hides. Click on an image to view individual galleries friends egypt lebanon estonia luxemburg vietnam philippines jamaica zimbabwe palestine ethiopia kenya taiwan. Zephaniah may have been a contemporary of other old testament prophets such as jeremiah and nahum and the book of mormon prophet lehi see bible. The book of the prophet zephaniah indicates that he ministered during the reign of josiah 640609, the last of the godly kings of judah cf. Book of zephaniah, the ninth of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, collected in one book, the twelve, in the. Ive counted since that fire burnt the many lessons i have learnt. This prophetic concept refers to any intervention of god in. Zephaniah 1, new king james version nkjv the bible app. Among the prophets, this is a unique introduction with its long list of fathers back to zephaniahs great. Nineveh is represented as in a state of peace and prosperity, and there is no suggestion of josiahs reform as having taken place. First, though, lets just sketch in a bit of background.
Thus the period from 640 to 622 is the likely time for the giving of the prophecy. Cush in the hebrew bible can mean nubia, or ethiopia see here. Hes reckoned to have been an aristocrat, especially if. Apart from this statement, nothing more is said about his background.
Nor is it impossible that zephaniah should have been the great grandson of. The book of zephaniah was written during the reign of king josiah, likely in the early part of his reign, between 635 and 625 bc. Passing from the general to the specific, a device which dummelow described as being in harmony with the genius of the semitic mind, 1 zephaniah detailed the effect of the judgment upon judah and jerusalem zephaniah 1. Zephaniah 1 niv bible the word of the lord that came to. Constables notes on zephaniah 2020 edition unity criticism of the unity of zephaniah has not had great influence. The name zephaniah hebrew tsephanyah means yahweh hides or yahweh has hidden. However, his position ill accords with the internal evidence of the book. Zephaniah concludes with the wonderful promise of israels future restoration. He is believed to be the cousin of king josiah who is also a great great grandson of hezekiah. When god had a message for the people, he spoke through the prophets.
We can begin to pinpoint exactly when zephaniah prophesied by accounting for a few details in the text. You have to look beyond the face to see the person true, deep down within my inner space i am the same as you. Zephaniahs message of judgment and encouragement contains three major. It is generally acknowledged that the original recipients of. The theme of zephaniah is the approaching day of the lord. Book of zephaniah overview insight for living ministries. What can ordinary people do about sinful religious leaders zephaniah 3. What does it mean that god will rejoice over us with singing zephaniah 3. The second chapter depicts the doom of judahs enemies, namely the philistines, moab, amon, ethiopia and assyria.
Zephaniah was another contemporary of jeremiah, living during the reign of the young king josiah. He cannot remember a time when he was not creating poetry but this had nothing to do with school where poetry meant very little to him, in fact he had finished full time education at the age of. This little book begins, the word of the lord which came unto zephaniah. The book consists of a series of independent sayings, many of which are rightly attributed to zephaniah, written probably about 640630 bc. Nahum therefore uttered this oracle between 663 and 612, perhaps near the end of this period since he represents the fall of nineveh as imminent 2.
Benjamin zephaniahs background seems unlikely for a poet. Zephaniah and his contemporaries, jeremiah and habakkuk, were some of the prophets god used to pronounce this warning message. Zephaniah intro to zephaniah biblica the international bible. All that is known of zephaniah comes from the text the name cushi, zephaniahs father, means cushite or ethiopian, and the text of zephaniah mentions the sin and restoration of. The book is concerned throughout with the day of the lord. He cannot remember a time when he was not creating poetry but this had nothing to do with school where poetry meant very little to him, in fact he had finished.
Dr benjamin obadiah iqbal zephaniah was born and raised in birmingham, england. The religious state of the kingdom of judah deteriorated markedly following the death of hezekiah. The promises for the future at the end of the book have resonance with the end of the book of amos and with isaiah 4055, but interpreters. Identify the key issues surrounding zephaniahs background. I will sweep away everything from the face of the earth, declares the l. October 19, 2016 february 11, 2018 by black history in the bible. Jan 02, 2020 what does it mean to worship the starry host or the host of the heavens zephaniah 1.
This would place him during the reign of josiah and make him a contemporary of zephaniah and the young jeremiah. There are a number of helpful commentaries on the book of zephaniah, and the following are five of the best. Dec 29, 20 zephaniah book of day of judgment one day we will have to stand before god. The destruction pictured in the book of zephaniah was a complete destruction. Zephaniah prophesied during the reign of josiah 640609 b. All that is known of zephaniah comes from the text the name cushi, zephaniah s father, means cushite or ethiopian, and the text of zephaniah mentions the sin and restoration of. Zephaniah mentions that he is the great great grandson of hezekiah in zephaniah 1. This means that zephaniah was a prophet to the southern kingdom, probably a resident of jerusalem see 1. Zephaniah s background zephaniah was the great grandson of hezekiah, supposably the good king of the past. Interesting facts about zephaniah barnes bible charts meaning. The book tells us that zephaniah prophesied during the reign of josiah, the king of judah from 640 to 609 bc zephaniah 1. Bible study guide book of zephaniah saturday, november 3, 2012 background on zephaniah in zephaniah 1.
Zephaniah was a fourthgeneration descendant of hezekiah, a notable king of judah from 715 to 686 b. We often overlook seemingly boring genealogies in the bible, but sometimes they. Zephaniah 1 bible commentary matthew henry concise. What does it mean to worship the starry host or the host of the heavens zephaniah 1. About one hundred years earlier, the prophets micah and isaiah had watched as the northern kingdom of israel was wiped out because of their unbelief and disobedience to the lord. His name may mean that he was hidden from manassehs atrocities expanded open bible.
Jonah, joel, amos, hosea, isaiah and micah had already prophesied and died. The books superscription attributes its authorship to zephaniah son of cushi son of gedaliah son of amariah son of hezekiah, in the days of king josiah son of amon of judah 1. Zephaniah the clarion call zephaniah was a greatgreatgrandson of king hezekiah of judah, who lived in the days of king josiah, the last righteous king of judah. Most likely, the prophet wanted to highlight his royal lineage as a descendant of one of judahs good kings. Benjamin zephaniah has 49 books on goodreads with 18057 ratings. Zephaniah s message of judgment and encouragement contains three major doctrines. Zephaniah 1 niv bible the word of the lord that came. Zephaniah s message in the first chapter, he clearly speaks out on the peoples sins and retells judahs doom. Nineveh is represented as in a state of peace and prosperity 2. Following the systematic section on covenant theology, the surrounding context of the book of zephaniah is examined. This prophecy shall be fulfilled in the kingdom age. Intro to zephaniah biblica the international bible society.
Zephaniah was evidently born during the latter part of king manassehs reign 695 642 bc. Josiah led judah to religious and social reform, but zephaniah declared that these spiritual. In this historical context, zephaniah urges judah to obedience to yahweh, saying that perhaps he will forgive them if they do. When did moab and ammon eventually worship the lord zephaniah 2. Whereas the prophet micah dealt carefully and sympathetically with the problems of the common people of judah, zephaniahs utterances show a much greater familiarity with. Both hezekiah and josiah are listed in the genealogy of jesus christ in matthew 1. This day is one of judgment against those who sin against god, and one of blessing for those who follow him. Overview of the book of zephaniah zionlutheranchurch. You have to talk to me and not the skin that holds me in. Zephaniahs prophetic revelations and stern warnings occurred during josiahs reign zephaniah 1. The prophet zephaniah issued a prophetic warning in 2. Zephaniah affirms that the message that he wrote was an inspired message from god. So thats where some have gotten the idea that zephaniah had african origins.
Zephaniah, israelite prophet, said to be the author of one of the shorter old testament prophetical books, who proclaimed the approaching. How did the prophet affirm gods sovereignty over all nations. You can find the best commentary on zephaniah for you using the tools on the right side. Book of zephaniah, the ninth of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, collected in one book, the twelve, in the jewish canon. Zephaniah is the ninth of the minor prophets, the last 12 books of the old testament.
Now zephaniah was warning the people of judah that the same thing. Read and study zephaniah 3 with the versebyverse bible commentary. Rel final learn with flashcards, games, and more for free. The prophecy opens with a statement of the authors ancestry, which in itself is an unusual feature of the hebrew prophetic tradition. Despite the fact that zephaniah warns judah of impending doom, the prophecy is dual, and the major fulfillment of his prophecy is yet future.
When his people are gathered from the four corners of the world and god is sitting on the throne. The word of the lord that came to zephaniah son of cushi, the son of gedaliah, the son of amariah, the son of hezekiah, during the reign of josiah son of amon king of judah. Book of zephaniah encyclopedia of the bible bible gateway. The date and background of zephaniah, jnes, vii 1948, 2533. The jewish royal family shall be reckoned with for their pride and vanity. Zephaniahs preaching condemned the hopeless corruption found in judean society. It is generally acknowledged that the original recipients of zephaniahs messages were. His word came in visions, oracles, dreams, parables, and the like.
Zephaniahs ministry is linked in the superscription to the reign of josiah, king of judah 640609 b. Introduction to zephaniah historical context setting though an occasional voice of protest has been heard,648 few scholars have failed to accept the information in the superscription that the books author prophesied during the reign of josiah 640609 b. It is the prophetic tradition at work in a specific time and place, even though some of the particulars are no longer retrievable. Zephaniah the prophet may have been the son of a cushite man. Zephaniah contemporary of jeremiah preached around 625 bc king manasseh is dead after a reign of 55 years the most evil king in judah he was the exact opposite of his father king hezekiah.
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