Matthew Poole and continuators on Zephaniah 1

1 THE word of the LORD which came to Zephaniah the son of Cushi , the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hizkiah, in the dayes of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah▪

The Declaration of the purpose of God, either spoken audibly, or clearly manifested by signs.

God of Israel, here is the Divine Authority of this Prophesie with which the Prophets word is seconded.

The precise manner how it came, we need not enquire into; Zephaniah did not hammer out of his owe brain any such news, he received from God what he communicated to them.

By derivation of the Name, it is one hidden of the Lord, whom God doth hide, or God's Secretary, or else one that is Gods Watch-man, whom God hath set over the house of Iudah, as Ezek. 3. is said to be.

His Ped[illegible: 1 letter]gree here gives us no certainty what his Progenitors were, whether as some think him the great Grandson of Hez[illegible: 1 letter]kiah, the Name being the same, or whether Prophets, or only eminent known men.

Before the Captivity he was then contemporary with Ieremiah and Ezekiel, prophesied before the Captivity, and foretels much like, what Ieremiah or Ezekiel did.

Whose Reign was very full of Impiety and Idolatry, and hastned the Captivity upon Iudah. This Amon sacrificed to all the carved Images which Manasseh had made, 2 Chron. 33.22.

2 I will utterly consume all things from off the land , saith the LORD .

Heb. Gathering up, I will gather up, or take up, intimating particularly the manner how all should be consumed, i. e. swept away as a prey to the Babylonians.

Of Iudah ▪ the two Tribes.

This is added to confirm, and assure the truth hereof.

Marginal references: Heb. by taking away. I will make an end.; Heb. the face of the land.

3 I will consume man and beast : I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumbling blocks with the wicked , and I will cut off man from off the land saith the LORD.

The former verse denounced the [illegible: 1 letter]uture desolation in general terms. This verse specifieth what desolation in particular God would bring upon the Land. Man shall be consumed for his own sin, and the beasts consumed for mans sake; Men by the Pestilence and Famine, the Beasts by Murrain, and devoured by multitudes of hungry Souldiers that shall make greater havock than any Murrain ordinarily doth

Either by some unknown Disease among them, or else by a distast at the stench of putrifying Carcases they fled away, so that none, or very few appeared, insomuch that it lookt as if it were all consumed.

By Sea, some understand Ponds, Lakes, or smaller Seas, such as that of Genezareth and Tiberias, the Waters whereof might be made noisom to the fish by the streams of blood, and Carcasses which might possibly be cast into them, or God might destroy the Fishes by some consuming Disease too. He hath ways to do it, who hath once said he will do it.

The Idols.

The Idolatrous Priests, and others who worshipt them.

All shall disappear.

Of Iudah.

Marginal references: Hos. 4.3.; Or, Idols.

4 I will also stretch out mine hand upon Judah , and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem , and I will cut off the remnant of Baal z from this place , and the names of the Chemarims with the priests .

And I will, or, And I have, Hebr. so Prophets speak of what shall most certainly be, as if already done.

This seems to intimate some immediate stroke from God, He speaks so in Ier. 51.25. Ezek. 6.14. and 14.13. and 25.13.

Benjamin is included, though Iudah only is named.

It will be universal destruction of them either by Sword, Famine, Pestilence, or Captivity; both Citizens and Sojourners, all shall perish, or suffer by some or other of these wayes

Though '[illegible: 1 letter]was the Holy City beautified with the Temple of God, yet all should not secure it, Ier. 7.4. and Ezek. 9.6.

This Idolatry had filled Ierusalem it self,

both the persons, and the memory of them also, for names includeth both.

Either call'd so from their black Garments they went in, or, from their swarthy colour occasioned by the black smoke of Incense, which they were almost continually in, or Door-keepers, Sextons of Baal, or voluntary Servants; or such as the Popish Monks; some Ministers of Baal distinct from the Priests.

Either the Priests of Baal, or the Apostates of Aaron's house, who (though Priests by birth and Office) should have been stedfast to, but had fallen from the True God and his Worship to Baal and his Worship.

Whatsoever remains of the Idolatry of Baal, both the Idols, their Temples, Sacrifices, Priests, Ornaments, and Worshippers, whether this refer to times after the Reformation by Isaiah, or to times before it, needs not scrupulously be enquired into.

Marginal references: 2 Kin. 23.5.

5 And them that worship the host of heaven upon the house tops , and them that worship, and that swear by the LORD , and that swear by Malcham .

Those among the people that adhered to this Idolatry▪

The Sun, Moon, and Stars frequently in the Scripture called the host of Heaven.

Openly, as the manner of those Idolaters was, either because they thought those Deities they imagined to dwell in the body of those Stars better saw them, or were better pleased thus, or because these places were nearer Heaven. On the flat roofs of their houses they were used to have their Altars and Worship.

Or, to the Lord, (as the Heb bears) persons that mix Idol Worship, and the Worship of the true God; that devote themselves to God, and Baal, or Malcham

called Milcom, and Molech, and Moloch, Amos 5.26. probably 'twas their chief Idol, fancied to be King of Gods and Men.

Marginal references: 2 Kin. 23.12. Jer. 19.13.; Or, to the LORD.

6 And them that are turned back from the LORD, and those that have not sought the LORD, nor enquired for him.

Apostates, who have forsaken the Lord and his Worship▪ or that are turned Athei[illegible: 2 letters]s, or that in matter of Religion have taken up not what is purest and truest, but what is nearest and most in fashion.

Sluggishly neglected to examine pretended Religions, according to the Law which they might, and ought to have done, and who have embraced a false Religion instead of the true.

Though the Prophets have preacht against this Apostacy, and called the Priests and People to forsake the Idols, and enquire after God, yet they would not enquire, these also are here doomed to destruction.

Marginal references: Isa. 1.4. Jer. 15.6.

7 Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD : for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice , he hath bid his guests .

Thou that murmurest in discontent, or disputest out of frowardness against God, his Worship, and his Government, that thinkest of him but little better then of Baal or Malcham, cease all thy quarrels and disputes, stand in awe.

Who is Almighty, Omniscient, who ruleth and will avenge.

A day of vengeance from the Lord,

The wicked among the Iewes, whom he will sacrifice by the Chaldean's sword.

Summoned in Beasts of the Field, and Fowls of the Air, to eat the Flesh, and drink the Blood of slain Iewes, whom the Babylonians slew.

Marginal references: Hab. 2.20. Zech. 2.13.; Isa. 34.6. Jer. 46.10. Ezek. 39.17.; Heb. sanctified, or prepared.

8 And it shall come to pass in the day of the LORDS sacrifice , that I will punish the princes , and the kings children , and all such as are clothed with strange apparel.

It shall most certainly be fulfilled, what I threaten I will most surely execute.

Of slaughter to be made by the Baby[illegible: 1 letter]onians, called here a day of Sacrifice, that we might see clearly the just and exemplary proceedings of God; these people sinned in Sacrificing to strange Gods, and God will punish them, making them a strange Sacrifice to h[illegible: 1 letter]s Anger.

The punishment shall appear to be from my hand, as he threatens often by Ezekiel.

Nobles about the Court, the great ones, who dreamt of shif[illegible: 1 letter]ing better then others, but fell with the first, 2 Kings 25.19, 20, 21.

Sons and Grandchildren too of good Iosiah, Iehoabaz dyed a Captive in Egypt, 2 Kings 23.34. Ieboiakim dyed on the way, or in Babylon, buried with the burial of an Asse, Ier. 22.18. Ieconiah carried to Babylon sped somewhat, yet but little better; there he dyed a Captive: As for Zedekiah and his Children, these were slain before his face, then his Eyes put out, and he led into miserable captivity.

Some say the strange Apparel of Idolatrous Priests, others say, and more likely, the garb of Forreigners, imitated by the wanton Iewes.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 span]; Jer. [illegible: 2 letters]

9 In the same day also will I punish all those that leap on the threshold which fill their Masters houses with violence and deceit .

Not to be taken for a single day, but more largely for that time wherein God would visit and punish.

Insolently, and with rage break open the doors of such whose goods they seise, upon pretence of forfeitures or fines, a sin that Ezekiel both taxed and threatned, chap. 8.17. and 12.19. and 45.9.

Either the oppressing Kings, whose Officers these were, or publick Officers and Judges, whose Servants thus did (to enrich their Masters) spoil the poor, and the oppressed

goods taken away by force, and kept as much against right, as at first taken away without right

by false accusations, and by suborned evidence for proof, and by perjuries.

And it shall come to pass in that day saith the LORD , that there shall be the noise of a cry from the fish gate , and an howling from the second , and a great crashing from the hills .

See ver. 9. let. a.

To assure us of the certainty of the thing.

The voice Heb. of a cry, i. e. a very great outcry and lamentation.

Which was on the west side of Ierusalem, through which Gate they brought in fish from [illegible: 1 word], and other Sea Towns on the West Sea, or great Sea, now the Mediterranean, at which Gate the Babylonians are said first to enter into the City, when they took it thus, it will be a prediction at what Gate [illegible: 1 letter]he Enemy should enter.

The great, horrid, and confus'd lamentations of desperate and undone multitudes crying out, and bitterly bemoaning themselves.

Gate which was in the second Wall of Ierusalem, which on that side was fortified with three Walls, or second part of the City, or the middle City, for 'twas divided into three parts. Others read Second as a Proper Name, and make it the School, Colledge, or University, and so render the howling of the University, i. e. of Students either slaughter'd, or captivated by Chaldeans.

Breaking in pieces, or the noise of what is broken into shivers; possibly the noise of Doors, Windows, Closers, and Chests broken up, or burning

in the houses of Nobles, likned here to hills, or more literally in Gareb and Goath, on which the flying Iews pursued by the Chaldees, lost what they carryed with them, and their life too; so all places were full of miserable slaughter, and out-cryes.

11 Howl ye inhabitants of Maktesh , for all the merchant people are cut down; all they that bear silver are cut off.

Cry aloud, and bitterly.

Some read it appellatively: The Mortar in which of old, before the Corn-Mill was known and used, they did pound and beat their Corn for Bread. They also pounded Spices: Others say 'tis the lower Town, or Valley of Cedron in Ierusalem, a deep Valley that surrounded the Mountain of the Temple, which fancied like a deep Mortar, they gave the name Maktesh to it.

Who were wont either to lodge in this place when they came to Trade, or, if Iewish Merchants, dwelt there, which was much to the advantage of the place, but now by the invasion of the Land, and by the siege, all trade is cut off, and many Merchants either slain or made slaves.

That brought it with them to pay for what they bought up, and so enricht the Inhabitants of this Makte[illegible: 1 letter]h, all that traded and payd ready money, are cut off, as let. q. Others say, the Money-changers, or Bankers are here meant by them that bear silver, persons that furnisht all sorts o[illegible: 1 letter] people with silver, for Goods laid to pledge, or buttered.

i. e. shall be as surely, as if 'twere already done.

12 And it shall come to pass at that time , that I will search Jerusalem with candles , and punish the men that are setled on their lees : that say in their heart , the LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil .

'Twas day, ver. 10. which see let. a.

God speaks after the manner of man who searcheth dark places with Candles in hand; God's Omniscience seeth all things, and needs no help for discovery, but by this expression foretels how fully he would both discover, and punish.

It is like enough this was literally fulfilled when the Chaldeans did search the Vaults, and Sellars, and sewers of Ierusalem for Men, or Goods hidden in them.

In allusion to Liquors which not being poured out from Vessel to Vessel to refine them, grow thick and setled; so men that have known none or little changes settle in security, and fear no menaces.

Entertain an opinion, or begin to flatter themselves into thoughts.

No providence to countenance the good, or to punish the bad: No God, or none that regardeth what is done on Earth, or as they, Ezek. 8. 12. think God hath forsaken the Earth. These Atheists God will punish severely, as the sin well deserveth; they shall see, it shall be well with the righteous, and ill with the wicked.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 paragraph]

13 Therefore their goods shall become a booty , and their houses a desolation : they shall also build houses, but not inhabit them , and they shall plant vineyards, but not drink the wine thereof.

As a punishment for other sins, so for this secure Atheistical denyal of Providence, though they have denyed, they shall feel, and confess, that the evil they suffer is both just, and from my hand too.

Stores in their Shops and Warehouses, Furniture in their Cambers, and Ward-robes.

A Prey divided among the Babyloni h Souldiers, invading, prevailing, wasting Villages and Cities.

That they may remember the curse threatned in the Law, executed on them, and acknowledge that who gave the Law Rules by it.

According to that Deut. 28.30, 39.

Marginal references: Amos 5.11.

14 The great day of the LORD is near, it is near , and hasteth greatly : even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly n.

Not the day of general Judgment, but the day in which the great God will bring his great Armies against Iudah and Ierusalem, and do great things by those Armies

Appointed, [illegible: 1 letter]oretold, and now actually brought on them by the Lord.

Very near, it is doubled to shew the nearness of it, and to assure us it is so.

Your Enemies eagerness for the prey, your sins and security, and the Lord's justly provoked anger hasten this day.

'Tis within hearing, the sound of it is in mine ears, methinks you might hear it also.

The valiant, and stout hearted among the Iews, they who should support others, shall be ready to sink themselves, and as much need a Cordial themselves.

Their courage broken, they shall cry out most vehemently, or like hopeless Women.

15 That day is a day of wrath , a day of trouble and distress , a day of wastness and desolation , a day of darkness and gloominess , a day of clouds, and thick darkness .

Great day, ver. 14.

From the Chaldeans, and from the Lord, actively, upon the Iews passively.

Here the Prophet heapeth up words of much the same sense to express the grievousness of the troubles of those times which shall suddenly come upon them, most distressing trouble, none knowing how to bear it, or where to hide from it.

Most desolate wastness in City, Villages, and Fields; every where the spoiling Souldier shall lay waste, carrying all he can, and destroying what he cannot carry away.

Possibly it might be so as to the temper of the air dark, and gloomy, but figuratively I am sure it was so.

Either literally from the Heavens clouded over them, or (i[illegible: 1 letter] it refer, as it may to the day of sacking Ierusalem, and effects of it) darkness, gloominess, Clouds, and thick darkness arising from the smoak and fire of the City every where fired by the Enemy, but Metaphorically these speak the most unparallel'd calamities.

Marginal references: Jer. 30.7. [illegible: 1 word] 2.2, 11. [illegible: 1 word] 5.18.

16 A day of the trumpet , and alarm against the senced cities , and against the high towers .

Gods Trumpet calling the Chaldeans, the Chaldeans trumpet also gathering together their Troops.

Threatening and affrighting

of Iudah.

Stately Palaces, and strong Munitions fortified with high Towers, built at the Angles of Walls, and therefore Heb. calls them high Corners, it may mean also the great men which (as corners well built) are the strength and beauty of a Wall; so they of a State, Iudg. 20.2. Zech. 10.4.

17 And I will bring distress upon men , that they shall walk like blind men , because they have sinned against e the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust , and their flesh as the dung .

Gast them into, and surround or besiege them with distress; Calamities which shall greatly trouble, and perplex.

The chiefest among them, the richest, and who think themselves safest; the mighty men, as ver. 10. let, m. like blind men▪ shall neither know what to do, or where to fly, neither be [illegible: 1 letter]it for Counsel or Action.

All this for their great sins against the Lord, these men of note have been as much greater in sin as in state above others, and shall be as much deep in distress.

As freely, abundantly, and as contemptibly, as dust in the High-way.

Shall be spread as dung on the face of the Earth to fatten and improve it, their life shall be of no more value than dust, their honour no more regarded than dung, and they shall be so used after death.

18 Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORDs wrath , but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousie ; for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell o in the land p.

Sometimes these have purchas'd friends, and redeem'd a life at the hand of greedy Souldiers, who have spared on promise of money, but now it shall not be so, neither silver or gold shall help.

To pacifie the enraged Sultan of Babylon who had been formerly appeased which Presents, and Tribute Money, but will no more. Nor shall his Souldiers dare to spare or save any when they are charged to slay man, woman, and child as in the taking of Ierusalem 'tis probable they were charged, Psal. 137.7, 8, 9.

Were it the wrath of man onely, gifts might appease it, but 'tis the wrath of God who is a Righteous Judge, and receives not gifts.

Utterly ruin'd, its wealth carried away, its provisions eat up, its stores exhausted, and its stock (which should continue their Provision) utterly destroy'd as ver. 1.

To which their sins provoked the Lord, which their sins inkindled, and now it burns that none can quench it, Vid. Deut. 28. from 15. ver. to the end of the Chapter; all which God will now make good against them.

Though he had with wonderful patience waited and forborn, now he would wait no longer, but with speedy executions fulfill his threats and accomplish his wrath which he did within less than twenty years after this Prophesie, as is most like, on the accuratest computation we can make of the time[illegible: 1 letter] of Zephaniah's prophesying and Nebuchadnezzar's taking the City.

Marginal references: Prov. 1[illegible: 1 letter].4▪ Ezek. [illegible: 1 letter].[illegible: 2 letters].; chap. [illegible: 1 letter].[illegible: 1 letter].