Matthew Poole and continuators on Zephaniah 1:4

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.