John Trapp on Zephaniah 2:14

Verſe 14. And flocks ſhall lie down in the middeſt of her &c.] Here are various and vehement expreſſions of the dreadfull face of her deſolations. Omnia congerit que vaſtitatem horribilem denotare ſolent, ſaith Gulather, becauſe it was held a thing almoſt impoſſible that Niniveh ſhould be deſtroyed. Hence that admiration of byſtanders and beholders ver. 15. But what can be impoſſible to the Almighty? and what will not He do for his churches cauſe and comfort? See ver. 6.

all the beaſts of the nations] which ſhall come from farr to haunt this new-deſert. beau-deſert. See Iſai. 13.21, 22. and obſerve that Parallell texts, like glaſſes ſet one againſt another, do caſt a mutuall light. The lapidary brighteneth his hard diamond with the duſt ſhaved from it ſelf: ſo muſt we clear hard ſcriptures.

both the Cormorant (or Pellican) and the Bittern] Thoſe inauſpicate birds of prey that are ſignes both of Gods curſe and mans miſery Eſa. 34.11. The former hath its name in Hebrew from vomiting, and ſeemeth, ſaith One, to be the ſame that we call the Shovelard, which ſwalloweth ſhelfiſhes, and after vom[illegible: 1 letter]teth them to get the fiſh.Nat. hiſt. lib. 10. cap. 3. The later liveth about lakes, ſaith Pliny, and with her beake beateth the fiſh out of the ſhell with great vehemency.

ſhall lodge in the upper-lintels of it] beautified with pomegranates, flowers and other curious garniſhes, a are wont to be ſeen at the proches of places.

their voice ſhall ſing in the windowes] the black Saints, as they ſay; where was wont to be heard all manner of muſick and melodious noiſes, Luxus cedet in luctum, their merry dances ſhall end in a miſerable downfall.

deſolation ſhall be in the threſholds] which were wont to be worn out with the abundance of clients and paraſites, tracing over them.

for he ſhall uncover the cedar-work] i. e. God, or the enemy by Gods appointment, ſhall uncover the roof made of Cedar, for better continuance. Cedar is ſtrong and durable: and by reaſon of the dryneſſe of it the timber chawneth not, rotteth not:Phyſic. l. 2. yea, it hath a property to preſerve other things from putrefaction, ſaith Scribonius. The Ninivites raftered their houſes with it, as they ſay the Africanes do with whale-bones. But now that God ſhall barr them and expoſe them to the injury of wind and weather, how can they ſtand? and what can be in the threſholds but deſolation?