Zephaniah 3

WO The Prophet showed us Nineveh in ruins for her sins, from this doleful spectacle he brings us to take a prospect of what would come upon Jerusalem, which er'e long will be full of woes, because now full of sin. to her that is filthy Loathsom in her sins, so soul they are, and so abominably acted. A City, that, like an infamous Woman, is branded for her impudence in sin. Or wo to the great Craw, as pointing out the gluttony of Jerusalem literally, and their swallowing the poor who were a prey to the great ones., and polluted Greatly polluted by this means., to the oppressing Or the City foolish and seduced, as a silly Dove; so Heb. will bear, but our version is to be preferr'd, 'tis come to that pass, Jerusalem is a City that does nothing but oppress, Jer. 6.6. and Ezek. 22. tot. city.

She obeyed not the voice Of the Law, her prophets or her faithful Priests (which were too few yet some there were), nor of God by his Mercy and judgments crying loud, warning, inviting; persuading to return.: The received not correction Or instruction, did not learn, would not be instructed, there is a Meiosis in the words, she hated Instruction, as that wicked one, Psal. 50.17. and Prov. 5.12. and 13.18.: she trusted not in the LORD Put her confidence in Egypt and A hur, in any Carnal refuges rather than in her God, in her Kings, Princes, Counsellours, Warriours and Confederates, &c.: she drew not near to her God When revolted did not return, when in distress did not seek him, did not draw near with Prayer, &c..

Her princes Persons of principal place and authority about the King, Chief Officers in Civil Matters, and which is worse her own Princes born, and bred among them who should have been most tender, and just. within her are roaring Lions Which hunt for prey, are ever rearing or or threatning, affrighting or devouring. Such the Assyrian Princes were Nah. 2.11, 12. Such and no better are the Prin es in Iudah and Ierusalem., her judges Elders of Cities, Magistrates of lo er ank. Or it may be the Sanbedrim? are evening wolves Most hungry ins tiable and cruel like Wolves of the evening whetted with hunger and fasting, H b. 1.8., they gnaw not the bones till the morrow They leave nothing to be eat on the morrow, they devour all presently..

Her prophets By education, profession and unwarranted practice called so, false Prophets such Z dekiah, and probably, Sec. were, are light Unstable and inconstant, ready to comply with humors which they should have reproved 1 Kings 22.13. and treacherous persons Men of treacheries, what ever pleasing temper they seem to e of, yet still they design treachery, the H b, seems to ran it higher, treacheries in the abstract.: her priests Of the house of L vi, of the stock of A ron. have polluted the sanctuary Bound by office to keep holy the Sanctuary have defiled it, and all that is Holy.; they have done violence Wresting it by perverse interpretation to what sense best serveth a corrupt mind. to the law.

The just LORD is in the midst thereof Though unjust Princes, Judges, Prophets and Priests do not think so, yet the Lord who is most just is in the midst of them possibly the Sa edrim, he observeth all, condemneth their violence, and in ustice, he is Sovereign as Lord, and j st as Judge.: he will not do iniquity To him it appertaineth to judge all, therefore the unjust shall be punished as well as the just approved.: every morning does he bring his judgment to light Daily he discovereth his displeasure against the wicked and punisheth them., he faileth not Lets not one fit season ip to convince, and awaken secure sinners, by publick and visible punishments, or judgments., but the unjust But the wicked Jews proceed impudently, without shame and without fear or amendment, there is no hope of better, where is no shame for worst of doings, Ier. 3.3. knoweth no shame.

I have cut off the nations Of old the Canaanites, lately the ten Tribes, later yet, the Assyrians; and others have been cut off for their sins.: their towers Either metaphorically Magistrates and great men, as chap. 1.16. Or litterally strong Towers built on the angles of Walls or Palaces. are desolate Razed and demolished., I made their streets waste I overthrew their houses, that there were no streets,, that none passeth by or none that walkt through them.: their cities Small or great, capital or not capital. are destroy'd Taken, plundered, burnt, and ruined., so that there is no man All fled, or slain, or starved, or swept away with Pestilence, or carried into Captivity, not an inhabitant left in the places., that there is none inhabitant.

I said I thought (speaking as man would) I concluded what was likely, what I might expect., Surely thou O Ierusalem, O Iudah wilt fear me For the many and great judgments executed upon others in thy sight, thou wilt fear, by sinning still, to provoke me.: thou wilt receive instruction Wilt learn thy duty to do it, thy danger to prevent it, thy sins to repent of them, thy wayes, to amend them., so their dwelling Houses, Villages, Ierusalem should not be cut off sackt, and burnt., howsoever I punisht them What ever I had done against them however I had chastised them, had they been bettered, humbled, and amended, I would have spared, not destroyed utterly;: but they rose early but they grew worse more eager in the pursuit of their vile courses, as if the day would be too short for their ins, they rise early, and begin betimes, and corrupted all their doings designedly and out of set purpose did worse and worse, when smitten they revolted more and more Isa. 1.5..

¶ Therefore Since you will not be amended by all, since you grew worse and worse. wait ye Ye refractory and incorrigible Jews. Rulers and People, attend my resolution, for I am resolved what I will do, and have set a day for it. upon me, says the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey Until as an Enemy rise up to destroy first, and next to take the sp il, you by your si s con inue to be mine Enemies, and I will by my judgments, by the Chaldeans, who shall rise up against you, and destroy, and spoil you, show my self in arms against you, as an Enemy to you.: for my determination My fixed purpose, that which I have unalterably resolved upon. is to gather the nations All that are subjects to the Chaldean Monarchy., that I may assemble the kingdoms Which are Confederate with, or tributary to the Chaldeans, these thus gathered, lifted and marshalled in a mighty Army., to pour upon them mine The obstinate incorrigible, and impious Jews first, (afterwards I will punish Babylon.) indignation, even all my fierce anger which by their sins they have kindled against themselves.: for all the earth The whole Land of Iudea and her Cities shall be devoured consumed as if burnt up. with the fire of my jealousie That jealousie wherewith God is jealous for his own Glory, for his Ordinances and Statutes, which Jewish people, princes, and their Prophets and their Priests had notoriously violated..

For then Or then, afterwards, i. e. when my judgments have been executed, and have cut off the wicked. will I turn to the people a pure language I will give them a pure way of worshipping me, in Prayer, Praises and the issue of a purified heart, Ezek. 11.17, 18, 19.20 and 36. verse 26. that they may all call upon the name of the LORD Perform all Religious service, all Religion being exprest thus by calling on the name of the Lord., to serve him The Lord their God not Idols, with one consent With one heart, and according to his own Law and Will, with one shoulder shall they bear the Yoke of the Law, alluding to Porters that join shoulder to shoulder in carrying great burthens..

From The Coasts which lie beyond the Rivers of India, says the Ch d paraphrast, but I doubt whether the Captive Jews were carried so farr, beyond the rivers of Ethiopia in Arabia, bordering on Egypt, whether 'tis easie to conceive many Jews might betake themselves, who are here called dispersed, or dispersion, somewhat distinguisht from Captives., my suppliants Praying to me, says one version., even the daughter This explains who the suppliant is. of my dispersed The praying remnant of the scattered Jews, who had gotten into those parts of Arabia that were coasting along the Rivers which divided Ethiopia Cu aea from the rest of Arabia. shall bring mine offering Shall return to their Land and bring themselves an offering unto the Lord, which was done when Cyrus in league with these Ethiopians procured their favour for the dispersed Jews, that they might return to Ierusalem, meet the Captive brethren, and offer a gift to God..

In that day When pardoned Captives and dispersed ones, shall return and serve the Lord with one consent mourning for their sins, and seeking the Lord. shalt thou not be ashamed With a shame of reproach, and confusion, when sin is pardoned, and sinful hearts were purified, reproachful shame may well cease, Isa. 54.4, 5 for all thy doings Which are expounded in the following words, the Prophet speaks of the sins they formerly committed against the Lord., wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride Hypocrites, proud formalists that placed all Religion in the gaudy out-side, these removed, and those that Worship the Lord doing it in sincerity gathered together, the Lord will accept and beautifie them., and thou shalt no more be haughty Thou O nation of the Jews, formerly full of haughty thoughts of your selves, your Sacrifices, and your priviledges, but you shall no more boast, or glory, or vaunt your selves herein. because of my holy mount Either the City, or rather the Temple on which proud Hypocrites did bear themselves high formerly, when they lived in notorious sins, and yet cryed the Temple of the Lord, &c. Ier. 7.4, with 9, 10..

I will also leave The Chaldeans had spared none if the Lord had not preserved a remnant; 'tis he rather then they, which did leave a remnant. in the midst of thee To return and dwell in Iudaea and Ierusalem. an afflicted Or a people of a broken spirit, a meek, humble spirited people instead of that proud heart was once among them. and poor Not so much in outward respects as poor in spirit, such a people as the Lord can de ight in. people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD Not in City or Temple, but in the Lord and in his mercy, faithfulness, and power..

The remnant of Israel Preserved in captivity and dispersion, purified in the furnace of affliction, and now returned to their own Land shall not do iniquity Shall not commit the sins they formerly committed, not provoke God with their abominations as before, it is not a prediction of a sinless, but of a reformed state, they shall be righteous, and taught of God, no more Idolaters., nor speak lies They shall love Truth, and speak Truth, or in larger sense shall be honest and upright amongst men.: neither shall a deceitful tongue A false accuser or witness, like D g or Iezabel's Evidences against Naboth, according to that, Psalm 15.2. and 24.4. be found in their mouth: for they shall feed Or, they shall feed also, &c. so 'twill be a Blessing added as a Crown of their Piety and Truth; Or, if you read it, for they shall feed, &c. it gives you a reason why they shall not by frauds and lies, as formerly, sin against one another; They shall have a sufficiency by honest wayes, and from Gods Blessing, and shall not be under any great temptation to dishonesty, and lying., and lie down, and none shall make them afraid Frights made David, Abraham, and others to forget truth, here none should fright them, and they should not fear to speak the truth; Their lips pure, v r. 9. they trust in the Lord, verse 12. therefore shall not lie. Here's a cluster of Spiritual Promises with the Temporal..

Sing, O daughter of Zion, shout O Israel, be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. For all these mercies the Church is enjoined to be thankful and to rejoice, and it is trebled, sing, shout and rejoice, O Daughter of Sion, Israel, and Daughter of Ierusalem; the same persons, the same duty, but differently expressed, but the whole heart required in all.

The LORD Who kills and makes alive, acquits or condemns, and none can reverse the Judgment. has taken away Abolished, and put an end to thy sufferings, the judgments thy sins brought upon thee; He has pardoned thy sins, and ended thy sorrowes. thy judgments, he has cast Cast the Babylonian out of the Throne, and placed the P rsian in it. out thine enemy The Babylonian who held thee Captive, and placed in his room Cyrus mine anointed, and thy friend who shall let thee go free, Ezra 1.1.: the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of thee Thus it is evident that the Lord who is thy King, O Israel, is with thee; that he taketh thy part, is returned to redeem, and govern thee., thou shalt not see evil any more No more such great evil as thou hast seen; whilst thy carriage is as becometh thy mercy received, and my presence with thee, thou shalt neither fear, nor feel like evils..

In that day The day or time of restitution, when the Captivity returned shall be settled in their Land. it shall be said By Prophets, or by Friends, congratulating them, or by each to other. to Jerusalem Inhabitants of Ierusalem the place being put for the people. Fear Disquiet not your selves with fears, though you may apprehend some dangers, from Sanballat and Tobiah, &c. though troublous times, as Neh. 4.1, 2. and Dan. 9.25. thou not: and to Zion y, Let not thine hands be slack In the work of the Lord, building the City, and Temple, and restoring the Worship of God, take heart, O ye returned Captives, for God your King is with you..

The LORD The Everlasting one, who changeth not, thy God Thine In covenant never to be forgotten, or repealed. in the midst of thee is mighty Can do all he will, can restrain, and destroy enemies, can support and defend his own people.: he will save From thy fears, and thine Enemies rage., he will rejoice over thee with joy Will greatly rejoice in thee.: he will rest Will take content and satisfaction in this his love. in his love The love he shows to thee shall be rest to him, not thy loveliness, but his own love shall satisfie him., he will joy over thee with singing Shall show greatest love, and joy in most affectionate manner, all expressions borrowed from the entirest love of man toward dearest relations, Psal. 103.11, 13. and Isa. 62.5..

I will gather This promise removes an objection which might be made by dispersed ones, how can we return? I will gather you says God. them that are sorrowfull Mourn in their distance from the solemn Worship of God, as David, Psal. 42. that are for want of God's Ordinances troubled more then for any thing. for the solemn assembly Which three times every year in great solemnity they celebrated, but now for 70 years had wanted them., who are of thee These longing mourners are thy Children indeed, Israelites in whom is no guile., to whom the reproach The taunts of Enemies and Triumphs over God and Religion, such as Ps. 42.3, 10. of it was a burden Heaviest burthen or a Sword in their bowels..

Behold Mark well. at that time I will undo I will deal with them, do their work for them as we say, I will break their power and dissolve their Kingdom. all that afflict Babylonians who afflicted the Jews, and who were undone by Cyrus and his Persians. thee, and I will save her that halteth Who is in great trouble and ready to fall, as Psal. 38.16, 17. who is under greatest distress, and has least strength to bear, or get out., and gather her that was driven out By force of the Enemy, carried away Captives, and scattered into far remote Countries., and I will get them praise, and fame Vindicate them, as a people that are not rejected of their God, as the people of the great God of Heaven, and Earth, as Psal. 121.2., in every land Among all people with whom they dwelt as strangers where they have been put to shame were scorned and reproached as slaves and abjects whose God could not, or would not, help them, or had cast them off, and none other would tak care of them. But now gathered together by the Lord, shall appear to be still his peculiar people and his delight..

At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, faith the LORD. This verse is a repetition of the promise for the greater assurance of it, and seems to adde but little to what was before promised, unless it be the speediness of what God does for them, and the comprehensiveness of it, he will turn back their Captivities, Heb. plur. whether under Manasseh, or Iehojakim or Ieconiah, or Zedekiah; all which is confirmed with the broad Seal of Heaven. Thus says the LORD. Believe then and rejoyce in it.