The bible journey introduction to the book of zephaniah. The small book of zephaniah is narrative history and prophetic oracle. This book in some hebrew copies is called sepher zephaniah, the book of zephaniah. Zephaniah prophesied during the reign of josiah 640609 b. 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 chronology. So often found in the teachings of the prophets of israel. The book of zephaniah contains no direct messianic prophecies, but the prophets focus on the day of the lord as the time of judgment and blessing connects his message with the work of christ.
The book declares judgment on many nations, all of which opposed god. Zephaniah would have been the first prophet to judah in the 60 years since isaiah. The reason for this act of judgement was the rampant idolatry in jerusalem which was begun by manasseh cf. We have no knowledge of his background except for what is given in verse 1 regarding his lineage. It is a small book, nestled in the midst of the minor prophets, toward the end of the old testament. His name means the eternal one has hidden or protected, and this is an appropriate moniker because the message he delivers to the people of judah promises that those who seek god and carry out his teachings may be hidden or protected from the lords coming judgment of the nations. Zephaniah was a fourthgeneration descendant of hezekiah, a notable king of judah from 715 to 686 b. Dont we need the prophecy of the royal prophet today to bolster our wavering faith.
Josiah led judah to religious and social reform, but zephaniah declared that these spiritual changes would not last. The book is attributed to a prophet named zephaniah, who prophesied in judah during the seventh century b. Zephaniah the one whom jehovah has chosen was a prophet of judah. Book of zephaniah overview insight for living ministries. Watch our overview video on the book of zephaniah, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Personal and national sins had provoked god to bring judgment. Zephaniah, also spelled sophonias, flourished 7th century bc, israelite prophet, said to be the author of one of the shorter old testament prophetical books, who proclaimed the approaching divine judgment.
The first verse of the book of zephaniah makes him a contemporary of. The texts of these minor but important prophets receive a fresh and penetrating analysis in this introduction and commentary. It probably dates from just before king josiahs religious reforms of 621bc see 2 kings 23. Zephaniah may have been a contemporary of other old testament prophets such as jeremiah and nahum and the. This prophet warns of the approaching invasion of judah. Zephaniah intro to zephaniah biblica the international bible. The book consists of a series of independent sayings, many of which are rightly attributed to zephaniah. The first verse of the book of zephaniah makes him a contemporary of josiah, king of judah reigned c. The message of zephaniah, a prophet from jerusalem zephaniah is a contemporary of nahum, living and prophesying in jerusalem during the seventh centuryb. Zephaniah introduction, good news bible gnb the bible app. Book of zephaniah, also called sophonias, 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 s prophetic revelations and stern warnings occurred during josiahs reign zephaniah 1. Historically, the book of zephaniah was used in the providence of god to.
Judgment and blessing occur both in the near future for the prophet and his. One interesting find is located in the first verse of the book of zephaniah. The book of zephaniah was written before the fall of judah in 587 bc. Shortly after this time the babylonians would replace the assyrians as the dominant power in the near east. Among the minor prophets, we are certainly much more familiar with jonah and hosea. The books of nahum, habbakuk and zephaniah with introduction and notes. Like many other books in the old testament, the book of zephaniah has a combination of history and prophesy. Like jeremiah, zephaniah prophesies that judah will be punished for following pagan gods.
Zephaniah, the prophet who authored this book, most likely had a royal lineage. Intro to zephaniah biblica the international bible society. A new translation with introduction and commentary. When god had a message for the people, he spoke through the prophets. Does zephaniah s prophecy have meaning for our day. His word came in visions, oracles, dreams, parables, and the like. Best commentaries and books on zephaniah logos bible. 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.
He may have been a contemporary of other old testament prophets such as jeremiah and nahum and the book of mormon prophet lehi see bible chronology. The people of judah would return to wickedness and rebellion against god. Zephaniah is the ninth of the minor prophets, the last 12 books of the old testament. He identified himself much better than any other of the minor prophets, mentioning four generations of ancestors, back to hezekiah, a good. The book of zephaniah is probably best known for being the least known book of the entire bible. It is a day that will come and zephaniah helps us to appreciate its purpose and power. The day of the lord, the lord is in the midst of you author. Zephaniah the prophet may have been the son of a cushite man. Interesting facts about zephaniah barnes bible charts meaning. Introduction zephaniah ministered before the babylonian captivity began in 586 bc and not long before jeremiah, who lived at the time of the captivity. In this book, zephaniah announces gods purifying judgment on. Introduction to the prophets bible commentary theology. Zephaniah would have been the first prophet to judah in the 60 years since isaiah nahum was about assyria iv.
Zephaniah prophesied during the reign of josiah, when egypt, judah, and babylonia were eroding the power of assyria. Introduction to zephaniah the days of josiah zephaniah 1 may 29 the prophet zephaniah prophesied during the days of king josiah. The book of zephaniah follows the pattern of the four rs rebellion, retribution, repentance, restoration. Zephaniah s primary target for gods message of judgment, the nation of judah, had fallen into grievous sin under the reign of their king, manasseh.
The day of the lord will strike judah and its neighbors. The book was written some time between 641 and 612 b. The prophecy opens with a statement of the authors ancestry 1. The people rebel against the teachings of the lord or his servants the prophets. Zephaniah is a contemporary of nahum, living and prophesying in jerusalem during the seventh century b. Like the writings of many of the prophets, the book of zephaniah follows a pattern of judgment on all people for their sin followed by the restoration of gods chosen people. The book of the twelve prophets was originally on one parchment roll because of the brevity of the text, and together formed one book of the 24 books of hebrew scripture. The book of zephaniah was written before 629 bc when josiah found and eagerly read the holy scriptures discovered in the temple. This morning we begin with an introduction and overview of the man, zephaniah and his book. Zephaniah 3 jerusalem woe to the city of bible gateway.
The book of zephaniah center point bible institute. Introduction to zephaniah by john gill this book in some hebrew copies is called sepher zephaniah, the book of zephaniah. There may have been some overlap with jeremiah since he began to prophecy in 627 b. Josiah was followed by kings whose disastrous political decisions eventually brought the babylonian conqueror nebuchadnezzar ii against jerusalem 2 kgs. The name means jehovah hath guarded, literally, hidden psa 27. The old testament the torah book lectors introduction. The prophets in jerusalem at this time included nahum, jeremiah and zephaniah though the high priest turned to a woman prophet, huldah, to interpret the scroll for the king. The reason for this act of judgement was the rampant idolatry in jerusalem which was begun by manasseh. Among the prophets, this is a unique introduction with its long list of fathers back to zephaniahs greatgreat grandfather, hezekiah. Often the prophets used a crisis in their day to foreshadow future, endtime events.
Zephaniah overview john gills exposition on the whole bible. No other prophet s ancestry is traced back four generations, so this seems intended to associate zephaniah with the great reforming king of judah. 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. The prophet zephaniah preached in the latter part of the seventh century bc, probably in the decade before king josiahs religious reforms of 621 bc. Most likely, the prophet wanted to highlight his royal. The person who offered this warning was the prophet zephaniah. The major contribution of zephaniah is its contribution to the doctrine of the day of the lord, a concept which occurs over twenty times in the book. Zephaniahs prophetic revelations and stern warnings occurred during josiahs reign zephaniah 1. We know nothing at all of the personal life of zephaniah. The frequency of this expression is the highest of any old testament prophet. Fausset introduction see introduction to the prophetical books zephaniah, ninth in order of the minor prophets, prophesied in the days of josiah zep 1. A guide for introducing each book of the bible please refer to this guide as you rehearse your reading for the week. Zephaniahs prophecy of judgment on judah and jerusalem emphasizes, perhaps more than any other prophecy, the devastation.
The new testament on one occasion identifies the day of the lord with the gift of the spirit on the day of pentecost acts 2. The prophecy opens with a statement of the authors ancestry, which in itself is an unusual feature of the hebrew prophetic tradition. Doesnt this minor prophet named zephaniah seem extremely relevant for our times, too. The prophet predicts the general destruction of judah and jerusalem by the chaldeans. Its title, in the vulgate latin version, is, the prophecy of zephaniah. Historical introduction zephaniah the prophet prophesied during the reign of king josiah who ascended his throne in 639 bc. We often overlook seemingly boring genealogies in the bible, but sometimes they can be the most interesting part. The book s prologue identifies zephaniah as the greatgreatgrandson of hezekiah. The purpose of this book was to show that god raised up his prophet zephaniah to proclaim a warning.
The specification in the introductory heading, of not only his father, but also. The third chapter of zephaniah is a powerful message of hope, restoration, singing, productiveness, new birth, and the lords return to the center of his new church. The prophet zephaniah was evidently a person of considerable social standing in judah and was probably related to the royal line. This probable royal ancestry made him somewhat unusual among all the other hebrew. She does not trust in the lord, she does not draw near to her god. Video video download options bible book introduction videos share. Outline of the book of zephaniah the prophet introduces himself and foretells total judgment. The prophet zephaniah made it clear that the day of gods judgment was near for disobedient judah and jerusalem.
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