Context at a Glance
Author:Traditional Attribution
Topic:zephaniah Chapter 3 Study
This chapter provides a foundational look at the theological themes of zephaniah, analyzed across multiple historic translations for maximum scholarly depth.
Zephaniah 3
New Revised Standard Version
1Ah, soiled, defiled, oppressing city!
2It has listened to no voice; it has accepted no correction. It has not trusted in the LORD; it has not drawn near to its God.
3The officials within it are roaring lions; its judges are evening wolves that leave nothing until the morning.
4Its prophets are reckless, faithless persons; its priests have profaned what is sacred, they have done violence to the law.
5The LORD within it is righteous; he does no wrong. Every morning he renders his judgment, each dawn without fail; but the unjust knows no shame.
6I have cut off nations; their battlements are in ruins; I have laid waste their streets so that no one walks in them; their cities have been made desolate, without people, without inhabitants.
7I said, "Surely the city will fear me, it will accept correction; it will not lose sight of all that I have brought upon it." But they were the more eager to make all their deeds corrupt.
8Therefore wait for me, says the LORD, for the day when I arise as a witness. For my decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them my indignation, all the heat of my anger; for in the fire of my passion all the earth shall be consumed. Oracles of salvation
9At that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call on the name of the LORD and serve him with one accord.
10From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, my scattered ones, shall bring my offering.
11On that day you shall not be put to shame because of all the deeds by which you have rebelled against me; for then I will remove from your midst your proudly exultant ones, and you shall no longer be haughty in my holy mountain.
12For I will leave in the midst of you a people humble and lowly. They shall seek refuge in the name of the LORD — the remnant of Israel; they shall do no wrong and utter no lies, nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouths. Then they will pasture and lie down, and no one shall make them afraid.
14Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem!
15The LORD has taken away the judgments against you, he has turned away your enemies. The king of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall fear disaster no more.
16On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands grow weak.
17The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing as on a day of festival. I will remove disaster from you, so that you will not bear reproach for it.
19I will deal with all your oppressors at that time. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth.
20At that time I will bring you home, at the time when I gather you; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes, says the LORD. HAGGAI
1900HAGGAI Introduction Following three prophetic books set in the late preexilic period, Haggai, along with the subsequent Zechariah and Malachi, is set in the postexilic period. When the Persian king Cyrus conquered Babylon, he not only published a decree (538 BCE) allowing the captive Jews to return to Judah but also encouraged them to rebuild the Temple at Jerusalem (Ezra 1.1-4), a policy confirmed by Darius (Ezra 5.17-6.5). It is possible that under Sheshbazzar, the leader of those who returned, rebuilding was immediately attempted (Ezra 1.8; 2.68; 5.14-16). By
520BCE, however, no significant progress was evident (Ezra 3.1-7; 5.16). A successful effort was then begun, and the new Temple was completed in the spring of
515BCE (Ezra 6.14-16). Along with Zechariah (see Introduction to Zechariah), the man principally responsible for this major accomplishment was the prophet Haggai. Outside of references to him in Ezra 5.1 and 6.14, we know nothing about Haggai. The book bearing his name contains no biographical data, beyond confirming his pivotal role in inspiring the Jewish leadership and populace to complete reconstruction of the Temple, the ritual, economic, administrative, and symbolic center of their community. HT TH Haggai exhorted Zerrubabel the governor and Joshua the high priest, the joint leaders of the Judean community, to assume official leadership in the reconstruction of the Temple, and urged the priests to purify the practices of worship. These twin projects were, first of all, urgent practical steps toward unifying the disrupted religious life of the community. But Haggai also saw them as necessary preparations for the ideal age. HAGGAI
1901The book is organized in five sections (1.1-11; 1.12-15a; 1.15b-2.9; 2.10-19; 2.20-23), each precisely dated from the sixth through the ninth months of
520BCE. The precision of the date formulas is rivaled among the prophets only by those of his contemporary Zechariah (cf. Zech 1.1, 7; 7.1). Four of these sections begin with date formulas and contain addresses of Haggai, and one (1.12-15a, in which the date formula is at the end rather than the beginning) records the response of Haggai's audience. The initial section (1.1-11) is an oracle of judgment directed against the people for failing to complete the Temple. In the next section, 1.12-15a, the people respond favorably. The next two sections (1.15b-2.9; 2.10-19) are oracles encouraging the people in their efforts. The final section (2.10-23) is an oracle of salvation, promising that cosmic reversals, terrestrial justice, and national vindication will follow in the wake of the reconstruction of the Temple.