Zephaniah 2 - Wesley's Explanatory Notes

Gather yourselves — Call a solemn assembly, proclaim a fast. Not desired — Or, not desirous. Unwilling to return, and unworthy to be received on your return.

The decree — Before God's decree is put in execution. The day — Before the day of your calamities. As the chaff — Carry you away as the wind carries chaff away.

Seek — Fear, worship, depend on him alone. Ye meek — Ye humble ones. Wrought his judgment — Obeyed his precepts. Seek righteousness — Continue therein. Seek meekness — Patiently wait on the just and merciful God. Hid — Under the wing of Divine Providence.

For — It is time to seek God; for your neighbours, as well as you, shall be destroyed. Gaza — A chief city of the Philistines. They — The Babylonians. Shall drive — Into captivity. At the noon day — It shall be taken by force at noon.

The inhabitants — All the Philistines. Cherethites — Or destroyers, men that were stout, fierce, and terrible to their neighbours. O Canaan — That part that the Philistines kept by force from the Jews.

For shepherds — Instead of cities full of rich citizens, there shall be only cottages for shepherds.

The coast — The sea — coast, the land of the Philistines. The remnant — That survive the captivity. Shall feed — Their flocks. In the houses — In places where these formerly stood. They — Both shepherds and flocks. Shall visit — In mercy.

I — God. Magnified themselves — Invading their frontiers.

Of nettles — Not cultivated, but over — run with nettles. Salt — pits — A dry, barren earth, fit only to dig salt out of. The residue — That return out of Babylon. Possess them — Settle upon those parts of their lands, that are fit for habitation.

Famish — Take away all their sacrifices and drink — offerings. The gods — Idols of those lands. From his place — Not only at Jerusalem, but every where.

By my sword — The Chaldeans are called God's sword; because God employed them.

He — God. The north — Assyria, which lay northward of Judea, and due north from Babylon.

All the beasts — All sorts of beasts which are found in those countries. The bittern — A bird that delights in desolate places.

This — So the prophet triumphs over her. There is none — None like me, or that can contend with me.