Zephaniah
(hidden by Jehovah).
The ninth in order of the twelve minor prophets. His pedigree is traced to his fourth ancestor, Hezekiah, (Zephaniah 1:1) supposed to be the celebrated king of that name. The chief characteristics of this book are the unity and harmony of the composition, the grace, energy and dignity of its style, and the rapid and effective alternations of threats and promises. The general tone of the last portion is Messianic, but without any specific reference to the person of our Lord.
The date of the book is given in the inscription—viz, the reign of Josiah, from 642 to 611 B.C. It is most probable moreover, that the prophecy was delivered before the eighteenth year of Josiah. The son of Maaseiah, (Jeremiah 21:1) and sagan or second priest in the reign of Zedekiah. (B.C. 588.) He succeeded Jehoida, (Jeremiah 29:25,26) and was probably a ruler of the temple, whose office it was, among others, to punish pretenders to the gift of prophecy.
(Jeremiah 29:29) On the capture of Jerusalem he was taken and slain at Riblah. (Jeremiah 52:24,27; 2 Kings 25:18,21) Father of Josiah, 2, (Zechariah 6:10) and of Hen, according to the reading of the received text of (Zechariah 6:14)
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia on Zephaniah
Zephaniah zef-a-ni'-a (tsephanyah, tsephanyahu, "Yah hath treasured"): ⇒See a list of verses on ZEPHANIAH in the Bible. (1) The prophet. See ZEPHANIAH, BOOK OF. ⇒See also the McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia. (2) A Levite or priest (1Ch 6:36 (Heb 6:20)), called in some genealogies "Uriel" (1Ch 6:24; 15:5,11). (3) Judean father or fathers of various contemporaries of Zechariah, the prophet (Zec 6:10,14). (4) A priest, the second in rank in the days of Jeremiah. He was a leader of the "patriotic" party which opposed Jeremiah. Nevertheless, he was sent to the prophet as a messenger of King Zedekiah when Nebuchadnezzar was about to attack the city (Jer 21:1) and at other crises (Jer 37:3; compare Jer 29:25,29; 2Ki 25:18). That he continued to adhere to the policy of resistance against Babylonian authority is indicated by the fact that he was among the leaders of Israel taken by Nebuzaradan before the king of Babylon, and killed at Riblah (2Ki 25:18 parallel Jer 52:24). Nathan Isaacs
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible on Zephaniah
1. The prophet. See Zi:i'HA- NlAll, BdOK OF, where also the name is discussed. 2. A Kohatliite, mentioned among the ancestors of Heman the singer (1 Ch C^""). 3. Son of Maaseiah the priest in Jerusalem in the time of Zedekiah the king and Jeremiah the prophet. He belonged to the court party opposed to making any terms with Babylon, and inclined to trust to the help of Egypt. Though thus opposed to the policy of Jeremiah, he showed a good disposition towards the prophet by letting him see the letter which he had received from Shemaiah in which Zeph. was urged to stop every mad prophet, and was called in question for not having rebuked Jeremiali for prophesying that the Babylonian captivity would continue (Jer 2i)'-'*- -"'). He was sent by Zedekiah to Jeremiah to ask of the Lord through His projihet deliverance from Nebuchad- nezzar, and carried back God's message to the king. He was then sent again to inquire as to the pro- posed league with Egypt (Jer 21' 37'). As ne.\t in rank to Seraiah, grandson of Hilkiah (1 Ch C"), Zeph. is called second priest, ^(^^^(ri) [ri3 (2 K '25"). On the…
Fausset's Bible Dictionary on Zephaniah
("Jehovah hath hidden") (Psa 27:5; Psa 83:3). 1. Ninth of the minor prophets; "in the days of Josiah," between 642 and 611 B.C. "Son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hizkiah." The specification of his father, grandfather, and great grandfather, implies he was sprung from men of note. The omission of the designation "king," or "king of Judah," is against the notion that the "Hizkiah" means king Hezekiah (compare Pro 25:1; Isa 38:9). He prophesied in the former part of Josiah's reign. In Zep 2:13-15 he foretells Nineveh's fall (625 B.C.), therefore his prophesying was before 625 B.C.; and in Zep 1:4-6 threatens "cutting off" to "the remnant of Baal" and "the name of the (See CHEMARIMS with the priests "; see Hos 10:5 margin, "and them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops, and them that worship and that swear by the Lord, and that swear by Malcham." Fulfilled by Josiah (2Ki 23:4-5). Josiah's reformation was begun in the 12th year of his reign, and was completed in the 18th. Zephaniah in denouncing the different forms of idolatry paved the way f…
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Easton, M.G. (1893) Easton's Bible Dictionary. 3rd edn. Thomas Nelson. [Public Domain]
- Nave, O.J. (1897) Nave's Topical Bible. Topical Bible Publishing Co.. [Public Domain]
- Hastings, J. (ed.) (1909) A Dictionary of the Bible. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Smith, W. (ed.) (1884) Smith's Bible Dictionary. London: John Murray. [Public Domain]
- Fausset, A.R. (1878) Fausset's Bible Dictionary. [Public Domain]A Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopaedia