1.
Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired;
Gathers = Collect. Hebrew. kashash. Occurs only in Exodus 5:7 , Exodus 5:12 .Numbers 15:32 , Numbers 15:33 ; 1Ki 17:10 , 1 Kings 17:12 . It is not the same word as in Zephaniah 3:8 , Zephaniah 3:18 ; or in Zephaniah 3:19 , Zephaniah 3:20 . See the notes there.
not desired = not desirable. Figure of speech Antimereia (of Verb), App-6 .
2.
Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD's anger come upon you.
day = judgment. See note on Zephaniah 1:8 .
3.
Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD's anger.
Seek . . . seek. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 4:29 ), as in Zephaniah 1:6 .
judgment = ordinances; as in Isaiah 58:2 .Jeremiah 8:7 .
ye shall be hid. Referring to Isaiah 26:20 , and the meaning of the name Zephaniah.
4.
For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up.
For Gaza. Supply the logical Ellipsis ( App-6 ), here, and in verses: Zep 8:12 , Zep 8:13 , Zephaniah 3:1 , thus: "[Mine anger shall be upon Gaza, saith the Lord ], For", &c.
Gaza . . . forsaken. Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia ( App-6 ), for emphasis. Heb 'azzah . . . 'azubah.
Ashkelon. Now 'Askalan, on the coast of Philistia.
desolation = ruin. Long since fulfilled.
Aahdod Now Esdud. The same as Azotus in Acts 8:40 .
at the noon day: i.e. during the noon day siesta.
Ekron . . . rooted up. Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia , for emphasis. Hebrew. 'ekron . . . te'aker.
5.
Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the LORD is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant.
sea coast: or, country by the sea.
6.
And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks.
dwellings = pastures.
cottages = pens.
7.
And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the LORD their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.
be for. Supply the Ellipsis = "be for [a possession] to".
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .
shall visit them. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 50:24 .Exodus 3:16; Exodus 3:16 ). App-92 .
them: i.e. the remnant of Judah.
8.
I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border.
I have heard. Supply the logical Ellipsis ( App-6 ): "[My judgment shall come upon Moab], for I have heard", &c, as in Zephaniah 2:8 , &c.
Moab. Compare Isaiah 1 5 and Isaiah 16 . Jeremiah 48 . Amos 2:1-3 .
children = sons.
Ammon. Compare Jeremiah 49:1-6 . Amos 1:13-15 .
reproached. See Judges 11:12-28 .
9.
Therefore as I live, saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them.
saith the LORD of hosts = [is] the oracle of Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel. See note on 1 Samuel 1:3 .
the God of Israel. See note on Isaiah 29:23 .
shall be as Sodom. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 19:24 , Genesis 19:25 ). App-92 .
the breeding of nettles, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 29:23 , &c.)
of My People. Some codices, with two early printed editions (one Rabbinic), read "of the nations".
People = nation.
possess = inherit.
10.
This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the LORD of hosts.
11.
The LORD will be terrible unto them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen.
famish = cause to waste away.
the isles of the heathen = the coast-lands of the nations. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 10:5 ). App-92 . The phrase occurs nowhere else.
isles = coast-lands.
heathen = nations.
12.
Ye Ethiopians also, ye shall be slain by my sword.
ye. See note on "For", Zephaniah 2:4 .
13.
And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a desolation, and dry like a wilderness.
And He. See note on "For", Zephaniah 2:4 .
stretch out His hand. Idiom for executing judgment.
the north: i.e. against Assyria, because although west of Canaan, the road and entrance was by the north.
14.
And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it; their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds: for he shall uncover the cedar work.
all = all kinds of. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Genus), App-6 .
upper lintels = chapiters, or carved capitals.
cedar work: i.e. the wainscotting.
15.
This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand.
wag his hand. Idiom expressive of derision.