Zephaniah 2

Zephaniah 2 is the second chapter of the Book of Zephaniah in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible.^[1][2] This book contains the prophecies spoken by the prophet Zephaniah, and is a part of the Book of the Twelve Minor Prophets.^[3][4]

Text

• The original text is written in Hebrew language.
• This chapter is divided into 15 verses.

Textual versions

Some most ancient manuscripts containing this chapter in Hebrew language:

• Masoretic Text (10th century)
• Dead Sea Scrolls: (2nd century BC)^[5]
  • 4Q77 (4QXII^b): extant: verses 13‑15^[5]
  • 4Q78 (4QXII^c): extant: verses 15^[5]
  • Naḥal Ḥever (8ḤevXII^gr): extant: verses 9-10^[5]
  • Wadi Murabba’at Minor Prophets (MurXII): complete^[5]

Ancient translations in Koine Greek:

• Septuagint (3rd century BC)
• Theodotion version (~AD 180)

Structure

This chapter can be grouped (with cross references to other parts of the Bible):

• Zephaniah 2:1-3 = A Call to Repentance
• Zephaniah 2:4-15 = Judgment on Nations

Verse 4

For Gaza shall be forsaken,

And Ashkelon desolate;

They shall drive out Ashdod at noonday,

And Ekron shall be uprooted.^[6]

• "Gaza", "Ashkelon", "Ashdod", "Ekron" - Four of the usual five leading cities of the Philistines are mentioned. Gath is omitted, being at this time under the dominion of Israel/Judah. King David had subjugated it (1 Chronicles 18:1). Under Joram the Philistines almost regained it (2 Chronicles 21:16), but Uzziah (2 Chronicles 26:6) and Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:8) having conquered them, so it remained under the Judah. Amos 1:6; Zechariah 9:5,6; Jeremiah 25:20, similarly mention only four cities of the Philistines.^[7]

Verse 5

Woe to the inhabitants of the seacoast,

The nation of the Cherethites!

The word of the Lord is against you,

O Canaan, land of the Philistines:

“I will destroy you;

So there shall be no inhabitant.”^[8]

• "Cherethites" refers to the Cretans, a name applied to the Philistines as sprung from Crete (Deuteronomy 2:23; Jeremiah 47:4; Amos 9:7). Philistine means "an emigrant."^[7]

See also

• Ashdod
• Ashkelon
• Canaan
• Cherethites
• Ekron
• Ethiopia
• Gaza City
• Jerusalem
• Judah
• Philistines
• Related Bible parts: 2 Kings 22, Jeremiah 47, Amos 1, Zechariah 9

References

External links

Wikisource has original text related to this article: Zephaniah

Look up Zephaniah in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• Jewish translations:
  • Zephaniah (Judaica Press) translation with Rashi's commentary at Chabad.org
• Christian translations:
  • Online Bible at GospelHall.org (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English)
• Zephaniah public domain audiobook at LibriVox Various versions