mh_parser/vol_split/36 - Zephaniah/Chapter 2.xml

<div2 id="Zeph.iii" n="iii" next="Zeph.iv" prev="Zeph.ii" progress="91.34%" title="Chapter II">
<h2 id="Zeph.iii-p0.1">Z E P H A N I A H.</h2>
<h3 id="Zeph.iii-p0.2">CHAP. II.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Zeph.iii-p1" shownumber="no">In this chapter we have, I. An earnest exhortation
to the nation of the Jews to repent and make their peace with God,
and so to prevent the judgments threatened before it was too late
(<scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.2.1-Zeph.2.3" parsed="|Zeph|2|1|2|3" passage="Zep 2:1-3">ver. 1-3</scripRef>), and this
inferred from the revelation of God's wrath against them in the
foregoing chapter. II. A denunciation of the judgments of God
against several of the neighbouring nations that had assisted, or
rejoiced in, the calamity of Israel. 1. The Philistines, <scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.2.4-Zeph.2.7" parsed="|Zeph|2|4|2|7" passage="Zep 2:4-7">ver. 4-7</scripRef>. 2. The Moabites and
Ammonites, <scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.2.8-Zeph.2.11" parsed="|Zeph|2|8|2|11" passage="Zep 2:8-11">ver. 8-11</scripRef>. 3.
The Ethiopians and Assyrians, <scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.2.12-Zeph.2.15" parsed="|Zeph|2|12|2|15" passage="Zep 2:12-15">ver.
12-15</scripRef>. All these shall drink of the same cup of
trembling that is put into the hands of God's people, as was also
foretold by other prophets before and after.</p>
<scripCom id="Zeph.iii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.2" parsed="|Zeph|2|0|0|0" passage="Zep 2" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Zeph.iii-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.2.1-Zeph.2.3" parsed="|Zeph|2|1|2|3" passage="Zep 2:1-3" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Zeph.iii-p1.7">
<h4 id="Zeph.iii-p1.8">The People Exhorted to
Repent. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Zeph.iii-p1.9">b. c.</span> 612.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Zeph.iii-p2" shownumber="no">1 Gather yourselves together, yea, gather
together, O nation not desired;   2 Before the decree bring
forth, <i>before</i> the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce
anger of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Zeph.iii-p2.1">Lord</span> come upon you,
before the day of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Zeph.iii-p2.2">Lord</span>'s anger
come upon you.   3 Seek ye the <span class="smallcaps" id="Zeph.iii-p2.3">Lord</span>, 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 <span class="smallcaps" id="Zeph.iii-p2.4">Lord</span>'s anger.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Zeph.iii-p3" shownumber="no">Here we see what the prophet meant in that
terrible description of the approaching judgments which we had in
the foregoing chapter. From first to last his design was, not to
drive the people to despair, but to drive them to God and to their
duty—not to frighten them out of their wits, but to frighten them
out of their sins. In pursuance of that he here calls them to
repentance, national repentance, as the only way to prevent
national ruin. Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Zeph.iii-p4" shownumber="no">I. The summons given them to a national
assembly (<scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.2.1" parsed="|Zeph|2|1|0|0" passage="Zep 2:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>):
<i>Gather yourselves together.</i> He had told them, in the last
words of the foregoing chapter, that God would make a <i>speedy
riddance of all that dwelt in the land,</i> upon which, one would
think, it should follow, "Disperse yourselves, and flee for shelter
where you can find a place." When the decree had absolutely gone
forth for the last destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, that was
the advice given (<scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Matt.24.16" parsed="|Matt|24|16|0|0" passage="Mt 24:16">Matt. xxiv.
16</scripRef>), <i>Then let those who are in Judea flee into the
mountains;</i> but here it is otherwise. God warns, that he may not
wound, threatens, that he may not strike, and therefore calls to
the people to use means for the turning away of his wrath. The
summons is given to a <i>nation not desired.</i> The word signifies
either, 1. <i>Not desiring,</i> that has not any desires towards
God or the remembrance of his name, is not desirous of his favour
or grace, but very indifferent to it, has no mind to repent and
reform. "Yet <i>come together,</i> and see if you can stir up
desires in one another." Thus God is often <i>found of those that
sought him not,</i> nor <i>asked for him,</i> <scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.65.1" parsed="|Isa|65|1|0|0" passage="Isa 65:1">Isa. lxv. 1</scripRef>. Or, 2. <i>Not desirable,</i> no
ways lovely, nor having any thing in them amiable, or which might
recommend them to God. The land of Israel had been a <i>pleasant
land, a land of delight</i> (<scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p4.4" osisRef="Bible:Dan.11.41" parsed="|Dan|11|41|0|0" passage="Da 11:41">Dan. xi.
41</scripRef>); but now it is unlovely, it is a <i>nation not
desired,</i> to which God might justly say, <i>Depart from me;</i>
but he says, "<i>Gather together to me,</i> and let us see if any
expedient can be found out for the preventing of the ruin.
<i>Gather together,</i> that you may in a body humble yourselves
before God, may fast, and pray, and seek his face. <i>Gather
together,</i> to consult among yourselves what is to be done in
this critical juncture, that every one may consider of it, may give
and take advice, and speak his mind, and that what is done may be
done by consent and so may be a national act." Some read it,
"<i>Enquire into yourselves,</i> yea, <i>enquire into
yourselves;</i> examine your consciences; look into your hearts;
search and try your ways; <i>enquire into yourselves,</i> that you
may find out the sin by which God has been provoked to this
displeasure against you, and may find out the way of returning to
him." Note, When God is contending with us it concerns us to
enquire into ourselves.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Zeph.iii-p5" shownumber="no">II. Arguments urged to press them to the
utmost seriousness and expedition herein (<scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.2.2" parsed="|Zeph|2|2|0|0" passage="Zep 2:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>): "Do it in earnest; do it with
all speed before it is too late, <i>before the decree bring forth,
before the day pass.</i>" The manner of speaking here is very
lively and awakening, designed to make them apprehensive, as all
sinners are concerned to be, 1. That their danger is very great,
that their all lies at stake, that it is a matter of life and
death, which therefore well requires and well deserves the closest
application of mind that can be. It is not a trifle, and therefore
is not a thing to be trifled about. It is the <i>fierce anger of
the Lord</i> that is kindled against them, and is just ready to
kindle upon them, that <i>devouring fire</i> which none can
<i>dwell with,</i> which none can make head against or hold up
their head under. "It is the <i>day of the Lord's anger,</i> the
day set for the pouring out of the full vials of it, that you are
threatened with, that <i>great day of the Lord</i>" spoken of,
<scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.1.14" parsed="|Zeph|1|14|0|0" passage="Zep 1:14"><i>ch.</i> i. 14</scripRef>. "Are you
not concerned to prepare for that day?" 2. That it is very
imminent: "Bestir yourselves now quickly, <i>before the decree
bring forth,</i> and then it will be too late, the opportunity will
be lost and never retrieved. The decree is as it were big with
child, and it will <i>bring forth the day,</i> the terrible day,
which shall <i>pass as chaff,</i> which shall hurry you away into
captivity as chaff before the wind." <i>We know not what a day may
bring forth</i> (<scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Prov.27.1" parsed="|Prov|27|1|0|0" passage="Pr 27:1">Prov. xxvii.
1</scripRef>), but we do know what the decree will bring forth
against impenitent sinners, whom therefore it highly concerns to
repent in time, in <i>the accepted time.</i> Note, It is the wisdom
of those whom God has a controversy with to agree with him quickly,
while they are in the way, before his fierce anger comes upon them,
not to be turned away. In a case of this nature delays are highly
dangerous and may be fatal; they will be so if by them the heart is
hardened. How solicitous should we all be to make our peace with
God before the Spirit withdraw from us, or cease to strive with us,
before the day of grace be over or the day of life, before our
everlasting state shall be determined on the other side of the
great gulf fixed!</p>
<p class="indent" id="Zeph.iii-p6" shownumber="no">III. Directions prescribed for the doing of
this effectually. It is not enough to gather together in a
consternation, but they must seriously and calmly apply to the duty
of the day (<scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.2.3" parsed="|Zeph|2|3|0|0" passage="Zep 2:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>):
<i>Seek you the Lord.</i> That they might find mercy with God, they
are here put upon seeking; for so is the rule—<i>Seek, and you
shall find.</i> A general call was given to the whole nation to
<i>gather together,</i> but little good is to be expected from the
far greater part of them; if the land be saved, it must be by the
interest and intercession of the pious few, and therefore to them
the exhortation here is particularly directed. And observe, 1. How
they are described—they are <i>the meek of the earth,</i> or of
<i>the land.</i> It is the distinguishing character of the people
of God that they are the <i>meek ones of the earth;</i> this is
their badge; it is their livery. They are modest, and humble, and
low in their own eyes; they are mild, and gentle, and yielding to
others, not soon angry, not very angry, not long angry; they are
the <i>quiet in the land,</i> <scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.35.20" parsed="|Ps|35|20|0|0" passage="Ps 35:20">Ps.
xxxv. 20</scripRef>. And they are subject and submissive to their
God, to all his precepts and all his providences. Actuated by this
principle and disposition, they have <i>wrought his judgments,</i>
that is, have obeyed his laws, observed his institutions, have made
conscience of their duty to him, and have laid out themselves for
the advancement of his honour and interest in the world. 2. What
they are required to do; they must <i>seek,</i> which denotes both
a careful enquiry and a constant endeavour, that they may know and
do their duty. (1.) They must <i>seek the Lord,</i> seek his favour
and grace, address him upon all occasions, ask of him what they
need, seek him early, seek him diligently, and continue seeking
him. (2.) They must <i>seek righteousness.</i> "Seek to God for the
performance of his promises to you, and see to it that you abound
yet more in duty to him; seek for the righteousness of Christ to be
imputed to you, for the graces of God's Spirit to be implanted in
you; hunger and thirst after them." (3.) They must <i>seek
meekness.</i> This is a grace they were so eminent for that they
were denominated <i>the meek of the land,</i> and yet this they
must <i>seek.</i> Note, Those that are ever so good must still
strive to be better, those that have ever so much grace must be
still praying and labouring for more. Nay, those that excel in any
particular grace must still seek to excel yet more in that, because
in that most assaults will be made upon them by their enemies, in
that most is expected from them by their friends, and in that they
are most apt to be themselves secure. <i>Si dixisti, Sufficit,
periisti—Say but, I am all that I ought to be, and you are
undone.</i> In the difficult trying times approaching, the meek
will find exercise for all the meekness they have, and all little
enough, and therefore should seek it earnestly, and pray that when
God in his providence gives them occasion for it he would by his
grace enable them to exercise it, <i>to show all meekness to all
men,</i> in all instances, that, <i>as the day is, so may the
strength be.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Zeph.iii-p7" shownumber="no">IV. Encouragements given to take these
directions: <i>It may be, you shall be hid in the day of the Lord's
anger.</i> 1. "You particularly that are the <i>meek of the
earth.</i> Though the day of the Lord's anger do come upon the
land, yet you shall be safe, you shall be taken under special
protection. <i>Verily it shall be well with thy remnant,</i>
<scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.15.11" parsed="|Jer|15|11|0|0" passage="Jer 15:11">Jer. xv. 11</scripRef>. <i>Thy life
will I give unto thee for a prey,</i> <scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.45.5" parsed="|Jer|45|5|0|0" passage="Jer 45:5">Jer. xlv. 5</scripRef>. <i>I will deliver thee in that
day,</i> <scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Jer.39.17" parsed="|Jer|39|17|0|0" passage="Jer 39:17">Jer. xxxix. 17</scripRef>.
<i>It may be, you shall be hid;</i> if any be hid, you shall." Good
men cannot be sure of temporal preservation, for <i>all things come
alike to all,</i> but they are most likely to be hid, and stand
fairest for a distinguishing care of Providence. It is expressed
thus doubtfully to try if they will trust the goodness of God's
nature, though they have but the <i>it may be</i> of a promise, and
to keep up in them a holy fear and watchfulness lest they should
seem to come short, and should do any thing to throw themselves out
of the divine protection. Note, those that hold fast their
integrity, in times of common iniquity, have reason to hope that
God will find out a hiding-place for them, where they shall be safe
and easy, in times of common calamity. They shall be hid (as Luther
says) <i>aut in cœlo, aut sub cœlo—either in heaven or
under heaven,</i> either in the possession of heaven or under the
protection of heaven. Or, 2. "You of this nation, though it be a
<i>nation not desired,</i> yet, in the day of the Lord's anger with
the neighbouring nations, when his judgments are abroad, <i>you
shall be hid;</i> your land shall be preserved for the sake of
those few meek ones that stand in the gap to <i>turn away the wrath
of God.</i>" It concerns us all to make it sure to ourselves that
we shall be hid in the great day of God's wrath; and, if we hide
ourselves in the chambers of duty, God will hide us in chambers of
safety, <scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p7.4" osisRef="Bible:Isa.26.20" parsed="|Isa|26|20|0|0" passage="Isa 26:20">Isa. xxvi. 20</scripRef>. If
we prepare an ark, that shall be our hiding-place, <scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p7.5" osisRef="Bible:Gen.7.1" parsed="|Gen|7|1|0|0" passage="Ge 7:1">Gen. vii. 1</scripRef>.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Zeph.iii-p7.6" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.2.4-Zeph.2.7" parsed="|Zeph|2|4|2|7" passage="Zep 2:4-7" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Zeph.iii-p7.7">
<h4 id="Zeph.iii-p7.8">The Punishment of the
Philistines. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Zeph.iii-p7.9">b. c.</span> 612.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Zeph.iii-p8" shownumber="no">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.   5 Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea
coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Zeph.iii-p8.1">Lord</span> <i>is</i> against you; O Canaan, the land
of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be
no inhabitant.   6 And the sea coast shall be dwellings
<i>and</i> cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks.   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 <span class="smallcaps" id="Zeph.iii-p8.2">Lord</span> their
God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Zeph.iii-p9" shownumber="no">The prophet here comes to foretel what
share the neighbouring nations should have in the destruction made
upon those parts of the world by Nebuchadnezzar and his victorious
Chaldees, as others of the prophets did at that time, which is
designed, 1. To awaken the people of the Jews, by making them
sensible how strong, how deep, how large, the inundation of
calamities should be, that the <i>day of the Lord,</i> which was
near, might appear the more dreadful, and they might thereby be
quickened to prepare for it as for a general deluge. 2. To comfort
them with this thought, that their case, though sad, should not be
singular (<i>Solamen miseris socios habuisse doloris</i>—<i>The
wretched find it consolatory to have companions of their woe</i>),
and much more with this, that though God had seemed to be their
enemy, and to fight against them, yet he was still so far their
friend, and an enemy to their enemies, that he resented, and would
revenge, the indignities done them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Zeph.iii-p10" shownumber="no">In these verses we have the doom of the
Philistines, who were near neighbours, and old enemies, to the
people of Israel. Five lordships there were in that country; only
four are here named—<i>Gaza</i> and <i>Ashkelon, Ashdod</i> and
<i>Ekron;</i> Gath, the fifth, is not named, some think because it
was now subject to Judah. They were the <i>inhabitants of the
sea-coasts</i> (<scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.2.5" parsed="|Zeph|2|5|0|0" passage="Zep 2:5"><i>v.</i>
5</scripRef>), for their country lay upon the Great Sea. The
<i>nation of the Cherethites</i> is here joined with them, which
bordered upon them (<scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.30.14" parsed="|1Sam|30|14|0|0" passage="1Sa 30:14">1 Sam. xxx.
14</scripRef>) and fell with them, as is foretold also, <scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.25.16" parsed="|Ezek|25|16|0|0" passage="Eze 25:16">Ezek. xxv. 16</scripRef>. The Philistines' land
is here called Canaan, for it belonged to that country which God
gave to his people Israel, and was inserted in the grant made to
them, <scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p10.4" osisRef="Bible:Josh.13.3" parsed="|Josh|13|3|0|0" passage="Jos 13:3">Josh. xiii. 3</scripRef>. This
land is yet to be possessed (<i>five lords of the Philistines</i>),
so that they wrongfully kept Israel out of the possession of it
(<scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p10.5" osisRef="Bible:Judg.3.3" parsed="|Judg|3|3|0|0" passage="Jdg 3:3">Judg. iii. 3</scripRef>), which is now
remembered against them. For, though the rights of others may be
long detained unjustly, the righteous God will at length avenge the
wrong.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Zeph.iii-p11" shownumber="no">I. It is here foretold that the
Philistines, the usurpers, shall be dispossessed and quite
extirpated. In general, here is a woe to them (<scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.2.5" parsed="|Zeph|2|5|0|0" passage="Zep 2:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>), which, coming from God, denotes
all misery: <i>The word of the Lord is against them</i>—the word
of the former prophets, which, though not yet accomplished, will be
in its season, <scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.14.31" parsed="|Isa|14|31|0|0" passage="Isa 14:31">Isa. xiv.
31</scripRef>. This word, now by this prophet, is against them.
Note, Those are really in a woeful condition that have the word of
the Lord against them, for no word of his shall fall to the ground.
Those that rebel against the precepts of God's word shall have the
<i>threatenings</i> of the word against them. The effect will be no
less than their destruction, 1. God himself will be the author of
it: "<i>I will even destroy thee,</i> who can make good what I say
and will." 2. It shall be a universal destruction; it shall extend
itself to all parts of the land, both city and country: <i>Gaza
shall be forsaken,</i> though now a populous city. It was foretold
(<scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p11.3" osisRef="Bible:Jer.47.6" parsed="|Jer|47|6|0|0" passage="Jer 47:6">Jer. xlvii. 6</scripRef>) that
<i>baldness</i> should come upon Gaza; Alexander the Great razed
that city, and we find (<scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p11.4" osisRef="Bible:Acts.8.26" parsed="|Acts|8|26|0|0" passage="Ac 8:26">Acts viii.
26</scripRef>) that Gaza was a desert. <i>Ashkelon</i> shall be
<i>a desolation,</i> a pattern of desolation. <i>Ashdod shall be
driven out at noon-day;</i> in the extremity of the scorching heat
they shall have no shade, no shelter to protect them; but then,
when most incommoded by the weather, they shall be forced away into
captivity, which will be an aggravating circumstance of it.
<i>Ekron</i> likewise shall be <i>rooted up,</i> that had been long
taking root. The land of the Philistines shall be dispeopled; there
<i>shall be no inhabitant,</i> <scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p11.5" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.2.5" parsed="|Zeph|2|5|0|0" passage="Zep 2:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>. God made the earth <i>to be
inhabited</i> (<scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p11.6" osisRef="Bible:Isa.45.18" parsed="|Isa|45|18|0|0" passage="Isa 45:18">Isa. xlv.
18</scripRef>), otherwise he would have made it in vain; but, if
men do not answer the end of their creation in serving God, it is
just with God that the earth should not answer the end of its
creation in serving them for a habitation; man's sin has sometimes
subjected it to this vanity. 3. It shall be an utter destruction.
The sea-coast, which used to be a harbour for ships and a
habitation for merchants, shall now be deserted, and be only
<i>cottages for shepherds</i> and <i>folds for flocks</i>
(<scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p11.7" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.2.6" parsed="|Zeph|2|6|0|0" passage="Zep 2:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>), and then
perhaps put to better use than when it was possessed by the lords
of the Philistines.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Zeph.iii-p12" shownumber="no">II. It is here foretold that the house of
Judah, the rightful owners, shall recover the possession of it,
<scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.2.7" parsed="|Zeph|2|7|0|0" passage="Zep 2:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>. The remnant of
those that shall <i>return out of captivity,</i> when God visits
them, shall be made to <i>lie down</i> in safety <i>in the houses
of Ashkelon,</i> to lie down <i>in the evening,</i> when they are
weary and sleepy. There <i>they shall feed</i> themselves and their
flocks. Note, God will at length restore his people to their
rights, though they may be long kept out from them.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Zeph.iii-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.2.8-Zeph.2.11" parsed="|Zeph|2|8|2|11" passage="Zep 2:8-11" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Zeph.iii-p12.3">
<h4 id="Zeph.iii-p12.4">The Punishment of Various
Nations. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Zeph.iii-p12.5">b. c.</span> 612.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Zeph.iii-p13" shownumber="no">8 I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the
revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my
people, and magnified <i>themselves</i> against their border.
  9 Therefore <i>as</i> I live, saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Zeph.iii-p13.1">Lord</span> of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab
shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah,
<i>even</i> the breeding of nettles, and salt-pits, and a perpetual
desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the
remnant of my people shall possess them.   10 This shall they
have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified
<i>themselves</i> against the people of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Zeph.iii-p13.2">Lord</span> of hosts.   11 The <span class="smallcaps" id="Zeph.iii-p13.3">Lord</span> <i>will be</i> terrible unto them: for he
will famish all the gods of the earth; and <i>men</i> shall worship
him, every one from his place, <i>even</i> all the isles of the
heathen.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Zeph.iii-p14" shownumber="no">The Moabites and Ammonites were both of the
posterity of Lot; their countries joined, and, both adjoining to
Israel, they are here put together in the prophecy against
them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Zeph.iii-p15" shownumber="no">I. They are both charged with the same
crime, and that was reproaching and reviling the people of God and
triumphing in their calamities (<scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.2.8" parsed="|Zeph|2|8|0|0" passage="Zep 2:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>): <i>They have reproached my
people;</i> while God's people kept close to their duty it is
probable that they reproached them for the singularities of their
religion; and now that they had revolted from God, and fallen under
his displeasure, they reproached them for that too. It has been the
common lot of God's people in all ages to be reproached and reviled
upon one account or other. Thus the old serpent spits his venom;
and pride is at the bottom of it; it is in their pride that they
have <i>magnified themselves against the people of the Lord of
hosts,</i> thinking themselves as good as they, as great, and every
way as happy. It is the <i>comtempt of the proud</i> that God's
people are filled with, <scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.123.4" parsed="|Ps|123|4|0|0" passage="Ps 123:4">Ps. cxxiii.
4</scripRef>. They have <i>spoken big</i> (so some read it,
<i>magna locuti sunt—they have spoken great things) against their
border</i> (<scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p15.3" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.2.8" parsed="|Zeph|2|8|0|0" passage="Zep 2:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>),
against those of them that bordered upon their country, whom upon
all occasions they insulted, or against the property they claimed,
which they disputed, or the protection they boasted of, which they
ridiculed; they <i>spoke big against the people of the Lord of
hosts</i> as a deserted abandoned people. <i>Great swelling words
of vanity</i> are the genuine language of the church's enemies.
"But <i>I have heard them</i>" (says God), "and will let you know
that I have heard them. I have heard, and I will reckon for them,"
<scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p15.4" osisRef="Bible:Jude.1.15" parsed="|Jude|1|15|0|0" passage="Jude 1:15">Jude 15</scripRef>. And, if God hears
the reproaches and revilings we are under, it is a good reason why
we should be as a <i>deaf man that hears not,</i> <scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p15.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.38.14-Ps.38.15" parsed="|Ps|38|14|38|15" passage="Ps 38:14,15">Ps. xxxviii. 14, 15</scripRef>. Nay, God not
only takes notice of, but interests himself in the reproaches cast
on his people, because they are his; and it is certain that those
who look with disdain upon the people of the Lord of hosts thereby
dishonour the Lord of hosts himself. See this very thing charged on
Moab and Ammon, <scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p15.6" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.25.3 Bible:Ezek.25.8" parsed="|Ezek|25|3|0|0;|Ezek|25|8|0|0" passage="Eze 25:3,8">Ezek. xxv. 3,
8</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Zeph.iii-p16" shownumber="no">II. They are both laid under the same doom.
Associates in iniquity may expect to be such in desolation. See
with what solemnity sentence is pronounced upon them, <scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.2.9" parsed="|Zeph|2|9|0|0" passage="Zep 2:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>. It is <i>the Lord of
hosts,</i> the sovereign Lord of all, who has authority to pass
this sentence and ability to execute it; it is <i>the God of
Israel,</i> who is jealous for their honour; it is he that has said
it, nay, he has sworn it, <i>As I live, saith the Lord.</i> The
sentence is, 1. That the Moabites and Ammonites shall be quite
destroyed; they <i>shall be as Sodom and Gomorrah,</i> the marks of
whose ruins in the Dead Sea lay near adjoining to the countries of
Moab and Ammon; they shall, though not by the same means (even fire
from heaven), Yet almost in the same manner, be laid waste; not
again to be inhabited, or not of a long time. The country shall
produce nothing but <i>nettles,</i> instead of corn; and there
shall be <i>brine-pits,</i> instead of the pleasant fountains of
water with which the country had abounded. 2. That Israel shall be
too hard for them, shall <i>spoil them</i> of their goods and
<i>possess</i> their country by lawful war. Note, Proud men
sometimes, by the just judgment of God, fall under the
mortification of being trampled upon themselves by those whom once
they haughtily trampled upon. And <i>this shall they have for their
pride.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Zeph.iii-p17" shownumber="no">III. Other nations shall in like manner be
humbled, that the Lord alone may be exalted (<scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.2.11" parsed="|Zeph|2|11|0|0" passage="Zep 2:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>): <i>The Lord will be
terrible</i> unto the Moabites and Ammonites in particular, who
have made themselves a terror to his Israel. For, 1. Heathen gods
must be abolished. They have long had possession, and their
worshippers have both glorified them and gloried in them. But
<i>the Lord</i> will <i>famish all the gods of the earth,</i> will
starve them out of their strong-holds. The Pagans had a fond
conceit that their idols were regaled by their offerings, and did
<i>eat the fat of their sacrifices,</i> <scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p17.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.32.38" parsed="|Deut|32|38|0|0" passage="De 32:38">Deut. xxxii. 38</scripRef>. <i>Omnia comesta à Belo—Bel
has eaten all.</i> But it is here promised that when the Christian
religion is set up in the world men shall be turned from the
service of these dumb idols, shall forsake their altars, and bring
no more sacrifices to them, and thus they shall be famished, or
<i>made lean</i> (as the word is), their priests shall. This
intimates the vanity of those idols; it lies in the power of their
worshippers to famish them; whereas the true God says, <i>If I were
hungry, I would not tell thee.</i> It intimates also the victory of
the God of Israel over them. <i>Now know we that he is greater than
all gods.</i> 2. Heathen nations must be converted; when the gospel
gets ground, by it men shall be brought to worship him who lives
for ever (for that is the command of the everlasting gospel,
<scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p17.3" osisRef="Bible:Rev.14.7" parsed="|Rev|14|7|0|0" passage="Re 14:7">Rev. xiv. 7</scripRef>), <i>every one
from his place;</i> they shall not need to go up to Jerusalem to
worship the God of Israel, but wherever they are, they may have
access to him. <i>I will that men pray every where.</i> God shall
be worshipped, not only by all the tribes of Israel and the
strangers who join themselves to them, but by all <i>the isles of
the heathen.</i> This is a promise which looks favourably upon our
native country, for it is one of the most considerable of the isles
of the Gentiles, by which God will be glorified.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Zeph.iii-p17.4" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.2.12-Zeph.2.15" parsed="|Zeph|2|12|2|15" passage="Zep 2:12-15" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Zeph.iii-p17.5">
<h4 id="Zeph.iii-p17.6">Ethiopia and Assyria
Threatened. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Zeph.iii-p17.7">b. c.</span> 612.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Zeph.iii-p18" shownumber="no">12 Ye Ethiopians also, ye <i>shall be</i> slain
by my sword.   13 And he will stretch out his hand against the
north, and destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a desolation,
<i>and</i> dry like a wilderness.   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;
<i>their</i> voice shall sing in the windows; desolation <i>shall
be</i> in the thresholds: for he shall uncover the cedar work.
  15 This <i>is</i> the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly,
that said in her heart, I <i>am,</i> and <i>there is</i> 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, <i>and</i>
wag his hand.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Zeph.iii-p19" shownumber="no">The cup is <i>going round,</i> when
Nebuchadnezzar is going on conquering and to conquer; and not only
Israel's near neighbours, but those that lay more remote, must be
reckoned with for the wrongs they have done to God's people; the
Ethiopians and the Assyrians are here taken to task. 1. The
Ethiopians, or Arabians, that had sometimes been a terror to Israel
(as in Asa's time, <scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.14.9" parsed="|2Chr|14|9|0|0" passage="2Ch 14:9">2 Chron. xiv.
9</scripRef>), must now be reckoned with: They <i>shall be slain by
my sword,</i> <scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p19.2" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.2.12" parsed="|Zeph|2|12|0|0" passage="Zep 2:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>.
Nebuchadnezzar was God's sword, the instrument in his hand with
which these and other enemies were subdued and punished, <scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p19.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.17.14" parsed="|Ps|17|14|0|0" passage="Ps 17:14">Ps. xvii. 14</scripRef>. 2. The Assyrians, and
Nineveh the head city of their monarchy, are next set to the bar,
to receive their doom: <i>He</i> that is God's sword <i>will
stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria,</i>
and make himself master of it. Assyria had been the rod of God's
anger against Israel, and now Babylon is the rod of God's anger
against Assyria, <scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p19.4" osisRef="Bible:Isa.10.5" parsed="|Isa|10|5|0|0" passage="Isa 10:5">Isa. x. 5</scripRef>.
He <i>will make Nineveh a desolation,</i> as was lately and largely
foretold by the prophet Nahum. Observe, (1.) How flourishing
Nineveh's state had formerly been (<scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p19.5" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.2.15" parsed="|Zeph|2|15|0|0" passage="Zep 2:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>): <i>This is the rejoicing city
that dwelt carelessly.</i> Nineveh was so strong that she feared no
evil, and therefore dwelt carelessly and set danger at defiance;
she was so rich that she thought herself sure of all good, and
therefore was a rejoicing city, full of mirth and gaiety; and she
had such a dominion that she admitted no rival, but said in her
heart, "<i>I am, and there is none besides me</i> that can compare
with me, no city in the world that can pretend to be equal with
me." God can with his judgments frighten the most secure, humble
the most haughty, and mar the mirth of those that most laugh now.
(2.) How complete Nineveh's ruin shall now be; it shall be made
<i>a desolation,</i> <scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p19.6" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.2.13" parsed="|Zeph|2|13|0|0" passage="Zep 2:13"><i>v.</i>
13</scripRef>. Such a heap of ruins shall this once pompous city be
that it shall be, [1.] A receptacle for beasts, such a wilderness
that <i>flocks shall lie down in it;</i> nay, such a waste,
desolate, frightful place, that wild beasts, shall take up their
abode there; the melancholy birds, as the <i>cormorant and
bittern,</i> shall make their nests in what remains of the houses,
as they sometimes do in old ruinous buildings that are uninhabited
and unfrequented. The <i>lintels,</i> or chapiters of the pillars,
the <i>windows</i> and <i>thresholds,</i> and all the fine
<i>cedar-work</i> curiously engraven, shall lie exposed; and on
them these rueful ominous birds shall perch, and their <i>voice
shall sing.</i> How are the songs of mirth turned into hideous
horrid noises! What little reason have men to be proud of stately
buildings, and rich furniture, when they know not what all the pomp
of them may come to at last! [2.] A derision to travellers. Those
that had come from far, to gratify their curiosity with the sight
of Nineveh's splendour, shall now look on her with as much contempt
as ever they looked upon her with admiration (<scripRef id="Zeph.iii-p19.7" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.2.15" parsed="|Zeph|2|15|0|0" passage="Zep 2:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>): <i>Every one that passes by
shall hiss</i> at her, and <i>wag his hand,</i> making light of her
desolations, nay, and making sport with them—"There is an end of
proud Nineveh." They shall not weep, and wring their hands (the
adversities of those are unpitied and unlamented who were insolent
and haughty in their prosperity), but they shall <i>hiss and wag
their hands,</i> forgetting that perhaps their own ruin is not far
off.</p>
</div></div2>