Zephaniah 2:6-10
Zephaniah 2:6
(KJB)
And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for
shepherds, and folds for flocks.
Here the Lord is stating that those war like cities which
were strongholds of the Philistines will no longer be war like but will be more
of an idyllic or pastoral setting with no more war capabilities.
They will be changed from military to a rural or country like setting
where there will be flocks and shepherds will dwell in cottages instead of
strongholds or towers. The folds
will be like enclosures or fenced in areas for livestock.
Zephaniah 2:7
(KJB)
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.
Then God promises that after the seventy year captivity,
they will once again return to the land and will be able to live within those
cities which were formerly the cities of the Philistines.
They will be able to do two things which denote safety and security.
They will feed there and also lie down in the evening.
Those two things mean they are secure and there is no chance of any
attacks or dangers. The LORD
himself will visit them which means God will intervene for them and take
oversight to keep them protected.
To turn their captivity means that they will once again see their people return
from captivity by the hand of Cyrus and will once again populate the land of
Judah.
Zephaniah 2:8
(KJB)
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.
Both Moab and Ammon were descendants of Lot’s incestuous
relationship with his two daughters after they came out of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Genesis 19:37-38 (KJV) And the
firstborn bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the
Moabites unto this day. {38} And
the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Ben-ammi: the same is the
father of the children of Ammon unto this day.
The Moabites were a very proud people and looked down upon the children
of Israel.
Isaiah 16:6 (KJV) We have heard of the
pride of Moab; he is very proud: even of his haughtiness, and his pride, and his
wrath: but his lies shall not be so.
The revilings from the Ammonites were when they were vilifying the
children of Israel. Both of these
nations had become enemies of the children of Israel but God was well aware of
what their attitudes were toward Israel and he was going to do something about
it. While they were never
intimidating enemies of Israel, nevertheless, they had always sided with the
enemies of Israel.
Zephaniah 2:9
(KJB)
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.
Here God states what he is going to do to these enemies
of Israel. He likens Moab to Sodom
and Ammon to Gomorrah which we know were completely destroyed by fire from
Heaven. The term “as I live”
carries with it the meaning of an oath and an authoritative declaration and that
means it will happen and it they will not escape the consequences.
The nettles refers to bramble or some other type of thorny weeds.
They will be turned into salt pits just as Lot’s wife was turned into a
pillar of salt. If one visits the
area of Sodom and Gomorrah, one will see the pillars of salt and brimstone which
still lies in that area. With the
salt nothing would be able to grow and it would be a desert and uninhabitable.
This judgment will be perpetual which means it will be forever.
The Hebrew word behind “perpetual” is “ôwlâwm” which carries with it the
meaning of eternity. The remnant of
the people of Judah will accomplish this as they attack and conquer these
ancient enemies and they will take the spoils and will inherit their land.
Zephaniah 2:10
(KJB)
This shall they have for their pride, because they have
reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the LORD of hosts.