Zephaniah traced his heritage back four generations to hezekiah. Zephaniah was one of the minor prophets in the bible. Zephaniah summary we have detailed a brief summary of the book of zephaniah for bible study or sunday school lessons. The purpose of this book was to show that god raised up his prophet zephaniah to proclaim a warning of coming judgment and to encourage repentance. Study the bible online using commentary on zephaniah and more. The timeless value of the book of zephaniah is its unveiling of the day of the lord. The small book of zephaniah is narrative history and prophetic oracle.
The purpose of this book was to show that god raised up his prophet zephaniah to proclaim a warning of. In greek the book is titled sofonias, a transliteration of the prophets name in hebrew. The book of hosea consists of fourteen chapters, which was the record for a minor prophet until zechariah tied it a couple centuries later. The book of zephaniah was written before 629 bc when josiah found and eagerly read the holy scriptures discovered in the temple. Son of hezekiah, possibly the famous judean king c. He would not be from the humble origins of a prophet like amos, the sheepherder. Zephaniah warned of an impending judgment while providing hope for the faithful. Bible book list access the niv cultural backgrounds study bible notes when you upgrade to bible gateway plus. Zephaniah has another cycle of denunciation against judah 3. Throughout the book there is a sense of distance from historical events. The message of zephaniah to the global church of the twentyfirst century is the certainty of the coming day of the l ord. Zephaniah the prophet prophesied during the reign of king josiah who ascended his throne in 639 bc. Zephaniah lived during one of the worst times in the history of judah, under the evil reign of king manasseh. We often overlook seemingly boring genealogies in the bible, but sometimes they can be the most interesting part.
The author places himself during the reign of josiah, son of amon. The book of zephaniah contains the fundamental ideas of the preaching of zephaniah. On that day you shall not be put to shame because of the deeds by which you have rebelled against me. Overview of the book of zephaniah reformed answers to. Book of zephaniah overview insight for living ministries. In this historical context, zephaniah urges judah to obedience to yahweh, saying that perhaps he will forgive them if they do. In a sense, the history of the times has nothing to say about zephaniahs message.
The book is concerned throughout with the day of the lord. The prophets activity, however, probably occurred during the early. His word came in visions, oracles, dreams, parables, and the like. The word of the lord which came unto zephaniah the son of cushi, the son of gedaliah, the son of amariah, the son of hezekiah, in the days of josiah the son of amon, king of judah. The author, zephaniah, traces his ancestry back four generations. Introductions for the other prophets have either no ancestry or at most. Read zephaniah commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete.
The prophet zephaniah lived during the reign of the righteous king josiah of judah from 640 to 609 bc. The book of the twelve follows the writings of the four major prophets, isaiah, jeremiah, ezekiel, and daniel. The only chronological reference in the book is in the first verse, which locates zephaniahs ministry in history. Listen to chuck swindolls overview of zephaniah in his audio message from the classic series gods masterwork. Israel, the northern country consisting of ten tribes, and judah, the remaining two tribes in the south. Zephaniah, also spelled sophonias, flourished 7th century bc, israelite prophet, said to be the author of one of the shorter old testament prophetical books, who proclaimed the approaching divine judgment. The age of zephaniah was also a key historical period, because the lands of western asia were overrun by foreigners due to the migration. Summary of the book of zephaniah the story of the bible. What kings of judah preceded zephaniahs prophetical work, and what king.
Timeline of zephaniah the book tells us that zephaniah prophesied during the reign of josiah, the king of judah from 640 to 609 bc zephaniah 1. The nwt study bible is complete with cross references, maps, and an accurate bible dictionary. All together the 16 prophets are called the latter prophets, as they began writing after the division of the united kingdom of israel. Manassehs and amons reigns were dark times in judahs history. The day of the lord, the coming day of the lord is a time of sovereign judgment followed by great blessing, to those that believe. During the time of the minor prophets, the nation of israel had divided into two separate countries, each with its own government. Zephaniah the prophet may have been the son of a cushite man. The prophecy opens with a statement of the authors ancestry, which in itself is an unusual feature of the hebrew prophetic tradition. Book of zephaniah encyclopedia of the bible bible gateway.
Zephaniah is the ninth of the minor prophets, the last 12 books of the old testament. Thus the period from 640 to 622 is the likely time for the giving of the prophecy. Zephaniah contemporary of jeremiah preached around 625 bc king manasseh is dead after a reign of 55 years the most evil king in judah he was the exact opposite of his father king hezekiah. The book of zephaniah is narrative history and prophetic source of wisdom. Historically, the book of zephaniah was used in the providence of god to. Book of zephaniah, the ninth of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, collected in one book, the twelve, in the jewish canon. Zephaniah wrote it shortly before the fall of judah in the southern kingdom. We can begin to pinpoint exactly when zephaniah prophesied by accounting for a few details in the text. If the text or at least an early version thereof can reasonably be assigned to the monarchic period. One interesting find is located in the first verse of the book of zephaniah. By this the godly harmony is shown in the prophecies of such different men who have lived at totally different times but who always presented the one goal of god.
If one of these two themes rises to the surface, however, it is the. Judah stands condemned, but god will restore the fortunes of the remnant. This prophetic concept refers to any intervention of god in. Zephaniahs message of judgment and encouragement contains three major. Zephaniah s message of judgment and encouragement contains three major doctrines. Book of zephaniah, also called sophonias, the ninth of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, collected in one book, the twelve, in the jewish canon. This is book number 8 in the summary of the 12 minor prophets of the bible. Zephaniah commentary matthew henry commentary on the. All that is known of zephaniah comes from the text the name cushi, zephaniah s father, means cushite or ethiopian, and the text of zephaniah mentions the sin and restoration of.
The purpose of this book was to show the complacent southern kingdoms that they were wicked, god used a prophet zephaniah. Historically, the book of zephaniah was used in the providence of god to prepare judah for the reforms and revival under king josiah. The book of zephaniah contains no direct messianic prophecies, but the prophets focus on the day of the lord as the time of judgment and blessing connects his message with the work of christ. The book of zephaniah shows extremely many similarities with other prophetic books of the ot. As we prepare to study the literal and spiritual senses of the book of zephaniah, lets look at some historical facts that will help us enter into the eternal message of the lords word. The prophet zephaniah was evidently a person of considerable social standing in judah and was probably related to the royal line. Zephaniah has made it necessary, how ever, to suppose that all.
Zephaniah intro to zephaniah biblica the international bible. Zephaniah is the name of several people in the hebrew bible and jewish tanakh. The book of zephaniah was written during the reign of king josiah, likely in the early part of his reign, between 635 and 625 bc. Zephaniah was a fourthgeneration descendant of hezekiah, a notable king of judah from 715 to 686 b.
More precisely it can be inferred from his allusions to the state of morality and religion zeph 1. This quiz contains ten questions about the book of zephaniah. The northern ten tribes had already been carried into assyria nearly a century before, c. Three times god says i will sweep away in chapter 1 verses 1 and 2. The prophet zephaniahs written lineage is longer than any other of the books of the prophets. Zephaniah with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. The book consists of a series of independent sayings, many of which are rightly attributed to zephaniah, written probably about 640630 bc. On that day, punishment will be executed on all gods enemies from many nations and salvation will be granted to all gods people, also from many nations. According to the books introduction zephaniah prophesied during the reign of josiah 640609 b. The books superscription attributes its authorship to zephaniah son of cushi son of gedaliah son of amariah son of hezekiah, in the days of king josiah son of amon of judah 1. Historical background and summary of the book of zephaniah in.
The book pictures god judging in the undefined future. The book of zephaniah is a book of the bible and is thought to be written by zephaniah son of cushi son of gedaliah son of amariah son of hezekiah, in the days of king josiah son of amon of judah the book begins by telling of gods judgement on the kingdom of judah. The book does not reveal exactly when that day will come. The book tells us that zephaniah prophesied during the reign of josiah, the king of judah from 640 to 609 bc zephaniah 1. Historical introduction zephaniah the prophet prophesied during the reign of king josiah who ascended his throne in 639 bc. Book of zephaniah, the ninth of 12 old testament books that bear the. Intro to zephaniah biblica the international bible society. The first verse of the book of zephaniah makes him a contemporary of josiah, king of judah reigned c.