Zephaniah was the great-great-grandson of a man named Hezekiah. He traces his genealogy back to the forth generation which is unique. His home was in Jerusalem among the nobility and the princes of the city. This gave him insight and familiarity with their way of life and may account for some of the reference to them in his book. The reign of Josiah, the son of Ammon king of Judah, dates the book between 630 BC and 622 BC. You may recall the great revival and reform under Josiah's kingship because of the discovery of the Book of the law found in the Temple. Zephaniah was a contemporary of Jeremiah however he made no reference to him. Like Jeremiah, Zephaniah had little confidence in the king's reform. It was viewed by these prophets as a superficial and external change imposed by royal authority that did not change the heart. The prophecy of Zephaniah has some apocalyptic references that describe the day of the Lord.

Punishment - Chapters 1 & 2

Zephaniah has the doom of the whole world in full view:

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This general statement is then followed by a more detailed account. He describes a judgment affecting all nature and mankind. He proceeds to leave few stones unturned in marking the superstitions of that day, particularly the idolatry that was co-mingled with the worship of Yahweh. Apathy and complacency among the people also existed in the worship of the true and living God.

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Notice first the condition of Jerusalem as seen through the eyes of God.

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In spite of all this corruption God is righteous in her midst (notice verse 5).

The contrast of their condition is so drastic that some try to deny Zephaniah's authorship. Saved people understand this contrast through the salvation experience. The greater the offense, the sweater the salvation. Salvation from future judgements and a full restoration is described in

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