Zephaniah 2

Gather yourselves; vengeance is coming
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.1 ¶ Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired;
 2  Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD'S anger come upon you.
.3  Seek ye the LORD, 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 LORD'S anger.
  2 - Gather yourselves At His coming, Christ will gather the righteous mt2430f. Here is pictured the gathering of the kings at Armageddon re1616.
  3 - Hid - is2620.
 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 LORD is 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 and 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 LORD their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.
  4 - Gaza ... forsaken This and the other cities mentioned were in the Philistine area and represent the whole am0106.
  4 - Drive out ... noon The lease likely time to fight. It's possible that this means unexpectedly je1508.
  5 - Cherethites "A portion of the Philistines, supposed by many to have originated in Crete, 1Sa 30:14; Eze 25:16; Zep 2:5." (ATS Dict.)
  6 - Dwellings Should be "pasture areas."
  7 - Coast The remnant of Judah would receive this area upon their return ob17-20.
.8 ¶ 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.
 9  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.
  8 - Reproach of Moab Descendants of Lot lived here. They and Ammon were constant enemies of Israel. am0113, am0201.
.10  This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the LORD of hosts.
.11  The LORD will be terrible unto them: for he will famish ["be awesome to" NIV] all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen.
  11 - [All] men shall worship is4523, ph0210.
 12 ¶ Ye Ethiopians also, ye shall be slain by my sword.
.13  And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a desolation, and 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; their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds: for he shall uncover the cedar work.
.15  This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is 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, and wag his hand.
  12 - Ethiopians Literally the land of Cush which included what was later Ethiopia.
  14 - Flocks Picture of a depopulated Nineveh.
  15 - The rejoicing city Those who prefer not to believe in a preadvent judgment speak of assurance. We see the city again. re1807.
  15 - Carelessly Literally "securely" of "undisturbed." The city seems to be safe from attack. Compare is1413,14, is4707, re1807.
  15 - None beside me As if she were God.
  15 - Hiss An expression of contempt je1908, mi0616.
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