History behind the book of zephaniah

Historical background and summary of the book of zephaniah in easy to study bible survey format. Many bear the unmistakable marks of their oral origin and can best be. Zephaniah may be small, but it is packed with themes and purposes. Read commentary on this popular bible verse and understand the real meaning behind gods word using john gills exposition of the bible. Zephaniah is the only prophet to mention four generations of his ancestors. Yet before we get to that verse, the book, like many prophetic books, is full of alarming brokenness and impending judgement. The book of zephaniah shows extremely many similarities. This is not the only place where this theme occurs, of course, but it is the most concentrated treatment of the judgment of god as the whole book is devoted to this one theme.

The words of zephaniah contain one of my favorite bible verses. This day is one of judgment against those who sin against god, and one of blessing for those who follow him. Zephaniah does not even have a verse to feature on christmas cards, like micah who tells us about the coming king from bethlehem. Zephaniah lived during one of the worst times in the history of judah, under the evil reign of king manasseh. The purpose of this book was to show that god raised up his prophet zephaniah to proclaim a warning of. He would not be from the humble origins of a prophet like amos, the sheepherder. I dare say that few have ever heard a sermon on zephaniah. Book of zephaniah, the ninth of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the. Outline of the book of zephaniah woe to her that is rebellious and polluted. He prophesied during king josiahs righteous reign followed by the sinful reigns of manasseh. Politically, the imminent transfer of assyrian world power to the babylonians weakened ninevehs hold.

Bible history online images and resources for biblical history. Obrien, nahum, habakkuk, zephaniah, haggai, zechariah. Zephaniah has made it necessary, how ever, to suppose that all. Historical introduction zephaniah the prophet prophesied during the reign of king josiah who ascended his throne in 639 bc. The book of zephaniah center point bible institute. The theme of zephaniah is the approaching day of the lord. Meaning, origin and history of the name zephaniah behind. 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 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 story behind the small book most people see zephaniah as a useless book. Many of the minor prophets books are very small and seem to not have too much content in them. By giving his lineage and citing king josiah, during whose reign he ministered, zephaniah linked himself with the godly kings and the godly remnant of israels history. Zephaniah the prophet prophesied during the reign of king josiah who ascended his throne in 639 bc. One interesting find is located in the first verse of the book of zephaniah. Historically, the book of zephaniah was used in the providence of god to. This fierce, horsemounted people originated in what is now southern russia, but by the seventh. Like many other books in the old testament, the book of zephaniah has a combination of history and prophesy. Resources, free bible software, bible art, biblical history topics and study, and ancient bible maps of rome, greece, and ancient near east. Book of zephaniah overview insight for living ministries. Zephaniah means yahweh has hiddenprotected, or yahweh hides. Interesting facts about zephaniah barnes bible charts meaning. In this historical context, zephaniah urges judah to obedience to yahweh, saying that perhaps he will forgive them if they do.

The book of jeremiah reflects the everworsening situation jeremiah encountered. The date of zephaniahs prophecy is given as in the days of josiah the son of amon, king of judah. This is the name of one of the twelve minor prophets of the old testament, the author of the book of zephaniah. Composed by the prophet composed by the prophet the dominant theme of the book is the day of the lord, which the prophet sees approaching as a consequence of the sins of judah.

Zephaniah ministered several decades after nahum and was an early contemporary of jeremiah. Who is zephaniah and why is he important in the bible. 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. This is book number 8 in the summary of the 12 minor prophets of the bible. The little book of zephaniah will never take the place of john 3. The purpose of this book was to show the complacent southern kingdoms that they were wicked, god used a prophet zephaniah. Intro to zephaniah biblica the international bible society. But the lord here promises he will take care of such, and save them from all their sins, and out of the hands of all their enemies.

Perhaps written from about 500450 bce, the book is concerned with spiritual degradation, religious perversions, social injustices, and unfaithfulness to the covenant. The prophet zephaniah was evidently a person of considerable social standing in judah and was probably related to the royal line. Manassehs and amons reigns were dark times in judahs history. The prophecy opens with a statement of the authors ancestry, which in itself is an unusual feature of the hebrew prophetic tradition. The name of zephaniah means treasured protected, hidden of jehovah. The injunction here to zion, to be thankful and joyful, is trebled, sing, shout, and rejoice, as it is elsewhere in both testaments. Thus, for those with eyes to see and ears to hear, this passage in zephaniah is truly a hidden gem. Zechariahs prophecies took place during the reign of darius the great, and were contemporary with haggai in a post exilic world after the fall of jerusalem in 5876 bc. 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. From the hebrew name tzefanyah meaning yahweh has hidden, derived from meaning to hide and referring to the hebrew god. Israels struggles to resist foreign influences and to rebuild the temple are spotlighted in the book. Zephaniah prophesied during the reign of josiah 640609 b. Zephaniah was a fourthgeneration descendant of hezekiah, a notable king of judah from 715 to 686 b. Summary of the book of zephaniah the story of the bible.

The small book of zephaniah is narrative history and prophetic oracle. The book of zephaniah was written before 629 bc when josiah found and eagerly read the holy scriptures discovered in the temple. The structure of the book of zephaniah includes three major sections 1. We often overlook seemingly boring genealogies in the bible, but sometimes they can be the most interesting part. Benjamin zephaniah has 49 books on goodreads with 17918 ratings. The day of the lord is a major theme in zephaniah occurring 23 times in this short book as well as in obadiah, joel, and ezekiel. Which is like a lame and maimed sheep, of which there is danger of its being left behind and lost. Zephaniah 1 the word of the lord that came to bible. Zephaniah simply has three chapters of old fashioned prophetic zeal. The nwt study bible is complete with cross references, maps, and an accurate bible dictionary. Use highlighting, underlining, and take notes while you study the bible. Skeptics may scoff and ask what is the sign of his coming for since. The book of ezra recounts israels final years of exile in babylon, including accounts of two returning groups as they are restored to their homeland after 70 years in captivity.

The book of zechariah, attributed to the hebrew prophet zechariah, is included in the twelve minor prophets in the hebrew bible. The book of zephaniah, the ninth book of the twelve minor prophets, is written in three chapters. Son of hezekiah, possibly the famous judean king c. Jeremiah was the voice of warning, the watchman who brings attention to hard truths.

It was zephaniahs lot to speak on the most unpleasant subject in the bible the judgment of god. I will sweep away everything from the face of the earth, declares the lord. We have for him no memorable biographical details like being swallowed by a whale jonah or marrying a prostitute hosea. Zephaniah the prophet may have been the son of a cushite man. The contents of this book have never been familiar, and i doubt that it has been read very much. The book consists of a series of independent sayings, many of which are rightly attributed. Read the history books and you will find that these have been fulfilled in minute detail. Zephaniah historical overview biblical foundations for freedom. Zephaniah was a prophet at the same time when jeremiah was a prophet. This probable royal ancestry made him somewhat unusual among all the other hebrew. 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. Zephaniahs primary target for gods message of judgment, the nation of judah, had fallen into grievous sin under the reign of their king, manasseh. Zephaniah, the prophet who authored this book, most likely had a royal lineage. 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.

While zephaniah and joel obviously had local aspects in view of this coming day of yahweh. An overview of the book of jeremiah bible commentary. Zephaniah summary we have detailed a brief summary of the book of zephaniah for bible study or sunday school lessons. The first verse of the book of zephaniah makes him a contemporary of josiah, king of judah reigned c. The book of zephaniah is narrative history and prophetic source of wisdom. Zephaniah with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. The new testament on one occasion identifies the day of the lord with the gift of the spirit on the day of pentecost acts 2. Introduction from the niv study bible go to zephaniah. At various times, he had the unenviable tasks of challenging the religious hypocrisy, economic dishonesty and oppressive practices of judahs leaders and those who followed them. Zephaniah intro to zephaniah biblica the international bible.

Like the writings of many of the prophets, the book of zephaniah follows a pattern of judgment on all people for their sin followed by the restoration of gods chosen people. The book of malachi, the last of the twelve minor prophets, was written by an anonymous writer called malachi, or my messenger. Sing, o daughter of zion at that time, o daughter of zion, thou shalt break forth into loud and joyful praises to jehovah, for his goodness toward thee. The book tells us that zephaniah prophesied during the reign of josiah, the king of judah from 640 to 609 bc zephaniah 1. Zephaniahs message of judgment and encouragement contains three major doctrines. He begins his prophecy by tracing his heritage back to hezekiah king of judah. It describes a time when yahweh will come to his people and necessarily destroy evil as a means to delivering them.