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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Zephaniah 1:11 - 1:18
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The Extent of the Judgment
v. 11. Howl, ye inhabitants of Maktesh, meaning the mortar, a small section of Jerusalem, so called because it presented a depression or hollow, for all the merchant people are cut down, entirely destroyed; all they that bear silver, the traders laden with silver, who occupied that part of the lower city, are cut off.
v. 12. And it shall come to pass at that time that I will search Jerusalem with candles, investigating even the dark and hidden corners, so that not one of the wrong-doers is overlooked, and punish the men that are settled on their lees, like old wine which is not drawn off, a fit picture of moral and religious indifference, Jer_48:11, that say in their heart, The Lord will not do good, neither will He do evil, that is, there is no need of worry, matters will go on as they always have been.
v. 13. Therefore their goods shall become a booty, to be robbed by the enemies, and their houses a desolation, in the overthrow of the city; they shall also build houses, but not Inhabit them, the destruction taking place before they can move into them, and they shall plant vineyards, but not drink the wine thereof. Cf Amo_5:11; Mic_6:15.
v. 14. The great day of the Lord, the day of His mighty judgment, is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, there will be no further delay, even the voice of the day of the Lord, or, "Hark! the day of Jehovah"; the mighty man shall cry there bitterly, the hero crying in bitter lamentation, because he cannot save himself, and must yield to the power of the foe.
v. 15. That day is a day of wrath, Cf Isa_19:18, a day of trouble and distress, of anguish and pressure, Job_15:24, a day of wasteness and desolation, of the greatest devastation, a day of darkness and gloominess, Joe_2:2, a day of clouds and thick darkness, Deu_4:11,
v. 16. a day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, in proclaiming God's power upon a sinful people, in the war-signal of desolation, and against the high towers, the battlements of the forts.
v. 17. And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, groping about in a futile effort to escape from existing evils, because they have sinned against the Lord; and their blood shall be poured out as dust, in endless quantities, and their flesh as the dung, which is not regarded.
v. 18. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them In the day of the Lord's wrath, they would not be able to buy themselves off when His fury is once set in motion; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of His jealousy, His indignation jealous for His honor; for He shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land, consuming them with a suddenness which they had not anticipated. Even so will the Day of Judgment come upon a world which, as a whole, is not prepared for the Lord's last advent. Cf Mat_24:44