Zephaniah 2

King James Version

Full text for Zephaniah Chapter 2

1¶ Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired;

2Before 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.

3Seek 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.

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.

5Woe 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.

6And the sea coast shall be dwellings [and] cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks.

7And 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.

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.

9Therefore [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.

10This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified [themselves] against the people of the LORD of hosts.

11The LORD [will be] terrible unto them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and [men] shall worship him, every one from his place, [even] all the isles of the heathen.

12¶ Ye Ethiopians also, ye [shall be] slain by my sword.

13And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a desolation, [and] dry like a wilderness.

14And 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.

15This [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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Zephaniah 2 begins with a call for the "nation not desired" to gather and seek the Lord, righteousness, and meekness before the day of His fierce anger. The chapter then prophesies judgment against surrounding nations: the Philistines will be desolate, but their land will be for Judah's remnant. Moab and Ammon will become like Sodom and Gomorrah for their pride and reproach, while Ethiopia and Assyria, particularly Nineveh, will also face utter destruction, becoming a wilderness for beasts. Through these judgments, the Lord will famish all false gods, leading all nations to worship Him.

Medium Summary

The prophet Zephaniah urges the "nation not desired" to gather and seek the LORD, righteousness, and meekness, hoping to be hidden on the day of His fierce anger. This warning precedes a series of pronouncements of divine judgment against various nations. The Philistine cities of Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, and Ekron are destined for desolation, with their coastal land eventually becoming pasture for shepherds and a dwelling for the remnant of Judah. Moab and Ammon face a similar fate, likened to Sodom and Gomorrah, for their pride and reviling of God's people; their lands too will be possessed by Judah's remnant. Furthermore, Ethiopia is marked for destruction by the Lord's sword. Finally, Assyria and its proud capital, Nineveh, which boasted of its self-sufficiency, will be made a desolate wilderness, a dwelling for wild beasts and birds, serving as a stark example of divine retribution. Through these judgments, the Lord will famish all the gods of the earth, leading all nations to worship Him.

Long Summary

Zephaniah 2 opens with an urgent call for the "nation not desired," likely Judah, to gather themselves together and seek the LORD, righteousness, and meekness. This plea is made before the impending "day of the LORD'S anger" brings forth a decree of judgment, warning that only those who diligently seek Him may be hidden from His fierce wrath. The prophecy then turns to specific nations, beginning with the Philistines. Their prominent cities—Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, and Ekron—are declared forsaken, desolate, and rooted up, with the entire sea coast becoming uninhabited by its current dwellers. However, this desolate land is promised to the remnant of the house of Judah, who will dwell and feed there, for the LORD their God will visit them and turn away their captivity. Next, the prophet addresses Moab and the children of Ammon, condemning them for their reproach and reviling of God's people and for magnifying themselves against Israel's border. For their pride, the LORD of hosts vows that Moab shall become like Sodom and Ammon like Gomorrah—a perpetual desolation of nettles and saltpits. The residue and remnant of God's people will spoil and possess their lands, demonstrating divine justice against those who scorned His chosen. The chapter briefly mentions that the Ethiopians also shall be slain by the Lord's sword. Finally, the prophecy extends to the north, targeting Assyria and its capital, Nineveh. The LORD will stretch out His hand to destroy Assyria, making Nineveh a desolation, dry like a wilderness. This once-rejoicing city, which dwelt carelessly and boasted of its unparalleled might, will become a place where flocks and wild beasts lie down, and birds like the cormorant and bittern lodge in its ruins. Its utter destruction will serve as a spectacle of divine judgment, causing all who pass by to hiss and wag their hand in astonishment. Ultimately, these judgments signify that the LORD will be terrible to all nations, famishing their false gods, so that men from all the isles of the heathen shall worship Him from their place.

Core Concepts

  • Day of the Lord's AngerThis refers to a specific time of divine judgment and fierce wrath that the Lord will bring upon the earth, from which only the meek and righteous may be hidden.
  • Call to RepentanceThe prophet urges the "nation not desired" to gather, seek the Lord, righteousness, and meekness as a means of potentially finding refuge from the impending divine judgment.
  • Judgment on PhilistiaThe Philistine cities of Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, and Ekron are prophesied to become desolate, with their coastal land eventually being inherited by the remnant of Judah.
  • Judgment on Moab and AmmonMoab and Ammon are condemned for their pride and reviling of God's people, facing destruction likened to Sodom and Gomorrah, and their lands will be possessed by Judah's remnant.
  • Judgment on Assyria and NinevehAssyria and its proud capital, Nineveh, are destined for utter desolation, transforming from a self-assured city into a wilderness inhabited by wild beasts and birds.
  • Remnant of JudahDespite the widespread judgments, a remnant of Judah is promised to survive and inherit the lands of their enemies, signifying God's faithfulness to His people.
  • Universal WorshipThe chapter concludes with a declaration that the Lord will famish all the gods of the earth, leading people from all nations and "isles of the heathen" to worship Him alone.