rhetorical artifice to make it permanent. Like other prophets, he connectA himself with his predecessors by employing their language, not from povert.y of idea, not from "declension in the originality of prophetR of this date," bnt becauso he designs to give, in a compendious form, "the fundamental thoughts of judgment and salvation which are common to all the prophets" (Keil). He predicts judgment; the particular instrument he leaves untold. The destruction, not the destroyer, is the subject of his oracle. His fntu re is vague, and extends even to the end of time ; particular period or special agent is beyond his scope to name. He culls isolated expressions nr.,l striking words from his predecessors, Isaiah, Joel, Amos, and Habakkuk; he avails himself of their language with respect to judgment to come, and God's love for the righteous among the people, and applies it to his own purpose (see Pusey, p. 441). The pecnliar nature of this prophecy, its comprehensiveness and universality, has been well intimated by Bucer, who says, " Si qnis desiderat secreta vatum oracnla brevi dari compendio, brevem hunc Zaphanjam perlegat."
§ V. LITERATURE.
Of special co=entaries on Zephaniah the most noteworthy are the followin";: M. Bucer, 'Sophon. Proph.' (Argent., 1528); Laren, 'Tuba Zeph.' (Magdeb., 1653); Jansen., 'Analecta in Sophon.;' Tarnovius, 'Comment.' (Rost., 1623); Nolten,' Dissert. Exeget.' (1719); 'Comment.' (Franc., 1724); Cramer, 'Scyth. Denkma.ler' (1777); Von Coeln, 'Spicilegium' (Bresl., 1819); P. Ewald, 'Zeph. iibersetzt' (Erlang., 1827); Strauss,' Vaticin. Zeph. Comment. Illustr.' (Berlin, 1843); Reinke,' Der Proph. Zeph.' (Munst., 1868).
§ VI. ARRANGEMENT IN SECTIONS.
The book is divided into three parts. Part I. (Ch. i.) The judgment upon all the world, and upon Judah in particular. § 1. (Oh. i. 1.) 'l.'itle and inscription. § 2. (Ch. i. 2, 3.) The prelude, announcin~ the judgment upon the whole world. § 3. (Ch. i. 4-6.) 'l'his judgment will fall specially upon Judah and Jerusalem for their idolatry. § 4. (Ch. i. 7-13.) The judgment is described as regards its objects, viz. the princes, the traders, the irreligious and profligate. § 5. (Ch. i. 14-18.) The near approach and terrible nature of this judgment. Part II. (Ch. ii. 1-iii. 8.) Exhortation to repentance and to perseverance. § 1. (Ch. ii. 1-3.) Le't all examine their wnys before the day of the Lord comes, and let the righteous specially seek the Lord more earnestly, that they may be safe in the judgment. § 2. (Ch. ii. 4-7.) The exhortation is supported by the announcement of tho punishment on various nations, which shall prepare the way for the accepta11co of true religion; and first the punishment shall fall on the Philistines. § 3. (Ch. ii. 8-10.) Then upon the Moabites and Ammonites. § 4. (Ch. ii. 11.) Jehovah destroys idolntry, that pure religion may reign o\'er all the earth. § 5. (Ch. ii. 12-15.) The judgmeut shall fall on tho Ethiopians anrl Assyrians. § 6. (Ch. iii. 1-5.) If Gorl punishes the heathen, he will not spare tho har,lrnc,l sinners in Jurlah. § 7. (Ch. iii. 6-8.) This is the only wr.y left to SC'Clll'e salvation 1·0,· hl'ael and the whole world. INTRODUO'l'ION TO THE BOOK 01" ZEPHANIAH.
rart III. (Ch. iii. 9-20.) Promise of the conversion of tho worhl and tho happiness of Israel. § I. (Ch. iii. 9, 10.) 'l'hc heathen shall be converted, anti shall help In tho restora- tion oi' Israel. § 2. (Cb. iii. 11-13.) lsrael rcswrcd to God's favour shall bo cleansc,l and ~unctiti,·d. • § 3. (Cl,. iii. 14-20.) She shall be comfortrti anti largnly blessed by tho presonce <if Jehovah, and exalted to honour in the eyes of all tho world. THE BOOK OF ZEPH.ANIAH.