The Pulpit Commentary — Zephaniah — Section 28

EXPOSITION. OHAPTER II. comes to execution. Thie is thrieo repeated in substance, to show the certainty and Ver. 1-ch. iii. 8.-Part II. EXHORTA- speed of its arrival. Before the day pass as TION TO REPENTANCE AND TO PEBSEVEB· the cha:fl'. " Before" is not in the Hebrew ANCE, and the clause is parenthetical, "Like chaff Vere. 1-3.-§ I. The prophet urges all to the day passeth." "The day" must be still the day of the Lord, not the day of life or examine their ways be/ore the day of the the day of repentance. God brings on the Lord come ; and he prays the righteous to judgment as easily and as quickly as the see/, the Lord more earnestly, in order that wind carries the chaff before it. The Sep- they may be safe in the judgment. tuagint and Syriac join the two clauses Ver. 1.-Gather yourselves together. So together; thus the LXX., Ilpo -roii "fEP<<T8,u the versions; and this rendering is probably ~µas C:.s !lv8or 1rapa1ropeu&µ,vov, "Before ye correct,. The prophet calls upon hie nation to become asa flower that paeseth away." And aseem ble them eel vee together in order to take Jerome gives," Priusqnam pariatjnssio quasi mutual counsel or to make general confession pulverem transeuntem diem," "Before the and supplication to God. Anotiler renderin"' decree beget the day which passeth by like based on some alteration of letters. is, " S~t the duet." The present Hebrew text does yourselves to be ashamed; yea, be ashamed " not confirm these versions. 'fhe fi,nire of (comp. lea. xlvi. 8). Yea, gather together. the chaff is common (see Job xri. i"s; Isa. The LXX. renders the two words, <ruvcl.xfhi-re xvii. 13; xxix. 5). 1eal <Tuvll/871-re, "be ye gathered and bound Ver. 3.-The prophet here addresses together;" •• Id est," says Jerome, "estote eep~cially the pious among the people, vobie caritatis vinculo copulati." 0 nation urging them to perseverance in the right not desired; Vulgate, gens non amabilis-a way. Ye meek of the earth. The humble, litotes for abominable, hated for its sine uu- peaceable, religious, among the Israelites worthy of God's love and care. The Septua- are primarily meant; whose character is the gint rendering, d,ra(lleu-rov, " unchastened " direct contrary of the proud, self-confident points to the meaning affixed by the Chald~ infidels mentioned above (cowp. Isa. xi. 4; paraphrase, "tl1at does not wish to be con- Amoe ii. 7). But there is no reason whv verted," having no desire for amendment· the admonition should not include the like what is said in J er. ii. 30 "they heathen who are striving to live after tho received no correction." Others' render light of conscience (Isa. xxiv. 5; Rom. ii. 14, "which does not turn pale," i.e. which i~ etc.). Which have wrought his judgment. not ashamed, comparing Isa. xxix. 22. The Who have fulfilled the ordinances of Gnd's v~rb kasaph e~ems to have t~ie meaning in Law. Seek righteousness. This and the u1phal, accordmg to Talmudic use; buL its following injunction explnin what is meant usual signification is " to pine" or " long by "seek the Lord" at the beginning of the for." The Revised Version gives in the verse (Deut. ni. 20). Seek meekness. Per- !llargin, " that hath no longing "-a reuder- severe in showing a humble, gentle temper. mg _ adopted by Professor Gaudell, im- Septuagint, ,ea! a:,ro,cp(va<T8E au-rcl., " and plying that the people are quite satisfied answer them." It may be. Ernn the with their present condition, e.ud have no righteous shall scarcely be saved (comp. nspimtion for anything better or higher 1 Pet. iv. 17, 18). Ye shall be hid. Ye ~ comp. Hos,- xii. 8). This is a very apposite shnll be preserved in the time of jud~ment interpretation ; hut there is no sufficient (Ps. :uvii. 5 ; x:u.i. 20 : Isa. xxxii. 2). ground for rojecting the trnnslntiou of the '!'his recalls the prophet's name, which is Authol"ized Version, which is supported by iuterprotcd, "Whom the Lo,d hides" (comp. high authority, is a.grneo.ble to the use of Awos v. 14, 15). the word, and nffords n sntisfnctory sense. Vore. 4 - 7. - § 2. The admo11ition ia Vor. 2.-Before the decree bring forth. Ilofore the result follows the flat. 'I'he enforced by the announcement of the p1mi~h- Divine purpose is represented as II woma.u me11t thal is about to fall on various nations, lttbouring with child, travailing before it whic/1 shall prepare the way for thd g, 11end 26 THE BOOK OF ZEPH.A.NIAH. [on. n. 1-16.