The Pulpit Commentary — Zephaniah — Section 54

Ver. 10. - From beyond the rivers of who in the pride of their heart walked ne Ethiopia. (Cush); i.e. from the distant south, they pleased, deeming themsel vcs o,ccount- o. type of tho romotest po.rte of the world (eh. able to no one, subject to no le.w. Such ii. 12), Tho rivers of Cush (Isa. xviii. 1), shall no louger be found in the holy ne.tion. nre tho Nile, the Atbnro., nnd their nfiluents. Haughty bees.use of (in) my holy mountain; My suppliants, even the daughter of my i.e. in the temple (Isa. xi. 9). They Ahall dispersed, shall bring mine offering. From no longer exult in the exclusiveness of their the ends of the enl'th, the Jews who hnve privileges, or feel a, vain-glorious confidence oontinued fo,ithful to Jehovah, o,nd hEtve not in their own election, or the sanctity or lost their no.tiono.lity among the Gentiles, their temple or its provision of worship. but ho,ve considered themselves o.s belong- 'fhe Gentiles should be o,dmitted to the ing to "the dispersion,'' she.II be age.in covenant, and share in their privileges. received of the Lord, and bring their obla- Here we see adumbrated the nature of the tions unto him. This me.y be the sense Christian Church, e.n organized body no intended ; but looking to the thought in longer local, insulated, but Catholic-a. Ise.. lxvi. 20 (where it is snid tho,t the Gentiles spirituo,l temple open to all believers. sho,11 bring the Israelites out of e.11 nations Ver. 12.-A further che.racteristic oi e.s e. mee.t offering unto the Lord), we he.d Messiah's kingdom is here unfolded. No better render the pe.sse.ge e.s the Revised worldly pomp or splendour shall be found Version margin, "They she.II bring my in it; its members are not proud, conceited, suppliants, even the daughter of my dis- self-reliant. I will also lee.ve in the midst persed, for e.n offering unto me." The of thee. I will leave over, a.s a remnant remote Gentiles sho,11 show their faith in ea\"ed in thejudgment (comp. Rom. ix. 27;. God by aiding the Hebrews e.mong them to Mice.h ii. 12, e.nd the note there). An turn to the Lord; this shall be their offering e.ffl.ioted e.nd poor people. The two epithets to the true God, whom they have learned to e.re elsewhere joined together (Job xxxiv. adore. When they themselves a.re con- 28 ; Isa. xxvi. 6) to express the feeling of verted, they shall be evangelists to the patience under affliction e.ncl inability to Hebrews of the Dispersion. For this help one's self by one's own efforts. The work of the Gentiles in converting the spirit signified is just the contrary of the Hebrews, Wordsworth compares Cant. iii. 4 ; haughty, complacent, self-satisfied temper viii. 8, 9; Isa.. lxi. 5, 6; !xv. 18-21. St. previously mentioned (I Cor. i. 26; Ja.a. Paul speo.ks to the sRme effect in Rom. xi. ii. 5). They shall trust in the Name of the Offering (minchah). The pme meal offering Lord. All self-confidence shall be o,bolished., (Mai. i. 10, 11, where see notes; comp. Rom. e.nd the religion of the remnant shall be xv. 16; Phil. ii. 17). Dr. Briggs renders, characterized by quiet trust in God. "From beyond the rivers of Cush will ho my Ver. 13.-The remnant of Isre.el (see inoense (athar); the daughter of Phut will note on ver. 12). Though they claim no bring a minchsh." This brings out the worldly eminence, the true Israelites she.11 po,ra.llelisru. The universe.I worship of be conspicuous for spiritual gi-a.ces. Shiw. Messfonio times is expressed in the cere- not do iniquity. Their a.eh aha.II be just monie.l terms of the old dispensation, but and holy; their daily conduct such as has a very real applica.bleness to the Chris- becomes the children of God's election tian religion (see note on Mai. i. 11). (Lev. xix. 2; 1 John iii. 9). Nor speak lies. Vera. 11-13.-§ 2. Israel, restored to God', There shnll be no lying prophets there, e.nd all fraud and double-dealing sha.11 be favour, shall be cleansed and sanctified. abolished. The proof of their righteous Ver. 11.-In that day. When the Lord conduct is found in the favour of the Lord rises to seize the prey (ver. 8), when the e.nd the security in which they shall live. Gentiles o.re converted, and Judah returns For they she.11 feed, etc. The remuant is to her obedienoo. She.It thon not be compared to o. "little flock" (Luko :i:ii. 32), ashamed for e.11 thy doings. God addresses of which the Lord is the Shepherd (comp. Israel repentant and converted, and e.ssures Micah vii. 14). The blessing is that her that she shall not he.ve to reproo.ch promised to Israel in the Law if she kept herself any more, or to blush for her the comruo.ndments (Lev. xxd. 5, 6). iniquities, beoe.use God bloh them out, or Vera. H:-20.-§ 3. Israel shall be com- h~oause she sins no more e.s she has done. forted and largely blessed by the presence of And the greo.t help to this improvement is tho abolition of the ce.use and incitement to Jehoval,, and ezalted to honour in the eyea of sin. I will te.ke e.we.y ont of the midst of all the world. thee them the.t rejoioe in thy pride (thy Ver. 14.-In view of the coming blessing, proud triumphers, Ise.. xiii. 8). God will the prophet bursts forth in exultation, yet cut off all those who gloried in their with a vein of prophecy running through. temporo.l prosperity without thought of God, all the ccmticle. After the le.to ck-nuncio.- 52 THE BOOK OF ZEPHANIAH. [OII, III, 1-20.