Author: Zephaniah was the great-great-grandson of Hezekiah. This makes Zephaniah of royal blood. His name means “treasured of Jehovah”. Nothing is known concerning his occupation but he resided in Jerusalem ( 1:4 ; 3:1-7 ).

Date: The book was written during the reign of King Josiah ( II Kings 22:1-23:30 ). Josiah was the last of the restoration kings of Judah . Although he did not follow the path of his father or his grandfather; instead he restored true worship in the land, had the book of the Law read before the people; yet, God would not turn away His mighty wrath from the land.

2 Kings 23:26-27 “Nevertheless the Lord did not turn from the fierceness of His great wrath, with which His anger was aroused against Judah, because of all the provocations with which Manasseh had provoked Him. 27 And the Lord said, "I will also remove Judah from My sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the house of which I said, 'My name shall be there.' "

Theme: Even though reform has come to Judah , it is not enough to keep at bay the wrath of God; the theme of this book is “The Great Day of the Lord” , which is symbolic of the national judgment of God ( 1:7, 14-17; 2:2-3 ). The day of Jehovah is a day of doom! The prophet sees the day as a day of terror, imminent and falling upon all creation as a judgment for sin.

However, out of this grim picture of destruction, redemption would come. This redemption would be reserved for the pious few among the people. These faithful few would be yoked together with Jehovah by speaking from purified hearts.

This is a Messianic hope, and looks to a time of fulfillment:

Zephaniah 3:9 "For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, That they all may call on the name of the Lord , To serve Him with one accord.”

Hebrews 13:15-16 “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. 16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”

As the prophet describes the character of the redeemed remnant under the Messiah ( 3:8-13 ), he would then describe the joy they would feel as they call on Him in song and rejoice in their salvation.

Zephaniah 3:16-17 “In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem : "Do not fear; Zion , let not your hands be weak. 17 The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love,

Hebrews 12:22-24 “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.”

“ Good Reading ! ”