Zeph. 3 A sharp reproof of Jerusalem for divers sins, Zeph. 3:1–7. An exhortation to wait for the restoration of Israel Zeph. 3:8–13; and to rejoice for their salvation by God, Zeph. 3:14–20.

The prophet showed us Nineveh in ruins for her sins; from this doleful spectacle he brings us to take a prospect of what would come upon Jerusalem, which ere long will be full of woes, because now full of sin. Filthy; loathsome in her sins, so foul they are, and so abominably acted.

She obeyed not the voice, of the law, her prophets or her faithful priests, (which were too few, yet some there were.) nor of God, by his mercy and judgments crying loud, warning, inviting, persuading to return.

Her princes; persons of principal place and authority about the king, chief officers in civil matters. and, which is worse, her own princes, born and bred among them, who should have been most tender and just.

Her prophets; by education, profession, and unwarranted practice called so, false prophets; such Zedekiah, and probably Chenaanah, &c., were. Are light; unstable and inconstant, ready to comply with humours which they should have reproved, 1 Kings 22:13.

The just Lord is in the midst thereof: though unjust princes, judges, prophets, and priests do not think so, yet the Lord who is most just is in the midst of them; possibly the sanhedrim; he observeth all, condemneth their violence and injustice, he is sovereign as Lord, and just as Judge.

I have cut off the nations; of old the Canaanites, lately the ten tribes, later yet the Assyrians and others, have been cut off for their sins. Their towers; either metaphorically, magistrates and great men, as Zeph. 1:16; or literally, strong towers built on the angles of walls or palaces.

I said; I thought, (speaking as man would,) I concluded what was likely, what I might expect. Surely thou, O Jerusalem, O Judah, wilt fear me, for the many and great judgments executed upon others in thy sight; thou wilt fear, by sinning still, to provoke me.

Therefore, since you will not be amended by all, sines you grow worse and worse, wait ye upon me; ye refractory and incorrigible Jews, rulers, and people, attend my resolution, for I am resolved what I will do, and have set a day for it.

For then, or, then, afterwards, i.e. when my judgments have been executed, and have cut off the wicked, will I turn to the people a pure language; I will give them a pure way of worshipping me, in prayer, praises, and the issue of a purified heart, Ezek. 11:17–20, Ezek. 36:26.

From beyond the rivers; the coasts which lie beyond the rivers of India, saith the Chaldee paraphrast, but I doubt whether the captive Jews were carried so far.

In that day; when pardoned captives and dispersed ones shall return and serve the Lord with one consent, mourning for their sins, and seeking the Lord.

I will also leave: the Chaldeans had spared none if the Lord had not preserved a remnant; it is he, rather than they, which did leave a remnant. In the midst of thee; to return and dwell in Judea and Jerusalem.

The remnant of Israel, preserved in captivity and dispersion, purified in the furnace of affliction, and now returned to their own land, shall not do iniquity; shall not commit the sins they formerly committed, not provoke God with their abominations as before; it is not a prediction of a sinless,…

For all these mercies the church is enjoined to be thankful, and to rejoice, and it is trebled, Sing, shout, and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, Israel, and daughter of Jerusalem: the same persons, the same duty, but differently expressed, but the whole heart required in all.

The Lord; who kills and makes alive, acquits or condemns, and none can reverse the judgment. Hath taken away thy judgments; abolished and put an end to thy sufferings, the judgments thy sins brought upon thee; he hath pardoned thy sins and ended thy sorrows.

In that day; the day or time of restitution, when the captivity returned shall be settled in their land. It shall be said; by prophets, or by friends, congratulating them, or by each to other. To Jerusalem; inhabitants of Jerusalem, the place being put for the people.

The Lord; the everlasting One, who changeth not. Thy God; thine in covenant, never to be forgotten or repealed. Is mighty; can do all he will, can restrain and destroy enemies, can support and defend his own people. He will save, from thy fears, and thine enemies’ rage.

This promise removes an objection which might be made by dispersed ones: How can we return? I will gather you, saith God. That are sorrowful for the solemn assembly; mourn in their distance from the solemn worship of God, as David, Ps.

Behold; mark well. I will undo; I will deal with them, do their work for them, as we say, I will break their power and dissolve their kingdom. All that afflict thee; Babylonians who afflicted the Jews. and who were undone by Cyrus and his Persians.

This verse is a repetition of the promise for the greater assurance of it, and seems to add but little to what was before promised, unless it be the speediness of what God doth for them, and the comprehensiveness of it; he will turn back their captivities, Heb.