Zephaniah: A Commentary on the Book of Zephaniah (Hermeneia | HERM)

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“It follows Habakkuk, which takes up Judah’s subjugation to the Neo-Babylonian Empire in the late seventh century bce, and it precedes Haggai, which calls for the rebuilding of the Jerusalem Temple in the early Persian period immediately following the end of the Babylonian exile. Such a sequence suggests that the book of Zephaniah, which is fundamentally concerned with the threat of judgment posed to Jerusalem and Judah on the so-called Day of YHWH, is to be read not in relation to King Josiah’s efforts at religious reform and national restoration in the late seventh century bce,⁴ but instead in relation to the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem, Judah, and the First Temple and the exile of major elements of the Judean population in the early sixth century bce.” (Pages xviii–1)

“Although the differences are subtly expressed, they profoundly influence the overall evaluation of the book, particularly in relation to 2:1–3*, the basic exhortation of the book that stands at the center of discussion concerning the overall structure, generic character, and interpretation of Zephaniah. Whereas the language of the MT and its related traditions reflects an address that calls on its audience to change and presupposes that it has not yet done so, the lxx and its derivative traditions reflect an address that likewise calls on the audience to change but presupposes that it is unwilling or unable to do so.” (Page 3)

“Instead, the structure of Zephaniah reflects an interest in presenting a prophetic discourse that calls on its audience to turn to YHWH before the threatened purge of apostasy in the nation takes place on the Day of YHWH. Although the book contains many statements that express a universalist perspective concerning all creation, they reflect the role of the temple as the holy center of creation in ancient Judean theology.” (Page 2)