Zephaniah, the son of Cushi, was the 9th minor prophet in the Old Testament. He lived in Jerusalem during the reign of King Josias (B.C. 641-611). During this time, people had corrupt morals and were idolizing false gods. Josias wanted to put an end to this religious degradation. Zephaniah was one of the most successful advisers of the King’s reform. His writings warned the people of the coming of the Lord and were mainly addressed to the cults of Baal and Astarte. The Book of Zephaniah is important because it speaks of the coming of the Lord, or the Apocalypse.
Zephaniah is translated as "the Lord conceals" or "the Lord Protects". He is warning the people of the coming of the Lord. When the Lord comes, he will Judge the people. They will either be accepted to the Kingdom of God or declined. The people he is writing to are not doing the things they need to to be accepted in to the Kingdom. They are worshiping false gods and are practicing terrible morals. Zephaniah is trying to prepare the people for the Apocalypse.
-describes the coming of the Lord as a disaster
-describes how the Lord will judge the nations
-Lord will show mercy to some and they will live in peace
D.J.Moeller, "Zephaniah, Book of", in New Catholic Encyclopedia, 2003 ed.
Carroll Stulhmueller and others, Amos, Hosea, Micah, Zephaniah, Habakkuk, Collegeville Bible Commentary Series(Collegeville: The Liturgical Press, 1986).
M. Faulhaber, Sophonias(Zephaniah) (New York, NY: Robert Appleton Company, 1912, accessed 10 April 2008) ; available from http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14146a.html ; Internet
This webpage was done by a freshman at St. Louis University High.
If you have any comments or questions please email me at cowhouse345@sbcglobal.net. Thanks.