The book tells us that zephaniah prophesied during the reign of josiah, the king of judah from 640 to 609 bc zephaniah 1. Dr benjamin obadiah iqbal zephaniah was born and raised in birmingham, england. Both hezekiah and josiah are listed in the genealogy of jesus christ in matthew 1. This means that zephaniah was a prophet to the southern kingdom, probably a resident of jerusalem see 1. For, behold, i have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls. The new testament on one occasion identifies the day of the lord with the gift of the spirit on the day of pentecost acts 2. A summary, synopsis or recap is a shortened version of the original. Bible study guide book of zephaniah saturday, november 3, 2012 background on zephaniah in zephaniah 1. The date of zephaniahs prophecy is given as in the days of josiah the son of amon, king of judah. The book of jeremiah introduction to the book of jeremiah in the bible. This is not the only place where this theme occurs, of course, but it is the most concentrated treatment of the judgment of god as the whole book is devoted to this one theme. Doom is eminent but zephaniahs message also includes gods restoration of all things to a world of peace. In that respect, its possible to think of the book of zechariah as a kind of miniature book of isaiah.
We will be looking at the meaning of the hebrew words and its meaning for us today. His word came in visions, oracles, dreams, parables, and the like. What kings of judah preceded zephaniahs prophetical work, and what king. He later celebrated a great passover feast and cleansed both the temple and the priests. The northern ten tribes had already been carried into assyria nearly a century before, c. The book of zephaniah belongs to another dark period in judahs history. This is an event yet in the future and a hope that all nations and people desire. The book of zephaniah is a book of the bible and is thought to be written by zephaniah son of cushi son of gedaliah son of amariah son of hezekiah, in the days of king josiah son of amon of judah.
The purpose of this book was to show the complacent southern kingdoms that they were wicked, god used a prophet zephaniah. Zephaniah the clarion call zephaniah was a greatgreatgrandson of king hezekiah of judah, who lived in the days of king josiah, the last righteous king of judah. Composed by the prophet zephaniah in the latter part of the 7th century bce, the book is an attack against corruption of worship in judah, probably before the great. The great day of the lord i zephaniah sunday evening march 1st duration. Zephaniah summary we have detailed a brief summary of the book of zephaniah for bible study or sunday school lessons. The day of the lord is at hand, a terrible day for those who have rebelled. Book of zephaniah part 1 history of the twelve tribes of.
The book of zephaniah, the ninth book of the twelve minor prophets, is written in three chapters. Dec 28, 2016 zephaniah has another cycle of denunciation against judah 3. Zephaniah mentions that he is the great great grandson of hezekiah in zephaniah 1. The book of zephaniah was written during the reign of king josiah, likely in the early part of his reign, between 635 and 625 bc. When god had a message for the people, he spoke through the prophets. If so, zephaniah was a distant relative of king josiah cf. Zephaniahs ministry is linked in the superscription to the reign of josiah, king of judah 640609 b. Three times god says i will sweep away in chapter 1 verses 1 and 2.
He is believed to be the cousin of king josiah who is also a great great grandson of hezekiah. Zephaniah with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. The prophet zephaniah was evidently a person of considerable social standing in judah and was probably related to the royal line. Book of zephaniah simple english wikipedia, the free. Jonah, joel, amos, hosea, isaiah and micah had already prophesied and died. The book of zephaniah was written before 629 bc when josiah found and eagerly read the holy scriptures discovered in the temple. The phrase in this place is a reference to jerusalem and can only refer to the future, since the city and the region have never really experienced peace since haggai wrote. Book of zechariah overview insight for living ministries. Nov 03, 2015 the great day of the lord i zephaniah sunday evening march 1st duration. Zephaniahs message was not just for ancient judah but also for our day. The book of zephaniah contains no direct messianic prophecies, but the prophets focus on the day of the lord as the time of judgment and blessing connects his message with the work of christ. The book of zephaniah, the early discourses of jeremiah, and 2ki 2123 furnish a vivid picture of the social, moral, and religious conditions in judah at the time zephaniah prophesied. Zephaniah, also spelled sophonias, flourished 7th century bc, israelite prophet, said to be the author of one of the shorter old testament prophetical books, who proclaimed the approaching divine judgment.
The book of zephaniah is narrative history and prophetic source of wisdom. Zephaniah, book of definition and meaning bible dictionary. The small book of zephaniah is narrative history and prophetic oracle. The book consists of a series of independent sayings, many of which are rightly attributed to zephaniah, written probably about 640630 bc. Outline of the book of zephaniah woe to her that is rebellious and polluted. He begins his prophecy by tracing his heritage back to hezekiah king of judah.
Social injustice and moral corruption were widespread 3. Zephaniah means yahweh has hiddenprotected, or yahweh hides. Zechariah pictures christ in both his first coming zechariah 9. It was zephaniah s lot to speak on the most unpleasant subject in the bible the judgment of god. It is a small book, nestled in the midst of the minor prophets, toward the end of the old testament. Zephaniah wrote it shortly before the fall of judah in the southern kingdom.
Book of zephaniah overview insight for living ministries. Feb 22, 2017 zephaniah predicts that god has bigger plans than the end of the world. Zephaniah is the only prophet to mention four generations of his ancestors. This prophet is placed last, as he was last in time, of all the minor prophets before the captivity, and not long before jeremiah, who lived at the time of the captivity. He cannot remember a time when he was not creating poetry but this had nothing to do with school where poetry meant very little to him, in fact he had finished full time education at the age of. It is generally acknowledged that the original recipients of zephaniahs messages were. The book of zechariah contains the clearest and the largest number of messianic about the messiah passages among the minor prophets. We can begin to pinpoint exactly when zephaniah prophesied by accounting for a few details in the text. Zephaniah, israelite prophet, said to be the author of one of the shorter old testament prophetical books, who proclaimed the approaching divine judgment. In addition to the usual mention of his fathers name cushi, his ancestry is traced back four generations to hezekiah, possibly the king of that name.
The purpose of this book was to show that god raised up his prophet zephaniah to proclaim a warning of coming judgment and to encourage repentance. Zephaniah would have been the first prophet to judah in the 60 years since isaiah nahum was about assyria iv. The book of zephaniah is probably best known for being the least known book of the entire bible. He prophesies that a righteous remnant will be left in the land of israel and will joyfully share in the lords victory. Book of zephaniah, the ninth of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, collected in one book, the twelve, in the jewish canon. The book was written some time between 641 and 612 b. God will metaphorically call his people to the feast his sanctified ones and will then punish the kings sons who wear foreign garments.
Among the prophets, this is a unique introduction with its long list of fathers back to zephaniahs great. On that day you shall not be put to shame because of the deeds by which you have rebelled against me. Zephaniah lived during one of the worst times in the history of judah, under the evil reign of king manasseh. As we prepare to study the literal and spiritual senses of the book of zephaniah, lets look at some historical facts that will help us enter into the eternal message of the lords word. Book of zephaniah part 1 history of the twelve tribes. We have collected some of the best resources from across the web to do research on zephaniah history, zephaniah ancestory, and zephaniah family connections.
There may have been some overlap with jeremiah since he began to prophecy in 627 b. Zephaniah predicts the coming of the day of yahweh in which he will judge his people 1. Zephaniah warned of an impending judgment while providing hope for the faithful. Fortunately for judah it would not be long before josiah would begin his glorious reign, and it was during the revival that took place during this period that zephaniah began to prophesy. Genealogy of zephaniah zephaniah historical records. Many scientists think that his forefather hizkiah is identical with king hezekiah of judah of the same name 716 687 bc. The first verse of the book of zephaniah makes him a contemporary of josiah, king of judah reigned c. We hope you will participate on the zephaniah forums, it is a great place to find or post information on zephaniah genealogy and is completely free to participate. Zephaniah points to a day when all the nations will turn to the lord 3. This summary of the book of zephaniah provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of zephaniah.
Zephaniah in the picture study bible bible history online. Among the minor prophets, we are certainly much more familiar with jonah and hosea. It wont stop at judahthe whole world will be punished. Overview of the book of zephaniah zionlutheranchurch.
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