Zefanya 1:16

1:16 a day of trumpet blasts ¹  and battle cries. ² 

Judgment will fall on ³  the fortified cities and the high corner towers.

Zefanya 2:4

Judgment on Surrounding Nations

2:4 Indeed, ⁴  Gaza will be deserted ⁵ 

and Ashkelon will become a heap of ruins. ⁶ 

Invaders will drive away the people of Ashdod by noon, ⁷ 

and Ekron will be overthrown. ⁸ 

Zefanya 3:10

3:10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, ⁹ 

those who pray to me ¹⁰  will bring me tribute.

[1:16]  ¹ tn Heb “a ram’s horn.” By metonymy the Hebrew text mentions the trumpet (“ram’s horn”) in place of the sound it produces (“trumpet blasts”).

[1:16]  ² sn This description of the day of the Lord consists of an initial reference to anger, followed by four pairs of synonyms. The joining of synonyms in this way emphasizes the degree of the characteristic being described. The first two pairs focus on the distress and ruin that judgment will bring; the second two pairs picture this day of judgment as being very dark (darkness) and exceedingly overcast (gloom). The description concludes with the pairing of two familiar battle sounds, the blast on the ram’s horn (trumpet blasts) and the war cries of the warriors (battle cries).

[1:16]  ³ tn Heb “against.” The words “judgment will fall” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[2:4]  ⁴ tn Or “for” (KJV, NAB, NASB, NRSV).

[2:4]  ⁵ tn There is a sound play here in the Hebrew text: the name Gaza (עַזָּה, ’azzah) sounds like the word translated “deserted” (עֲזוּבָה, ’azuvah).

[2:4]  ⁶ tn Or “a desolate place.”

[2:4]  ⁷ tn Heb “[As for] Ashdod, at noon they will drive her away.”

[2:4]  sn The reference to noon may suggest a sudden, quick defeat (see Jer 6:4; 15:8).

[2:4]  ⁸ tn Heb “uprooted.” There is a sound play here in the Hebrew text: the name “Ekron” (עֶקְרוֹן, ’eqron) sounds like the word translated “uprooted” (תֵּעָקֵר, te’aqer).

[3:10]  ⁹ tn Or “Nubia”; Heb “Cush.” “Cush” is traditionally assumed to refer to the region south of Egypt, i.e. Nubia or northern Sudan, referred to as “Ethiopia” by classical authors (not the more recent Abyssinia).

[3:10]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “those who pray to me, the daughter of my dispersed ones.” The meaning of the phrase is unclear. Perhaps the text is corrupt at this point or a proper name should be understood. For a discussion of various options see Adele Berlin, Zephaniah (AB 25A), 134-35.

[3:10]  sn It is not certain if those who pray to me refers to the converted nations or to God’s exiled covenant people.