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1Bunch yourselves together like straw, you undesirable nation,[#tn The Hebrew text combines a Hitpolel imperative of קָשַׁשׁ (qashash) with a Qal imperative of the same root. Elsewhere this root appears in the polel stem with the meaning “gather stubble.” Zephaniah’s command is ironic, implying the people are like stubble or straw. As such, they are vulnerable to the Lord’s fiery judgment that will quickly consume them (see 1:18). See Adele Berlin, Zephaniah (AB 25A), 96.; #tn Some relate this word to an Aramaic cognate meaning “to be ashamed.” With the negative particle it would then mean “unashamed” (cf. NIV “shameful”; NRSV “shameless”). However, elsewhere in biblical Hebrew the verb means “to desire,” or with the negative particle “undesirable.” Cf. also NEB “unruly.”]
2before God’s decree becomes reality and the day of opportunity disappears like windblown chaff,[#tn Heb “before the giving birth of a decree.” For various alternative readings, see J. J. M. Roberts, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah (OTL), 187-88.; #tn The second half of the line reads literally, “like chaff it passes by a day.” The translation above assumes the “day” is the brief time God is giving the nation to repent. The comparison of this quickly passing opportunity to chaff is consistent with the straw imagery of v. 1.]
before the Lord ’s raging anger overtakes you –
before the day of the Lord ’s angry judgment overtakes you!
3Seek the Lord ’s favor, all you humble people of the land who have obeyed his commands![#tn Heb “seek the Lord,” but “favor” seems to be implied from the final line of the verse.; #tn Or “poor.” The precise referent of this Hebrew term is unclear. The word may refer to the economically poor or to the spiritually humble.; #tn The present translation assumes the Hebrew term מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat) here refers to God’s covenantal requirements and is a synonym for the Law. The word can mean “justice” and could refer more specifically to the principles of justice contained in the Law. In this case the phrase could be translated, “who have promoted the justice God demands.”]
Strive to do what is right! Strive to be humble!
Maybe you will be protected on the day of the Lord ’s angry judgment.
4Indeed, Gaza will be deserted[#tn Or “for” (KJV, NAB, NASB, NRSV).; #tn There is a sound play here in the Hebrew text: the name Gaza (עַזָּה, ’azzah) sounds like the word translated “deserted” (עֲזוּבָה, ’azuvah).]
and Ashkelon will become a heap of ruins.
Invaders will drive away the people of Ashdod by noon,
and Ekron will be overthrown.
5Those who live by the sea, the people who came from Crete, are as good as dead.[#tn Heb “Kerethites,” a people settled alongside the Philistines in the coastal areas of southern Palestine (cf. 1 Sam 30:14; Ezek 25:16). They originally came from the island of Crete.; #tn Heb “Woe, inhabitants of the coast of the sea, nation of Kerethites.” The Hebrew term הוֹי (hoy, “ah, woe”), is used to mourn the dead and express outwardly one’s sorrow (see 1 Kgs 13:30; Jer 22:18; 34:5). By using it here the prophet mourns in advance the downfall of the Philistines, thereby emphasizing the certainty of their demise (“as good as dead”). Some argue the word does not have its earlier connotation here and is simply an attention-getting interjection, equivalent to “Hey!”]
The Lord has decreed your downfall, Canaan, land of the Philistines:
“I will destroy everyone who lives there!”
6The seacoast will be used as pasture lands by the shepherds[#tn The NIV here supplies the phrase “where the Kerethites dwell” (“Kerethites” is translated in v. 5 as “the people who came from Crete”) as an interpretive gloss, but this phrase is not in the MT. The NAB likewise reads “the coastland of the Cretans,” supplying “Cretans” here.; #tn The Hebrew phrase here is נְוֹת כְּרֹת (nÿvot kÿrot). The first word is probably a plural form of נָוָה (navah, “pasture”). The meaning of the second word is unclear. It may be a synonym of the preceding word (cf. NRSV “pastures, meadows for shepherds”); there is a word כַּר (kar, “pasture”) in biblical Hebrew, but elsewhere it forms its plural with a masculine ending. Some have suggested the meaning “wells” or “caves” used as shelters (cf. NEB “shepherds’ huts”); in this case, one might translate, “The seacoast will be used for pasturelands; for shepherds’ wells/caves.”]
and as pens for their flocks.
7Those who are left from the kingdom of Judah will take possession of it.[#tn Heb “the remnant of the house of Judah.”; #tn Or “the coast will belong to the remnant of the house of Judah.”]
By the sea they will graze,
in the houses of Ashkelon they will lie down in the evening,
for the Lord their God will intervene for them and restore their prosperity.
8“I have heard Moab’s taunts
and the Ammonites’ insults.
They taunted my people
and verbally harassed those living in Judah.
9Therefore, as surely as I live,” says the Lord who commands armies, the God of Israel,
“be certain that Moab will become like Sodom
and the Ammonites like Gomorrah.
They will be overrun by weeds,
filled with salt pits,
and permanently desolate.
Those of my people who are left will plunder their belongings;
those who are left in Judah will take possession of their land.”
10This is how they will be repaid for their arrogance,[#tn Heb “this is for them in place of their arrogance.”]
for they taunted and verbally harassed the people of the Lord who commands armies.
11The Lord will terrify them,[#tn Heb “will be awesome over [or, “against”] them.”]
for he will weaken all the gods of the earth.
All the distant nations will worship the Lord in their own lands.
12“You Ethiopians will also die by my sword!”[#sn Though there is no formal introduction, these words are apparently spoken by the Lord (note my sword).; #tn Heb “Cushites.” This is traditionally assumed to refer to people from the region south of Egypt, i.e., Nubia or northern Sudan, referred to as “Ethiopia” by classical authors (not the more recent Abyssinia).; #tn Heb “Also you Cushites, who lie dead by my sword.”]
13The Lord will attack the north[#tn Heb “He”; the referent (the Lord) has been specified in the translation for clarity.; #tn Heb “he will stretch out his hand against the north.”]
and destroy Assyria.
He will make Nineveh a heap of ruins;
it will be as barren as the desert.
14Flocks and herds will lie down in the middle of it,[#tn Heb “flocks.” The Hebrew word can refer to both flocks of sheep and herds of cattle.]
as well as every kind of wild animal.
Owls will sleep in the tops of its support pillars;
they will hoot through the windows.
Rubble will cover the thresholds;
even the cedar work will be exposed to the elements.
15This is how the once-proud city will end up –[#tn Heb “this is the proud city.”]
the city that was so secure.
She thought to herself, “I am unique! No one can compare to me!”
What a heap of ruins she has become, a place where wild animals live!
Everyone who passes by her taunts her and shakes his fist.