Zephaniah, book of the Bible

Zephaniah zĕfˌənīˈə [key], prophetic book of the Bible. The prophet, who lived in the reign (c.640–609 b.c.) of King Josiah of Judah, traces his genealogy to King Hezekiah. Zephaniah denounces Judah for idolatry, luxury, and for presuming on God's protection. The Day of the Lord, the prophet announces, will bring doom on Judah's people and on the nations. However, the book ends with a prediction of salvation and the return from captivity of a remnant of Israel. One oracle in chapter 3, a picture of restored Jerusalem, is almost certainly a post-exilic addition.

See studies by D. Baker (1988), O. P. Robertson (1990), and J. J. M. Roberts (1990).

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